Job summary
The role of the Assistant Practitioner is to work as part of the multi professional team with the registered Midwife within a specific area of the community. They will provide multi skilled support to the midwifery team contributing to the ongoing assessment and care of families during the pregnancy continuum. The role will be supervised by a midwife and will have a particular focus on supporting vulnerable families benefiting from enhanced Midwifery Continuity of Care (MCOC).
They will deliver personalised care planned by the Midwife taking appropriate action to achieve desired outcomes. They will work within current policy & guidance. They will possess attitudes and behaviour according to Trust values and which supports a compassionate approach to caring for families benefitting from enhanced MCOC during pregnancy.
The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and promote safeguarding by implementing the Trust's policies and procedures, acting promptly on concerns, communicating effectively and sharing information appropriately.
If successful this vacancy will require an enhanced DBS check at a cost of £41.90. This cost will be deducted from your first Trust salary
In addition to this it will be a condition of your employment that you will join the DBS update service and pay the annual subscription fee of £13.
Main duties of the job
- Working under the supervision of a registered Midwife to provide and deliver a high standard of care.
- Providing care based on evidence and working in partnership with the multi-disciplinary team & colleagues within the community setting.
- Participate in the care planning/delivery/evaluation of care.
- Act as scribe in emergency situations.
- Adult and Baby BLS with an awareness of the contents of the resuscitation trolley if in a ward situation or within the Baby Lifeline bags.
- Observation of vital signs: BP, P, R.TEMP, O2 sats, weight, urine testing. (Mother and baby).
- Recognising emergency situations and take appropriate action.
- Liase with all members of the multi-professional team ensuring documentation / communication is appropriately disseminated in a timely manner.
- Participate in public health promotion and the provision of parent education.
- Contribute to social assessments and team around the family process (TAF) planning appropriate care accordingly with Midwifery & Stockport Family colleagues.
- Conduct postnatal visits and implementation of appropriate care thereafter providing feedback to Midwifery colleagues as appropriate.
- Facilitate and contribute to breastfeeding support both at peer support clinics and within the home.
- Be competent to act as a second practitioner at low-risk deliveries either at home or within the birth centre environment.
- Understand the principles and value of MCoC in reducing health outcomes.
About us
We hold a unique position in the Stockport community as the provider of healthcare and we are one of its largest employers. Our mission is to make a difference every day.
Our values are that we care, we respect, and we listen. We believe that the best organisations are those that reflect the communities they serve. We are therefore seeking to improve the diversity of our workforce to make it truly representative of our local population.
We actively encourage applications irrespective of race, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage & civil partnership, or pregnancy or maternity. Recognising those communities that are underrepresented within our workforce, we would particularly welcome applications from you. We recognise that flexible working is important.
We take requests for flexible working seriously, consider any request we receive and try to work with you, so we can explore if your request may fit with the needs of the service. The salary for the role is only one part of the excellent package of benefits we offer to you:
Between 27-33 days of annual leave plus bank holidays
NHS pension scheme membership
Salary sacrifice schemes for lease cars, home electronics and more, to make your salary go further
NHS Staff discounts
Cycle to work scheme
Salary finance - for loans, savings, budget planning and tips on managing debt
Stockport Credit Union- for local financial advice
Job description
Job responsibilities
Communications
- Communicate effectively with dignity and respect to all women and their families giving consideration to potential barriers to understanding including history of trauma and adversity.
- Communicate effectively with colleagues, providing clear verbal, digital or written information and instructions when sharing information, delegating or handing over responsibility for care.
- Liaising with the Multi-disciplinary Team in relation to care and needs.
- Recognise and report any situations, behaviours or errors that could result in poor care outcomes.
- Report accidents, incidents, near misses or complaints following Trust policies/procedures.
- Contribute to a culture where all staff feels safe to raise their concerns [and that] speaking up about what these are is a normal part of their routine.
- Provide feedback to the department from courses undertaken.
Responsibility for Patient Care
- Support women & their families to improve and maintain their mental, physical, behavioural health and well-being with personalised plans of care in the perinatal period.
- Ensure that a familys personal and social needs are met to positively influence parenting capacity and child development.
- Under the direction of a Registered Midwife implement programmes of care for example to safely undertake procedures relevant to community midwifery including recording and interpreting vital signs, wound care, pressure area care, nutrition, hydration, and mood identification. Identify and report changes in a patients condition to a registered Midwife.
- Recognise the effects of medicines, allergies, drug sensitivity, side effects, contraindications and adverse reactions and report appropriately.
- Undertake safe and effective administration and optimisation of medicines in accordance with Trust policy for nursing Assistant Practitioners.
- Comply with Trust policy in relation to any safety critical medicines to be administered Assistant practitioners.
- Monitor the condition and health needs of patients within their care following administration of medication.
- Recognise and report any situations, behaviours or errors that could result in poor care outcomes related to medicines management.
Planning and organising
- Prioritise and manage own workload, recognising where elements of care can safely be delegated to other colleagues, carers and family members.
- Organise and plan own day to day workload or activities in order to meet the demands of the job role.
- Actively contribute and participate in the Trust Clinical Governance Agenda.
Responsibilities for Physical and / or Financial Resources
- Ensure safe and efficient use of equipment, resources and consumables at all times.
- Participate in ensuring appropriate usage and monitoring of departmental resources.
- Monitor, control and store resources/supplies according to the requirements/specifications of the clinical environment.
Responsibility for Policy and Service Development and Implementation
- The Assistant practitioner will at all times demonstrate a knowledge of and behave in a manner consistent and uphold the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust Behaviours and Values.
- Adhere to local and professional policies and guidelines in relation to the safe custody, control and administration of medications.
- Demonstrate knowledge of relevant trust policies and procedures and ensure these are followed accordingly.
- To offer constructive views on how the existing service and teamwork can be evaluated and improved upon.
Responsibilities for Human Resources and Leadership
- Support new or less experienced work colleagues to adapt to the workplace.
- Ensure that equality and diversity issues are recognised, addressed in accordance with legislation, policies and procedures.
- Maintain continued professional development.
- Maintain own continuing professional development in accordance CPD requirements and contribute to formulation of own objectives and personal development plan.
Responsibilities for Teaching and Training
- Comply with mandatory competencies in line with Trust policy.
- To engage in completing competency documents as requested by Midwifery lead.
- Contribute to the maintenance of the learning environment including families home.
- Adopt a reflective approach to own practice with a view to continually improve.
- Undertake further training as required, prior to carrying out any additional duties identified as relevant to role, to comply with Trust policies and procedures.
- Participate in training and development activities that are relevant to the job role.
Responsibilities for data and information resources
- To maintain records of activity as required by the Trust and collect data for service statistics eg for quality dashboard and audit as required.
- To use IT skills for clinical and administrative care of patients in line with Trust policies and procedures.
Research, Development and Audit
- Identify relevant sources of evidence to inform practice.
- Critically consider and analyse their own practice in light of best available evidence.
- Contribute to surveys, audits, research activity as required to own role, supporting recommended changes in practice.
Physical Skills and Effort
- To safely use clinical equipment in order to carry out the job role.
- Use of physical effort to carry out the demands of the job role (eg pushing and pulling trolleys/support to manoeuvre patients)
Job description
Job responsibilities
Communications
- Communicate effectively with dignity and respect to all women and their families giving consideration to potential barriers to understanding including history of trauma and adversity.
- Communicate effectively with colleagues, providing clear verbal, digital or written information and instructions when sharing information, delegating or handing over responsibility for care.
- Liaising with the Multi-disciplinary Team in relation to care and needs.
- Recognise and report any situations, behaviours or errors that could result in poor care outcomes.
- Report accidents, incidents, near misses or complaints following Trust policies/procedures.
- Contribute to a culture where all staff feels safe to raise their concerns [and that] speaking up about what these are is a normal part of their routine.
- Provide feedback to the department from courses undertaken.
Responsibility for Patient Care
- Support women & their families to improve and maintain their mental, physical, behavioural health and well-being with personalised plans of care in the perinatal period.
- Ensure that a familys personal and social needs are met to positively influence parenting capacity and child development.
- Under the direction of a Registered Midwife implement programmes of care for example to safely undertake procedures relevant to community midwifery including recording and interpreting vital signs, wound care, pressure area care, nutrition, hydration, and mood identification. Identify and report changes in a patients condition to a registered Midwife.
- Recognise the effects of medicines, allergies, drug sensitivity, side effects, contraindications and adverse reactions and report appropriately.
- Undertake safe and effective administration and optimisation of medicines in accordance with Trust policy for nursing Assistant Practitioners.
- Comply with Trust policy in relation to any safety critical medicines to be administered Assistant practitioners.
- Monitor the condition and health needs of patients within their care following administration of medication.
- Recognise and report any situations, behaviours or errors that could result in poor care outcomes related to medicines management.
Planning and organising
- Prioritise and manage own workload, recognising where elements of care can safely be delegated to other colleagues, carers and family members.
- Organise and plan own day to day workload or activities in order to meet the demands of the job role.
- Actively contribute and participate in the Trust Clinical Governance Agenda.
Responsibilities for Physical and / or Financial Resources
- Ensure safe and efficient use of equipment, resources and consumables at all times.
- Participate in ensuring appropriate usage and monitoring of departmental resources.
- Monitor, control and store resources/supplies according to the requirements/specifications of the clinical environment.
Responsibility for Policy and Service Development and Implementation
- The Assistant practitioner will at all times demonstrate a knowledge of and behave in a manner consistent and uphold the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust Behaviours and Values.
- Adhere to local and professional policies and guidelines in relation to the safe custody, control and administration of medications.
- Demonstrate knowledge of relevant trust policies and procedures and ensure these are followed accordingly.
- To offer constructive views on how the existing service and teamwork can be evaluated and improved upon.
Responsibilities for Human Resources and Leadership
- Support new or less experienced work colleagues to adapt to the workplace.
- Ensure that equality and diversity issues are recognised, addressed in accordance with legislation, policies and procedures.
- Maintain continued professional development.
- Maintain own continuing professional development in accordance CPD requirements and contribute to formulation of own objectives and personal development plan.
Responsibilities for Teaching and Training
- Comply with mandatory competencies in line with Trust policy.
- To engage in completing competency documents as requested by Midwifery lead.
- Contribute to the maintenance of the learning environment including families home.
- Adopt a reflective approach to own practice with a view to continually improve.
- Undertake further training as required, prior to carrying out any additional duties identified as relevant to role, to comply with Trust policies and procedures.
- Participate in training and development activities that are relevant to the job role.
Responsibilities for data and information resources
- To maintain records of activity as required by the Trust and collect data for service statistics eg for quality dashboard and audit as required.
- To use IT skills for clinical and administrative care of patients in line with Trust policies and procedures.
Research, Development and Audit
- Identify relevant sources of evidence to inform practice.
- Critically consider and analyse their own practice in light of best available evidence.
- Contribute to surveys, audits, research activity as required to own role, supporting recommended changes in practice.
Physical Skills and Effort
- To safely use clinical equipment in order to carry out the job role.
- Use of physical effort to carry out the demands of the job role (eg pushing and pulling trolleys/support to manoeuvre patients)
Person Specification
Communication
Essential
- oCommunicate effectively with dignity and respect to all women and their families giving consideration to potential barriers to understanding including history of trauma and adversity.
- oCommunicate effectively with colleagues, providing clear verbal, digital or written information and instructions when sharing information, delegating or handing over responsibility for care.
Desirable
- oRecognise and report any situations, behaviours or errors that could result in poor care outcomes.
Experiance of working in Maternity
Essential
- Evidence of working with families and the MDT
Patient care
Essential
- Evidence of Clinical experience
Professional Delevoplment
Essential
- Evidence of Professional development:
Person Specification
Communication
Essential
- oCommunicate effectively with dignity and respect to all women and their families giving consideration to potential barriers to understanding including history of trauma and adversity.
- oCommunicate effectively with colleagues, providing clear verbal, digital or written information and instructions when sharing information, delegating or handing over responsibility for care.
Desirable
- oRecognise and report any situations, behaviours or errors that could result in poor care outcomes.
Experiance of working in Maternity
Essential
- Evidence of working with families and the MDT
Patient care
Essential
- Evidence of Clinical experience
Professional Delevoplment
Essential
- Evidence of Professional development:
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
