Job summary
The Maternity Support Worker Befriender will support the midwifery team in the provision of optimum midwifery care, planned by the midwife to birthing people, babies and families within the hospital/community setting.
The overarching responsibilities are to support and provide continuity to birthing people who are at high-risk of health inequalities, including migrants, asylum seekers and refugee people accessing maternity care.
The post holder will act as an advocate for birthing people and their families, liaise with maternity services and community groups to help birthing people navigate the maternity system.
Main duties of the job
- To assist the midwife in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care of birthing people, babies and families
- Undertake basic care planning and decision making regarding how care is delivered, under the direction of a registered midwife
- To provide additional support for birthing people and families with complex clinical or social needs either in community/hospital setting
- To support and assist birthing people to achieve successful infant feeding in accordance with the local policies and guidelines, giving clear and consistent information
- To actively be involved in health promotion including smoking cessation, breastfeeding, bonding, emotional and mental health needs
- To escalate concerns regarding the care of birthing people, babies and families to the midwife
- To establish and maintain good interpersonal skills and communicate between maternity staff, external agencies and birthing people and their families
- Ensuring information is communicated in appropriate language to ensure clear understanding
- Be aware of the needs to patients in relation to their privacy and dignity and regarding different cultures and religious beliefs
- Act as an advocate for birthing people's needs at maternity appointments
- Support and encourage engagement in other services.
- Facilitate small groups of birthing people to provide support, information and isolation preventio
About us
We employ more than 6,500 staffwho deliver compassionate care from our two main hospitals,Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary as well as in community sites, healthcentres and in patients' homes. We also are incredibly proud to have almost 150 volunteers here at CHFT.
We provide a range of services including urgent and emergency care; medical; surgical; maternity; gynaecology; critical care; children's and young people's services; end of life care and outpatient and diagnostic imaging services.
We provide community health services, including sexual health services in Calderdale from Calderdale Royal and local health centres. These include Todmorden Health Centre and Broad Street Plaza.
We continue to modernise and invest in our health services to build on our strong reputation.Foundation trusts are public leaders in improving quality in health services. They are part of the NHS- yet decisions about what they do and how they do it are driven by independent boards. Boardslisten to their Council of Governors and respond to the needs of their members - patients, staff andthe local community.
Foundation trusts provide what the health service wants, yet are also free to invest quickly in thechanges to the local community needs, in striving to be the best, and in putting their patients first.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To assist the midwife in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care of birthing people, babies and families
- Undertake basic care planning and decision making regarding how care is delivered, under the direction of a registered midwife
- To have the ability to organise their own daily workload, be flexible and adaptive to the needs of the service
- Work flexibly following procedures, guidelines and best working practices within a confidential environment
- To provide additional support for birthing people and families with complex clinical or social needs either in community/hospital setting
- To support and assist birthing people to achieve successful infant feeding in accordance with the local policies and guidelines, giving clear and consistent information
- To actively be involved in health promotion including smoking cessation, breastfeeding, bonding, emotional and mental health needs
- To escalate concerns regarding the care of birthing people, babies and families to the midwife
- To establish and maintain good interpersonal skills and communicate between maternity staff, external agencies and birthing people and their families
- Ensuring information is communicated in appropriate language to ensure clear understanding
- Be aware of the needs to patients in relation to their privacy and dignity and regarding different cultures and religious beliefs
- To work within own sphere of practice and be aware of their limitations
- Be flexible and willing to undertake additional training to meet changing service needs
- Maintain clear, accurate, legible and timely written documentation
- Assist with consultation and examination as required, within your sphere of practice
- Act as an advocate for birthing peoples needs at maternity appointments
- Support and encourage engagement in other services, such as parent and baby groups and ESOL classes
- Facilitate small groups of birthing people to provide support, information and isolation prevention
- Be a driver with own vehicle to attend homes, community settings and hospital appointments across Calderdale & Huddersfield
- Perform relevant observations i.e. pulse, blood pressure, temperature and urine testing
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To assist the midwife in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care of birthing people, babies and families
- Undertake basic care planning and decision making regarding how care is delivered, under the direction of a registered midwife
- To have the ability to organise their own daily workload, be flexible and adaptive to the needs of the service
- Work flexibly following procedures, guidelines and best working practices within a confidential environment
- To provide additional support for birthing people and families with complex clinical or social needs either in community/hospital setting
- To support and assist birthing people to achieve successful infant feeding in accordance with the local policies and guidelines, giving clear and consistent information
- To actively be involved in health promotion including smoking cessation, breastfeeding, bonding, emotional and mental health needs
- To escalate concerns regarding the care of birthing people, babies and families to the midwife
- To establish and maintain good interpersonal skills and communicate between maternity staff, external agencies and birthing people and their families
- Ensuring information is communicated in appropriate language to ensure clear understanding
- Be aware of the needs to patients in relation to their privacy and dignity and regarding different cultures and religious beliefs
- To work within own sphere of practice and be aware of their limitations
- Be flexible and willing to undertake additional training to meet changing service needs
- Maintain clear, accurate, legible and timely written documentation
- Assist with consultation and examination as required, within your sphere of practice
- Act as an advocate for birthing peoples needs at maternity appointments
- Support and encourage engagement in other services, such as parent and baby groups and ESOL classes
- Facilitate small groups of birthing people to provide support, information and isolation prevention
- Be a driver with own vehicle to attend homes, community settings and hospital appointments across Calderdale & Huddersfield
- Perform relevant observations i.e. pulse, blood pressure, temperature and urine testing
Person Specification
QUALIFICATIONS / TRAINING
Essential
- English and Math GCSE grade 9-2 (A*-E) or equivalent or high level of literacy and numeracy skills demonstrated within application
- Competence based level 3 qualification e.g. NVQ or Diploma in Care or The Care Certificate issued by an employer
- Willingness to undertake any training or development relevant to the role
Desirable
- BFI Training or equivalent
- Basic counselling skills/training
- Training in safeguarding
KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE
Essential
- Demonstrate a commitment to a caring profession
- Understands the importance of record keeping
- Ability to work under pressure
- IT skills
Desirable
- Experience of working with birthing people and families
- Insight into the roles and responsibilities of the post
- Experience of working within the NHS
- Experience of providing high quality care
- Experience of working across interprofessional or multidisciplinary teams and different organisations
- Experience of working with migrant, asylum seekers and refugee people
COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIPS (INCLUDING MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES)
Essential
- Ability to communicate appropriately in written and spoken English
- Friendly, honest and approachable
- Compassionate and kind
- Good organisation skills
Desirable
- Ability to speak additional languages
Person Specification
QUALIFICATIONS / TRAINING
Essential
- English and Math GCSE grade 9-2 (A*-E) or equivalent or high level of literacy and numeracy skills demonstrated within application
- Competence based level 3 qualification e.g. NVQ or Diploma in Care or The Care Certificate issued by an employer
- Willingness to undertake any training or development relevant to the role
Desirable
- BFI Training or equivalent
- Basic counselling skills/training
- Training in safeguarding
KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE
Essential
- Demonstrate a commitment to a caring profession
- Understands the importance of record keeping
- Ability to work under pressure
- IT skills
Desirable
- Experience of working with birthing people and families
- Insight into the roles and responsibilities of the post
- Experience of working within the NHS
- Experience of providing high quality care
- Experience of working across interprofessional or multidisciplinary teams and different organisations
- Experience of working with migrant, asylum seekers and refugee people
COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIPS (INCLUDING MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES)
Essential
- Ability to communicate appropriately in written and spoken English
- Friendly, honest and approachable
- Compassionate and kind
- Good organisation skills
Desirable
- Ability to speak additional languages
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.
Employer details
Employer name
Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Community (Huddersfield and Calderdale)
Huddersfield and Calderdale
HX3 0PW
Employer's website
https://www.cht.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)
