Maternity Care Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under direction of a qualified Midwife, the post holder will provide postnatal support to women and their families in a community setting, carrying out delegated clinical and therapeutic tasks as part of a multi-professional program of midwifery care.

The post holder will regularly work without direct supervision for all or most of the shift. Effective communication between the Maternity Care Assistant and the Midwife is essential in achieving and maintaining safe care.

The midwife retains overall responsibility and accountability for the delegated provision of care for each woman and her baby.

To be responsible for work-based administration duties.

PRINCIPLE RESPONSIBILITIES

1. To support the Midwives in the management of antenatal and post-natal care of women and their babies, contributing to the provision of a high standard of maternity care.
2. As a lone worker within the community setting, to carry out assigned activities relating to both direct and indirect care, without direct supervision but reporting to the midwife.
3. To carry out duties using a degree of own initiative, within approved Health Board guidelines, involving the midwife when required.
4. To work in partnership with other community based statutory and voluntary organisations to deliver seamless services for women and babies.
5. To work within the Cardiff and Vale UHB Breastfeeding Policy and other local policies and guidelines in the support of breastfeeding women and their families
   • To contact breastfeeding women within their locality including phone contact, home visit and group contact and use specialist breastfeeding knowledge and counselling skills to support women and their families empathetically.

5.2 To implement management strategies for women with breastfeeding difficulties.

5.3 To facilitate breastfeeding support groups and parent education sessions as required.

1. To provide information on healthy lifestyles and sign post and refer to other agencies and services.

1. To work within the multi-disciplinary team to ensure the efficient delivery of the service

1. To work within the midwifery integrated model of care, working flexibly in all areas across the community.

1. To work within any national or Health Board standards.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

ADMINISTRATION/CLERICAL

1. To perform duties required in the Community and when required on the Maternity Unit, including telephone and personal enquiries, arrange appointments and directing visitors.
2. To document care given to the standard that is expected of midwives, that is in line with the NMC guidance for Record Keeping (NMC 2010).
3. Receive, transmit, store, and retrieve information pertaining to clients in a confidential manner.
4. Be conversant with the electronic Patient Management Systems including the registration of patients and use of the Digital systems.

CLINICAL MOTHER AND BABY

1. To provide and report on as necessary, the assessment, planning, implementation and on-going evaluation of care to mothers and babies under approved Health Board Guidelines.
2. To discuss sensitive health issues with mothers and their family members, where appropriate, using reasoning and reassurance skills where required. To report these outcomes to the midwife.
3. To be proactive or reactive to issues of Safeguarding, alerting the Midwife of any concerns noticed or shared.
4. To empathise with women on a one to one basis and assist with all care for mother and baby in community and if required, on the Maternity unit.
5. To take maternal observations, document and report appropriately.
6. Promote breastfeeding and support women to have a positive breastfeeding experience and feed their baby for as long as they feel appropriate.
7. Development of breastfeeding care plans as required.
8. Lead and facilitate parent education sessions on breastfeeding.
9. Provide information and demonstrate to parents on bottle-feeding and sterilisation.
10. To encourage the mother to develop confidence in all aspects of baby care. Offer support and demonstrate parenting skills where appropriate.
11. To report any change from the normal to the Midwife immediately.
12. Ensure care is accurately and legibly recorded and verbally communicated to the Midwife.
13. To write care plans for well babies.
14. To participate in extended role skills i.e. venepuncture
15. Promote awareness of infection prevention and control with peers and women in our care.
16. To participate in obstetric emergency drills.
17. It is expected that the post holder will be aware of and comply with the high standards relating to security within the maternity Unit.

COMMUNICATION

1. 1. Liaise with the community midwives, GPs and other community teams as required.
2. Attend all meetings that are appropriate to the role.
3. Report any requests for information, comments, or complaints to the Team Leader or Senior Midwife.
4. The post holder will be expected to keep themselves up to date and to respond to the changing needs of the service.
5. Comply with the legal requirements pertaining to both patients and staff, for example:

• Date Protection Act
• Employment Legislation
• Mental Health Act
• Health & Safety at Work Act

1. Participate in and complete statutory annual training such as Fire, Manual Handling and Health & Safety etc.

CVUHB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. To act in a professional manner.
2. To promote confidentiality.
3. To keep up-to-date with Health Board developments and changes.
4. To adhere to Health Board policies and procedures.
5. To maintain a safe working and caring environment by adhering to all Health Board infection control policies and procedures and attending trust annual infection control updates.
6. To adopt the organisations Organising for Excellence approach towards all women, their families and all colleagues supporting the Health Boards commitment to every patient and member of staff that their experience with us will be the best that it can be.
7. To maintain a safe working environment through complying with health and safety regulations.
8. To participate in staff appraisals, ongoing training and development needs in accordance with Health Board policies including mandatory training.

HEALTH AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

All employees of the Trust have a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions. Employees are required to co-operate with management to enable the Trust to meet its own legal duties and to report any hazardous situations or defective equipment.

FLEXIBILITY STATEMENT

The content of this Job Description represents an outline of the post only and is therefore not a precise catalogue of duties and responsibilities. The Job Description is therefore intended to be flexible and is subject to review and amendment in the light of changing circumstances, following consultation with the post holder.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ Level 3

Desirable

• Breast Feeding or Public Health experience

Skills

Essential

• Good communication skills
• Able to use initiative and prioritise workload
• IT Skills
• Participation in emergency drills

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience of working in maternity care setting
• Experience of supporting infant feeding choices
• Experience of working within a team

Desirable

• Experience of lone working

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Aware of own responsibility & accountability
• Able to interpret information and report accordingly
• Must hold a valid UK Driving licence

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

Address

University Hospital of Wales

Heath Park

Cardiff

CF14 4XW

Employer's website

https://cavuhb.nhs.wales/ (Opens in a new tab)