Maternity Health Care Assistant

• Works collaboratively with midwives, service users and the multidisciplinary team to provide quality care.
• Actively listens and asks appropriate questions to understand the needs of women and the requirements of colleagues
• Shares and disseminates accurate information and feedback verbally, written and electronically (including the use of CRS) in a timely manner, ensuring confidentiality where required
• Knows when and how to escalate any concerns regarding the mother or baby to the midwife
• Keeps relevant, accurate, legible and up to date records of care given and communication with women and colleagues
• Contributes to the provision of a welcoming environment to women and their families by presenting a positive image of self and maternity service and promoting the Trust values.

• Accept delegated responsibility following training in skills and competencies including phlebotomy, bladder care including the removal of catheters, removal of cannula, processing of fetal and cord blood samples and blood spot screening.
• Under the direction of a midwife is able to provide postnatal care to mothers and babies making observations, assessments and appropriate referral of any concerns to the midwife
• Provide consistent evidence based information and support on infant feeding, parenting skills and safety issues such as cot death, room temperature and bed sharing, reporting any concerns to the midwife.
• Recognising common problems such as breast feeding and jaundice and taking appropriate actions such as referral to the midwife or infant feeding specialist as necessary
• Recognise and report any suspicions of abuse or domestic violence to a midwife or other health professional
• Assist midwives in emergency situations e.g. fetch equipment, call for ambulance, act as scribe
• If required and following training be able to provide adult basic life support and neonatal resuscitation competently until help arrives.
• Works closely with the midwives to complete discharges in a timely manner. Competent in providing the discharge talks to patients and their families
• Assist in stock control and the ordering of supplies for the clinical area
• Support midwives following birth with the weighing of baby, dressing and assisting with preparation for suturing and cleaning

Essential

• Ability to establish and maintain effective communication at all levels
• Ability to work as part of the multi disciplinary team
• A sound understanding of confidentiality
• Interpersonal skills