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Maternity support worker

Alternative titles for this job include

Maternity support workers help midwives care for women and their babies before, during and after childbirth.

Average salary (a year)

£22,000 Starter

to

£2,800 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

40 to 42 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays on a rota

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become a maternity support worker

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • applying directly

College

You could do a college course to become a maternity support worker.

You could do a:

  • Level 2 Certificate in Child Development and Care
  • Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care
  • Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care

Most health and social care courses include a work placement so this could be a good way for you to get experience.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

More Information

Apprenticeship

You could start by doing a Healthcare Support Worker Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.

After this, you could then do the Senior Healthcare Support Worker Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship. On this apprenticeship, you can choose to specialise in maternity support.

Entry requirements

To get onto an apprenticeship, you'll find it useful to have:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

More Information

Work

You could start as a healthcare assistant and learn on the job. You could move into maternity work by training or applying for a promotion where you work.

Volunteering

You'll find it useful to get volunteering experience either in healthcare or with children and families.

Direct Application

You can apply directly for jobs if you've got relevant skills and experience of working in childcare or healthcare.

Employers may want you to have a qualification in a childcare or healthcare in addition to some experience.

More Information

Career tips

When you apply for jobs, employers will expect you to understand how the NHS values apply in your work.

Further information

You can find out more about how to become a maternity support worker on Health Careers.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • knowledge of health and medicine for newborn babies
  • customer service skills
  • sensitivity and understanding
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • thinking and reasoning skills
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

As a maternity support worker, you might:

  • help care for mothers and babies
  • do routine checks such as taking temperature or blood pressure
  • provide support to families in labour
  • help with parenting classes and on hospital wards
  • collect statistics, keep records updated and do routine admin
  • report any problems to a midwife or a nurse

Working environment

You could work in an NHS or private hospital, in the community or at a client's home.

Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.

You may need to wear a uniform.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience you could become a senior support worker.

You could also train to become an assistant practitioner, nursing associate, midwife or nurse.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Apprentice Healthcare Support Worker

  • Wage: £13,520.00 Annually
  • Location: Bilston, Wolverhampton

Apprenticeship Healthcare Support Worker Level 2

  • Wage: £22,543.00 Annually
  • Location: Haslemere
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

Health and Social Care

  • Provider: HULL COLLEGE
  • Start date: 03 September 2024
  • Location: Hull

Health and Social Care

  • Provider: SACRED HEART CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
  • Start date: 01 September 2024
  • Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Find courses near you

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