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Maternity support worker

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

Average salary (a year)

£15,000 Starter

to

£22,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

40 to 42 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays on a rota

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 get into this job. Relevant subjects include:

  • Level 2 Certificate in Work Preparation for Health and Social 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 work placements so this could be a good way of getting experience.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

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

More information

Apprenticeship

You could get into this job through an intermediate or advanced apprenticeship as a healthcare support worker.

Entry requirements

There are no set entry requirements for this route but it may help you to get in if you have:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), usually 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 through further training and promotion.

Volunteering and experience

You'll find it useful to get some paid or unpaid voluntary experience in a healthcare setting or a role working with children and families.

You could contact the voluntary services co-ordinator at your local NHS trust for further advice.

Direct application

You can apply directly for jobs if you've got relevant skills and experience from work like child care or health-related roles.

Employers may ask for a qualification in a child care or health-related subject, and experience of working with people.

More information

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a maternity support worker from Health Careers.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • customer service skills
  • knowledge of medicine and dentistry
  • 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
  • being able to use a computer terminal or hand-held device may be beneficial for this job.

Restrictions and requirements

You'll need to:

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

Your day-to-day duties might include:

  • sharing information with midwives about the condition of mothers and babies
  • helping to deliver care plans
  • providing women with support to help them look after themselves and their baby on their own
  • providing support to families in labour wards and maternity theatres
  • helping with parenting classes
  • collecting statistics, keeping records up-to-date and making sure that procedures are followed
  • helping on wards and other clinical areas

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 demanding.

You may need to wear a uniform.

Career path and progression

With experience you could become a senior support worker, or train as a midwife or adult nurse.

Training opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Senior Healthcare Support Worker Apprenticeship - Level 3

  • Wage : £138.75 Weekly
  • Location: Rotherham S60 2SW

Apprentice Senior Rehabilitation Assistant

  • Wage : £312.48 Weekly
  • Location: Ashford TN26 1EL
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

Health and Social Care Level 2 Extended Diploma

  • Provider: EAST SUSSEX COLLEGE GROUP
  • Start date: 09 September 2019
  • Location: Eastbourne

Level 2 Certificate in Health and Social Care

  • Provider: Eastleigh College
  • Start date: 09 September 2019
  • Location: Eastleigh
Find courses near you

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