Job summary
- Main area
- Midwifery
- Grade
- Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job ref
- 193-8225801UCGB3-MSW
- Employer
- Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
- Town
- Reading
- Salary
- £25,760 - £27,476 per annum, pro rata for part time candidates
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 16/09/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Maternity Support Worker
Band 3
At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust we put our patients at the heart of every element of health and care that we provide. The Trust works together as a community to deliver its vision which is “Working together to provide outstanding care for our community.”
Royal Berkshire Hospital are pleased to announce that following our CQC inspection we have been rated ‘Good’ with inspectors reporting that we have made significant improvements. The Trust’s overall rating has also improved to ‘good’.
We are Compassionate in our thoughts, words and actions
We are Aspirational and have a true desire to be dynamic and to innovate
We are Resourceful and responsible in the way we work and live
We are Excellent in our development, fairness and sharing best practice
At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, we value candidates who bring their unique personalities, skills, and experiences to the Trust. When completing your application, we encourage you to highlight your individual achievements and strengths, showing us how they align with the requirements outlined in the job description and person specification. While we recognise that some applicants may use AI tools during the process, please be mindful that AI-generated responses can often lack the personal detail and relevance needed to demonstrate your suitability for the role. AI generated content is discouraged by the Trust and may diminish the candidates chances of success.
Amazing things happen at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; delivered by amazing people so why don’t you come and join us. We offer a range of learning and development for all employees may you be clinical or non-clinical.
Please note: all vacancies automatically close when 50 applications have been received.
Job overview
An opportunity has become available for a Maternity Support worker t to work within our hospital midwifery team. The Maternity Support Worker will be providing care to women and their families within the Maternity Assessment Unit, Antenatal Clinic and Theatre whilst also supporting midwives providing antenatal care.
Good communication skills are essential and also a willingness to embrace change and be passionate about offering a good quality service supporting women in their choices.
Main duties of the job
The Maternity Support Worker will work as an integral member of the multidisciplinary maternity team, providing high-quality, compassionate care to women and their families throughout pregnancy and the antenatal period. The post holder will support registered midwives and medical staff in the delivery of safe, effective, and woman-centred care across the Antenatal Clinic, Maternity Assessment Unit, and Theatre environments.
The post holder will be expected to demonstrate kindness, professionalism, and respect at all times, promoting a positive experience for women, babies, and their families whilst supporting the delivery of high-quality maternity services.
Working for our organisation
The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is the main provider of hospital services for the population of Reading, Newbury, Wokingham and the towns and villages of West Berkshire.
At our heart we are a local hospital that works with NHS and social care partners to provide excellent healthcare services for over 500,000 people who currently live in our catchment area. We also provide specialist hospital services beyond the county’s borders.
We employ more than 5,500 staff from 39 different nationalities and deliver care from a network of facilities across sites in Bracknell, Henley-on-Thames, Reading, Thatcham and Windsor.
Each year we are responsible for efficiently and effectively spending more than £400m of NHS resources on the services we provide.
As a founder member of the Berkshire West Integrated Care System, we are one of NHS England’s demonstrator sites for integration between primary, community, mental health and acute healthcare services.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Health Care Support Worker should complete the Care Certificate providing that care has been assessed against a specific set of standards and has demonstrated that they have the skills, knowledge and behaviours to ensure they provide compassionate and high quality care and support (HEE, Skills for Health & Skills for Care, 2015).
Key responsibilities include:
- Assist midwives in delivering antenatal care and support to women attending clinic appointments and assessments.
- Undertake delegated clinical duties within the scope of competence, including recording maternal observations, urinalysis, venepuncture, blood pressure monitoring, specimen collection, and point-of-care testing as required.
- Support the smooth running of the Maternity Assessment Unit by welcoming women and families, preparing clinical areas, chaperoning examinations, and assisting with patient flow.
- Provide emotional support and reassurance to women and their families during periods of assessment, investigation, and treatment.
- Prepare clinical rooms, equipment, and supplies, ensuring safe, clean, and well-stocked environments in accordance with infection prevention and control standards.
- Support midwives and theatre teams in the preparation of women undergoing elective and emergency procedures, including caesarean births.
- Assist with theatre setup, equipment checks, stock management, and maintaining a safe, efficient theatre environment.
- Provide support during operative procedures, including assisting with patient positioning, transfer, documentation, and post-operative care under the direction of the midwife and theatre team.
- Support infant feeding, skin-to-skin contact, and early parent-infant bonding in accordance with local policies and Baby Friendly Initiative standards.
- Accurately document care provided and maintain confidentiality in line with Trust policies, professional standards, and data protection requirements.
- Recognise and promptly report any concerns relating to a woman's physical or emotional wellbeing, escalating appropriately to the registered midwife or relevant healthcare professional.
- Participate in maintaining a safe environment by adhering to safeguarding, infection prevention, health and safety, and risk management procedures.
- Work collaboratively with midwives, obstetricians, anaesthetists, neonatal staff, and other members of the multidisciplinary team to ensure coordinated and effective care.
- Contribute to service improvement initiatives and actively participate in mandatory training, competency assessments, supervision, and continuing professional development
To be able to achieve the competencies in relation to supporting the midwives support women/birth people in the birth process as described in the development passport for band 3 maternity support worker
Assists in the monitoring and maintenance of the health, safety and security of self and others in work area. The post holder must ensure that they work within risk management/ occupational health legislation and Trust procedures for safe working practices.
Demonstrates a commitment to continued personal development. Works towards completion of Trust’s Maternity Care Assistant Competency Framework within an appropriate timescale.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Basic Numeracy & Literacy
Desirable criteria
- NVQ level 3 in promoting care or promoting independence
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience as an HCA/MCA in a community or hospital setting
Desirable criteria
- Infant feeding experience
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Lucy Herzog
- Job title
- Antenatal Services Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0118 322 8674
- Additional information
List jobs with Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust in Nursing and Midwifery