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Maternity support worker
Hours
37.5 per week
Starting salary
£13,600 + per year
If you love babies and would like to help bring them into the world, this job could be ideal for you. Maternity support workers help midwives provide care to women and their babies, before, during and after childbirth. They provide support to families in labour wards and maternity theatres. They also provide support in post-natal wards in hospitals and in the community.
As a maternity support worker you will need to have excellent communication and listening skills. You’ll need to have a positive and enthusiastic attitude. You’ll also need to be caring and supportive.
Most employers will prefer you to have a good standard of general education. They may also look for relevant paid or voluntary experience in a hospital.
WorkDesc
The work
As a maternity support worker you would work under the direction of a qualified midwife. Your duties would 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
- helping with parenting classes
- helping to make sure that clinics run smoothly
- collecting statistics, keeping records up to date and making sure that procedures are followed
- helping on wards and in other clinical areas .
HoursDesc
Hours
You would usually work 37.5 hours a week on a shift or rota system. This will include nights, bank holidays and weekends. Flexible and part-time hours are often available.
If you work in the community, you would usually spend some of your day travelling between clients.
IncomeDesc
Income
Maternity support workers can earn between £13,600 and £16,300 a year. With experience and relevant qualifications this can rise to around £21,800 a year. Additional allowances may be paid for working unsocial hours.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
Each NHS Trust can set its own entry requirements, so you will need to check exact requirements with your local maternity unit.
In general, many employers will prefer you to have:
- a good standard of general education, for example, four GCSEs (A-C) including English and maths
- relevant paid or voluntary experience in a hospital, or with families and young children in a health or social care setting.
If you want to get voluntary experience, contact the voluntary services coordinator or manager at your local NHS Trust for advice. See NHS Choices website for a list of Trusts.
You will also need evidence of your good health and character, and a full Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check. See the CRB website for details.
It could help you if you have a basic First Aid Certificate and a relevant healthcare qualification such as a level 2 or 3 Certificate in Working in the Health Sector.
Another option for doing this job is to start working in a hospital then join a Cadet Scheme or Apprenticeship (in many regions, Cadet Schemes have been replaced with Apprenticeships). Schemes vary between Trusts, but will usually include clinical placements and working towards a qualification, such as the Level 3 Diploma in Clinical Healthcare Support. To find out more, visit the Apprenticeships website.
You could also contact your local NHS Trust for details of cadet and apprenticeship schemes. See NHS Choices website for a list of Trusts.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
You would receive induction training from your employer, which would usually cover areas such as:
- infection control
- breast feeding support
- risk management
- child protection
- health and safety.
You would continue to develop your skills by working closely with midwives and experienced support workers, and by completing a supervised programme of training. This can vary in length and content and you may be assessed at the end of your training.
You may also be encouraged to work towards vocational qualifications such as:
- Diploma in Clinical Healthcare Support, levels 2 and 3
- Level 3 Diploma in Maternity and Paediatric Support.
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
To become a maternity support worker, you will need to have:
- excellent communication and listening skills
- an understanding of the importance of good relations with patients and visitors
- the ability to manage time efficiently and prioritise your workload
- a positive, enthusiastic attitude
- a commitment to training, personal and professional development
- empathy and a caring and supportive attitude
- good teamwork skills and the ability to work alone
- the ability to react appropriately to situations needing immediate action (under the direction of the supervising midwife).
MoreInformationDesc
More information
Skills for Health 
Goldsmiths House
Broad Plain
Bristol
BS2 0JP
Tel: 0117 922 1155
www.skillsforhealth.org.uk
NHS Careers
PO Box 2311
Bristol
BS2 2ZX
Tel: 0345 60 60 655
www.nhscareers.nhs.uk
Health Learning and Skills Advice Line
Tel: 08000 150850
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
You will find most job opportunities in the NHS, in hospitals and in the community.
Your experience in this role will be useful if you want to go on to train as a midwife or adult nurse.
You may find the following useful for vacancies and general reading (links open in new window):
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
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Related industry information
Industry summary
The health sector is represented by Skills for Health Sector Skills Council, which comprises three sub‐sectors:
- National Health Service (NHS)
- Independent Healthcare Sector (such as private and charitable healthcare providers)
- Third Sector (healthcare) (such as small local community and voluntary groups, registered charities, foundations, trusts, social enterprises and co‐operatives)
The health sector is made up of hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, dental practices, the ambulance service, nursing homes, residential care homes, complementary medicine and a huge range of other health related activities, from sight tests in opticians to research in medical laboratories. Most people in the health sector work in the publicly funded National Health Service (NHS), which includes:
- primary care (organisations which the public goes to first) – Doctors/General Practitioners (GPs), NHS Walk in Centres, NHS Direct, Out of Hours Emergency Care
- secondary care (organisations which the public are referred onto) – Ambulance Trusts, NHS Trusts/hospitals, NHS Foundation Trusts/hospitals, Mental Health Trusts, Care Trusts (provide joint health and social care activities)
NHS policy in England is directed from the centre by the Department of Health. Local organisations, known as Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), are in charge of providing and commissioning services, controlling the majority of the budget. PCTs are overseen by 10 regional organisations called Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs).
The independent sector includes companies and charities that offer hospital and specialist services usually after referral from a doctor. Operations and other work are carried out in private hospitals, independent treatment centres, mental health units and hospices.
Key facts:
- The health sector is the largest employer in the UK, representing 5.5% of the working age population of the UK and 7.3% of the working age population that are currently in employment.
- It is estimated that the sector employs over 2 million people, including:
- over 1.5 million people in the NHS (72%)
- over 0.5 million people in the Independent Healthcare sector (26%)
- almost 40,000 in the voluntary sector (2%)
- 56% of the workforce has a higher education qualification (or equivalent).
- The age profile for the sector shows an older than average workforce, which is due in part to the fact that it takes some professions a long time to train and can mean that people enter the sector later.
There is a varied list of jobs in the sector ranging from a diverse number of clinical roles, to support and infrastructure staff, for instance: Allied Health Professionals (AHPs); Ambulance Staff; Dental Staff; Doctors/Medical staff; Nursing staff; Midwifery Staff; Healthcare Scientists; Health Informatics Staff; Management; Wider Healthcare Team; Complementary Therapists.
National and regional data
High proportions of the health sector workforce are located in:
- London
- South East
- North West
East Midlands - The health sector employs 131,515 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East Midlands employs 8% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 29% of all employment across the sector or 41,200 employees.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
East of England - The health sector employs 164,720 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East of England employs 9.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 52,300 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 14% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 103,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
London - The health sector employs over 249,524 people, which accounts for 6% of all the employment in the region.
- London employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 33% of all employment across the sector or 78,500 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 146,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North East - The health sector employs 89,201 people, which accounts for 8.7% of all employment in the region.
- The North East employs 5.3 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 23,800 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be almost 46,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North West - The health sector employs 251,960 people, which accounts for 8% of all employment in the region.
- The North West employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South East - The health sector employs 264,071 people, which accounts for 7.1% of all employment in the region.
- The South East employs 15.7% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 164,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South West - The health sector employs 182,187 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- The South West employs 10.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 60,700 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 105,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
West Midlands - The health sector employs 168,746 people, which accounts for 7.2% of all employment in the region.
- The West Midlands employs 10% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 43,000 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 9% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 108,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Yorkshire and the Humber - The health sector employs 182,848 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- Yorkshire and the Humber employ 10.9 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 24% of the total health care workforce or 42,000 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 97,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Northern Ireland - The health sector employs 61,300 people.
- Northern Ireland employs 3% of the total health sector workforce.
- 81% of the workforce is female.
- 26% of the workforce is aged 35‐44 years.
- 96% of the workforce is white.
- 10% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 48% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Scotland - The health sector employs 201,500 people.
- Scotland employs 10% of the total health sector workforce.
- 78% of the workforce is female.
- 30% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 95% of the workforce is white.
- 14% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 39% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Wales - The health sector employs 114,900 people.
- Wales employs 6% of the total health sector workforce.
- 74% of the workforce is female.
- 34% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 94% of the workforce is white.
- 18% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 40% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 27% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2008‐2009, Annual Business Inquiry, 2007, and Northern Ireland Census of Employment, 2007]
Career paths
Further sources
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