Maternity Support Worker

Typical Salary

£18,005 To £24,157

Typical Hours

40 to 42 a week

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 / University

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

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

Apprenticeship

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

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

some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

Routes into this Career

You could start as a healthcare assistant and learn on the job. You could move into maternity work through further training and promotion.

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.

Other Routes

Other Routes are not listed for this job.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

knowledge of neonatal health and medicine
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

Day To Day Tasks

As part of your day-to-day duties, you might:

share information with midwives about the condition of mothers and babies
help to deliver care plans
provide women with support to help them look after themselves and their baby on their own
provide support to families in labour wards and maternity theatres
help with parenting classes
collect statistics, keep records up-to-date and make sure that procedures are followed
help 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 & Progression

Career Path & Progression are not listed for this job.

Volunteering Opportunities

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.

Tips & Information

Further information

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

Restrictions & Requirements

You'll need to:

pass enhanced background checks, as you may be working with children and vulnerable adults