Maternity Support Worker | Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (BFT)

An exciting opportunity has arisen for Maternity Support Workers to join our Women and Children’s division at Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, working across the maternity unit at Southmead Hospital.

As a Maternity Support Worker within our supportive multidisciplinary team, you will play an integral role in providing high quality care from the antenatal period to post birth. You will carry out a range of clinical and non-clinical healthcare, or therapeutic tasks, under the direct or indirect supervision of the registered healthcare practitioner, in accordance with the Trust values.

There will be opportunities to develop your knowledge and skills, specific to your needs. Training will be provided to ensure you have the required core skills and skills set specific to your area of work.

All successful applicants will be expected to complete an Apprenticeship in Healthcare at Level 3 ,if not already achieved.

It is likely this vacancy will close early once a sufficient amount of applications are received.

Our maternity services provide a full range of maternity care. Our dedicated midwives, doctors, maternity support workers (MSW’s) and support staff are committed to providing personalised care to the highest standards.

Your key duties will include

• Supporting new parents and their families on adapting to parenthood
• Taking physiological observations and blood tests
• Being a strong team player, with the ability to work autonomously.
• Providing chaperoning support to the woman and her partner during clinical examination
• Working in collaboration with the midwives
• Supporting in theatre

Our maternity services provide a full range of maternity care. Our dedicated midwives, doctors, maternity support workers (MSW’s) and support staff are committed to providing personalised care to the highest standards.

You could work across all areas of maternity including community.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Please refer to the job description attached for a full list of responsibilities

All Areas

• Practice safe standards of care following Trust guidelines and policies
• Not all duties are routine. You will need to use your knowledge, experience and understanding to take decisions within your area of responsibility.
• Prioritise your own workload and manage time effectively.
• Obtain consent prior to giving care in accordance with Trust policies.
• Recognise and report any abnormal events or emergencies to the multidisciplinary team through the appropriate means, in a timely manner.
• Support women and birthing people during clinical procedures, including attending to any personal hygiene, as necessary.
• Understands the principles of parent education and health promotion and directs women to a qualified practitioner with any concerns or questions.
• Assist with infant feeding, encouraging, and supporting breastfeeding in line with Baby Friendly Initiative Standards.
• If appropriate to working area co-ordinate clinics e.g., NIPE clinics/GTT etc. and arrange and inform follow-up appointments with birthing people, ensuring I.T systems are updated with this.
• Escort women, birthing people and their families between clinical areas as required.
• Provide practical support to new parents when caring for their newborn.
• Promote health education specific to the clinical area and in line with national and local policies.
• Contribute to the safeguarding of women, birthing people, and baby’s, reporting concerns to the appropriate bodies.
• Maintain accurate records. Understand the importance of accurate and timely communication within the health care environment. Exchange information with women and birthing people using encouragement, reassurance, tact, empathy; may overcome barriers to understanding, e.g., physical impairment, mental health condition or learning disabilities
• Act as chaperone when requested to do so.
• Assist in the nutrition and hydration needs of women and birthing people.
• Adhere to Trust Uniform Policy, maintain personal standards of hygiene, and promote universal precautions to limit cross infection.
• Maintain stock levels and ensure clinical areas and equipment are clean and tidy. Ensure the most effective and economical use is made of all supplies and equipment. If required assist with the ordering, receipt, storage, and distribution of stock.
• Ensure the working order of equipment, reporting any concerns, faults, or breakages to the appropriate person in a timely manner.

This advert closes on Monday 2 Nov 2026