Maternity Care Assistant

An opportunity has arisen for Maternity Care Assistants, to assist with the smooth running of the Maternity Department at Darent Valley Hospital. The successful candidates will support the midwives with a range of clinical and administrative duties and provide women and their families with high quality care to enhance their birth experience. The post is rotational working shifts within all areas of the Maternity Department across both days and nights including weekends. This will include assisting in operating theatres as well as ward areas and clinic., To work as a member of the midwifery team working under the direction, guidance and supervision of a registered midwife.
To work within all areas of the maternity inpatient service including obstetric theatre and antenatal clinic.
To undertake delegated personal care duties for patients/clients
To maintain a stable and safe clinical environment., To assist with the planned patient/client care under the supervision and guidance of a registered midwife, notifying the midwife of any deviations from normal as soon as possible.
To provide a high standard and quality of care to women and babies in accordance with Trust clinical policies, procedures and guidelines.
To assist with the physical needs of women and their babies - e.g. toileting, personal hygiene and supporting women with daily care of baby.
Maintains confidentiality at all times, only providing patient/client information under the guidance and supervision of a registered midwife.
To provide breast-feeding support under the guidance of a registered midwife following appropriate training and supervision.
To bleep medical staff (and others) when requested to do so by midwifery staff and to be able to put out a crash and fire call.
To deal with waste and soiled linen in the appropriate way and in accordance with hospital policy.
To maintain a clean and pleasant clinical environment.
To ensure women and babies safety is maintained at all times.
To communicate with women, relatives and colleagues in a courteous and helpful way.
To assist in the monitoring and restocking of supplies, ensuring adequate levels (including leaflets), and including photocopying where relevant.
To assist in the cleaning and storage of equipment.
To maintain accurate, timely and legible records
To actively contribute to the public health agenda and targets as agreed by the Trust.
To carry out any other reasonable duties as may be required, which are commensurate with the grade and nature of the post, to meet the needs of the service. This will include cover on Delivery suite, be able to assist in obstetric theatres as a "Runner" and support the scrub nurse, assist doctors at instrumental deliveries.
Our staff are our most valuable asset. We are committed to making staff feel appreciated, supported and included in the Trust's successes. Our mission is to be an outstanding place to work providing the very best care for our patients and excellent career opportunities for our staff. Everything we do is guided by our core values and behaviours, identified by our staff and embedded throughout the organisation.
Would you like to work flexibly? In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement
We have the highest CQC rating of all Acute NHS Trusts in Kent and Medway (Good). The CQC highlighted that managers promoted a positive culture that supported, valued staff and created a sense of common purpose based upon shared values.
The Trust is a great place to work, stay, develop a career and enjoy a healthy work life balance. We have made and are delivering on a wide range of commitments to staff; health and wellbeing; equality; diversity and inclusion; access to education and career development. During 2020 we sett up quality councils, driven by our staff to create a culture of shared governance and quality improvement.
We have a strong focus on innovation and improvement. Part of Guy's and St Thomas' (GSTT) 'Healthcare Alliance' we are introducing new models of care to improve clinical outcomes for patients. Our association with GSTT also gives staff wishing to develop their skills excellent opportunities to work across numerous specialities.
As our local population increases, our services and skills are expanding and adapting to meet demand. We are continuously looking at best practice models to enhance and improve the services we offer.
The Trust provides services at Darent Valley Hospital and Queen Mary's Hospital, for a local population of over 500,000 people.
If you would like to be part of our innovative and forward thinking team putting patients at the centre of all we do, we invite you to #joinourfamily.
The NHS are striving towards "we work flexibly" as a workforce, we want to ensure that you can work in a way that is best for us, our patients, and importantly for you. We offer many flexible working opportunities, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement for you and if it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Please note this vacancy may close earlier than stated to aid efficient processing of applications. To ensure your application will be considered please submit it at your earliest convenience. If you have not heard from us within 21 days of the closing date please assume that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion.
Please note, that due to the limited number of car parking spaces, car parking permits will be allocated subject to compliance with the Trusts eligibility criteria and availability of spaces. Permit holders are not guaranteed a car parking space.
Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust is a smoke free organisation. To improve public health smoking or vaping is not permitted anywhere on the hospital site.

Health care experience ideally in a maternity care setting
Basic numeracy and literacy skills and evidence of further learning within a health care setting (e.g. NVQ health and social care or equivalent, breast feeding peer support)
Basic computer and administrative skills
Good communication skills
A keen interest in maternity care and birth and knowledge of infant feeding
He/She will be:
Organised and flexible
Adaptable with the ability to work well under pressure