Profession maternity support worker

Maternity carers provide direct personal care and assistance with activities of daily living to patients and residents in a variety of health care settings such as hospitals, clinics, and residential nursing care facilities. They provide help and pain relief measures during pregnancy and labour.

Would you like to know what kind of career and professions suit you best? Take our free Holland code career test and find out.

Personality Type

• Social / Realistic

Related professions maternity care

• Midwifery associate professional
• Midwifery professional

Knowledge

• Human anatomy

  The dynamic relationship of human structure and function and the muscosceletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine, urinary, reproductive, integumentary and nervous systems; normal and altered anatomy and physiology throughout the human lifespan.

• Pregnancy

  The process related to conception and development of the fetus in the mother`s womb, the symptoms of pregnancy, risks and complications, diseases and timing of childbirth.

• Hygiene in a health care setting

  The procedures related to maintaining a hygienic environment within a health care setting such as hospitals and clinics. It can range from hand washing to cleaning and disinfection of medical equipment used and infection control methods.

• Childbirth

  The process of delivering a baby, the symptoms and signs of labour, the expulsion of the baby and all the related steps and procedures, including the ones related to complications and pre-mature birth.

• Health education

  The factors affecting health and of the educational approach to assisting people to make healthy life choices.

Skills

• Advise on family planning

  Provide advice on the use of birth control and methods of contraception available, on sexual education, prevention and management of sexually transmitted diseases, pre-conception counselling and fertility management.

• Empathise with the healthcare user

  Understand the background of clients` and patients’ symptoms, difficulties and behaviour. Be empathetic about their issues; showing respect and reinforcing their autonomy, self-esteem and independence. Demonstrate a concern for their welfare and handle according to the personal boundaries, sensitivities, cultural differences and preferences of the client and patient in mind.

• Work with nursing staff

  Work together with nurses and other health professionals in supporting the delivery of basic patient care.

• Advise on pregnancy

  Counsel patients on normal changes occurring in pregnancy, providing advice on nutrition, drug effects and other lifestyle changes.

• Comply with quality standards related to healthcare practice

  Apply quality standards related to risk management, safety procedures, patients feedback, screening and medical devices in daily practice, as they are recognized by the national professional associations and authorities.

• Provide pre-natal care

  Monitor the normal progression of pregnancy and development of foetus by prescribing regular check-ups for prevention, detection and treatment of health problems throughout the course of the pregnancy.

• Monitor basic patients signs

  Monitor basic patient vital signs and other signs, taking actions as indicated by the nurse and report to her/him as appropriate.

• Interact with healthcare users

  Communicate with clients and their carer’s, with the patient’s permission, to keep them informed about the clients’ and patients’ progress and safeguarding confidentiality.

• Provide postnatal care

  Provide care to the mother and the new-born child following birth, ensuring that the new-born and the mother are healthy and that the mother is capable of taking care of her new-born.

• Examine the new-born infant

  Perform a neonatal examination to identify any danger signs, to assess the normal adaptations of a newborn after birth and to identify birth defects or birth trauma.

• Support nurses

  Support nurses with the preparation and delivery of diagnostic and treatment interventions.

• Advise on control of conception

  Provide advice on the various types of methods used to prevent pregnancy such as contraceptives or condoms.

• Deal with emergency care situations

  Assess the signs and be well-prepared for a situation that poses an immediate threat to a person's health, security, property or environment.  

• Follow clinical guidelines

  Follow agreed protocols and guidelines in support of healthcare practice which are provided by healthcare institutions, professional associations, or authorities and also scientific organisations.

• Work in a multicultural environment in health care

  Interact, relate and communicate with individuals from a variety of different cultures, when working in a healthcare environment.

• Advise on pregnancies at risk

  Identify and provide advice on the early signs of risk pregnancies.

• Contribute to continuity of health care

  Contribute to the delivery of coordinated and continuous healthcare.

• Empathise with the woman's family during and after pregnancy

  Demonstrate empathy with women and their families during pregancy, childbirth labour and in the post partum period.

• Comply with legislation related to health care

  Comply with the regional and national legislation that is relevant to one`s work and apply it in practice.

• Care for the new-born infant

  Take care of the newly born baby by performing actions such as feeding him/her at regular hours, checking his/her vital signs and changing diapers.

• Identify abnormalities

  Identify what is normal and abnormal concerning the well-being of patients, through experience and instruction, reporting to the nurses what is abnormal.

• Provide basic support to patients

  Support patients and citizens with activities of daily living, such as hygiene, comfort, mobilisation and feeding needs.

• Listen actively

  Give attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of customers, clients, passengers, service users or others, and provide solutions accordingly.

• Assist on pregnancy abnormality

  Support the mother in case of abnormality signs during the pregnancy period and call the doctor in emergency cases.

• Communicate with nursing staff

  Communicate with nurses and other health professionals ensuring the delivery of quality and safe patient care.

• Work in multidisciplinary health teams

  Participate in the delivery of multidisciplinary health care, and understand the rules and competences of other healthcare related professions.

• Apply health sciences

  Apply a broad range of bio-medical, psycho-social, organisational, educational, and societal aspects of health, disease, and healthcare to improve healthcare services and to improve quality of life.

• Work under supervision in care

  Work under delegation and supervision of nurses to support nursing care and administration.

• Ensure safety of healthcare users

  Make sure that healthcare users are being treated professionally, effectively and safe from harm, adapting techniques and procedures according to the person's needs, abilities or the prevailing conditions.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB