Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Work within your scope of practice to maintain quality of care and patient safety.
• Demonstrate care and compassion to patients, carers, and relatives at all times.
• Communicate with patients explaining the care to be given. Respect their dignity and gain consent before performing the care activity for the patient.
• Accept delegated responsibilities for patient care from a Registered Midwife.
• Competently perform all aspects of care for patients according to individualised patient care plans under direct or indirect supervision of a registered midwife. Which include; toileting, washing and dressing, oral hygiene, eating and drinking, mobilisation (assisting with walking, transferring and repositioning of patients).
• Communicate and report observed changes to a patients physical/psychological condition to a Midwife.
• Communicate with all members of the multi-disciplinary team, relaying verbal and written messages promptly to ensure high standards of care are achieved.
• Be aware of communication barriers, such as: English not being the patient’s first language; poor sight or hearing; neurodiversity; cognitive delays following strokes. Adapt your communication accordingly.
• Respond to patient and carers questions, providing information about the care you have given, then escalating to a Registered Midwife for additional information.
• Respond to emergency situations, raising the alarm and delivering emergency care within your competency boundaries.
• Accurately document care delivered in the patients’ healthcare records.

Complete patient’s observations using appropriate equipment.
• Demonstrate competence in: Vital signs observations and recording using the MEWS and NEWTT2 scoring system; blood glucose monitoring; urinalysis.
• Recognise the when these observations are outside of normal/safe limits expected for the patient and reporting to a registered midwife immediately.
• Perform a range of patient care tasks such as: pregnancy testing; wound observations, dressings, removal of peripheral cannula; removal of catheter; changing of stoma bags and report any issues to the Registered Nurse.
• Senior MCSW working in maternity and neonatal environments will be able to complete maternal and neonatal observations

Accept accountability and responsibility for delegated tasks from a Registered Midwife.
• Be polite and courteous, respecting all hospital staff, patients and visitors who come to the Trust.
• Use effective communication that supports patients, families and staff.
• Actively participate in team work to create an effective nursing and multidisciplinary team.

Assist with the induction, supervision, training and development of Band 2 Healthcare Assistants under the supervision of a registered nurse.
• Welcome all students and learners to the team and involve them in the care activities you deliver.

Hold the Care Certificate
• Following a yearly appraisal, complete identified education and training
• Complete mandatory and statutory training and updates on time to maintain patient safety.
• Undertake training and complete competencies records relevant to clinical skills required to care for the patient in the ward/clinical area and service.
• Attend education and training events that support your role development
• Complete coursework to fulfil training course requirements within the timeframes set by the trainers.
• Act as a link MCSW and share knowledge with the wider team.

Maintain confidentiality at all times.
• When inputting information into patient’s records, comply with the Data protection Act, Caldicott Guidance and local policy.
• Follow Trust policies and procedures to maintain safe working practices for patients and colleagues.
• Adhere to departmental procedures for the use of supplies and equipment to promote effective and efficient use of resources.
• Share responsibilities for key aspects of housekeeping and stock control, demonstrating good awareness of cost efficiency and safety.
• Undertake routine and regular checks of ward/clinical unit equipment, to ensure it is clean and in good working order.
• Assist in Nursing and Clinical audits as directed.