Maternity Support Worker - Neonates

Job overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for detailed job description of the role.

Main duties of the job

Southampton Neonatal Unit is looking for highly motivated, enthusiastic individuals to join our friendly Woodland Ward Special Care Team.  As we expand our Neonatal service, we are looking for highly motivated individuals who are dedicated to delivering high quality, family integrated care.  Are you flexible, adaptable and organised with the ability to prioritise? If you are looking for a new challenge or a change in direction within your career, we have an exciting opportunity for you!

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

We have a purpose built, Nurse- led Special care unit caring for sick and preterm babies from 32 weeks.  •    The unit has 16 cots, including 4 Family Integrated care rooms •    A welcoming, caring and safe environment for all •    Patients and families come first; family is at the heart of what we do!  •    There is space for a parent to stay with their baby 24 hours a day, encouraging unrestricted access to their baby •    We support, guide and advise parents in a friendly and supportive environment enabling them to care for their baby.  This helps them to develop close and loving relationships with their baby and values parents as partners in their care.   •    We actively support and promote effective communication with parents during admission through their participation in ward rounds, providing continuity and consistency. •    Nurses and Allied Health Professionals provide parent craft sessions in a safe, relaxed environment.  These are provided with empathy, kindness and understanding to empower parents to care for their baby. •    Feeding progression is supported in conjunction with the Infant Feeding Team and SALT. •    We actively promote and support breastfeeding but also support parents feeding choices •    Parents are supported to confidently care for their baby to facilitate safe and timely discharge  •    You will be working as part of a multidisciplinary team to deliver a high standard of care.

Nursing staff are responsible for care of the babies at a ratio of 1 nurse to 4 babies.  You will be responsible for taking observations, supporting feeding through a variety of methods, providing cares including nappies, looking after intravenous cannulas and fluids, taking blood gases and samples and assisting with procedures. You will help to facilitate and support feeding progression, including breastfeeding.  A crucial part of this role is providing family support, you will be required to guide and advise parents in caring for their baby, helping them to bond and empowering them. This also encompasses emotional support, ensuring the family access the services they require including social care.

• To provide compassionate support to parents enabling them to care for their baby whilst on Woodland Ward; this includes changing nappies, guidance with feeding, holding, and bonding with their baby, ensuring family and carers are at the centre of everything you do. •    To assist with all aspects of infant feeding via naso gastric tube, to undertake tube feeding and understands the complication of tube feeding. •    To assist with infant feeding development.  Provides mothers with information on the importance of breastmilk for their baby and advocating for breastfeeding; this includes support for establishing a milk supply and moving on to breastfeeding.  Where mothers wish to bottle feed, support is provided to enable paced responsive bottle feeding. •    Observes and records blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, respirations and colour having knowledge of the normal range and report any variance from normal to the registered nurse. •    To carry out blood sugar measurements, administer oxygen therapy as directed by Qualified nurse/doctor, to care for peripheral I.V. site •    To assist, as delegated, in an emergency, ensuring that assistance is summoned immediately. •    Prepare and maintain medical equipment used in neonatal care, ensuring they are ready for use and are cleaned appropriately. •    Maintain high standards of cleanliness and infection control across the neonatal unit, ensuring compliance with Trust policies and procedures. •    Collaborates with all members of the multidisciplinary team within the Neonatal Unit and the Princess Anne Hospital and ensures a team approach to care.  •    The ability to recognise personal limitations in your knowledge and competence, acknowledging these to other members of the neonatal team. •    To work within Trust Policies to maintain confidentiality of verbal and written information and ensures that any disclosure is consistent with Statutory and Trust Policy.  •    Be open, honest and willing to acknowledge when something has gone wrong.  Make timely apologies and take action to report incidents, including near misses; to ensure that as an organisation we learn. •    You should continuously seek to reduce harm by speaking up to managers and leaders if you believe that a lack of skills, knowledge or resources places patients at a risk of harm or if your concerns are not being listened to.  Managers and leaders must listen to others when they raise concerns and take action. •    All staff providing services to patients and children are reminded of their responsibility to adhere to Trust and departmental child protection and safeguarding policies including employment checks.