Maternity support worker

Maternity support workers help midwives care for women and their babies before, during and after childbirth.


Typical Salary

£24,000 – £26,000

per year

Working Hours

37–42

hours per week

Career Area

Nursing auxiliaries and assistants

View related courses

Day-to-day tasks

As a maternity support worker, you might:

  • help care for mothers and babies
  •  do routine checks such as taking temperature or blood pressure
  •  provide support to families in labour
  •  help with parenting classes and on hospital wards
  •  collect statistics, keep records updated and do routine admin
  •  report any problems to a midwife or a nurse

Skills needed

  • knowledge of medicine and dentistry
  • customer service skills
  • sensitivity and understanding
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • thinking and reasoning skills
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

How to get into this role

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • applying directly

Career progression

With experience you could become a senior support worker.

You could also train to become an assistant practitioner, nursing associate, midwife or nurse.