Job summary
- Main area
- Assistant Practitioner
- Grade
- Band 4
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Pattern of Early and late shifts)
- Job ref
- 362-A-24-7054373
- Employer
- Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Stockport Foundation Trust
- Town
- Hazel Grove
- Salary
- £26,530 - £29,114 pro rata per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 27/03/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Assistant Practitioner for Maternity Inpatient Care
Band 4
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
There are lots of good reasons to choose to come and work at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust. A dynamic integrated Trust with integrity and vision. Exactly the same qualities you’ll see in yourself. Stockport NHS Foundation Trust aims to be the organisation of choice for patients and an employer of choice for staff. In order to continually improve all aspects of our patient experience, we rely upon having a highly skilled, motivated, diverse, productive and patient focused workforce.
Stockport Foundation Trust is one of four ‘specialist’ hospital sites in Greater Manchester. Being a ‘specialist’ hospital will enhance our general surgery, anaesthetics, critical care and emergency medicine for the benefit of people in Stockport, High Peak, Cheshire and across Greater Manchester.
Our values ‘We Care, We Respect, We Listen’ are at the heart of everything we do, and come from our promise: ‘Making a difference every day.’ They drive the behaviour and actions for everyone in our organisation.
In your application for this post, please describe how your experience and skills align with 'Our values-based behaviours' ( see additional documentation) and provide examples.
Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment
As well as recognising previous NHS service, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust is a member of the Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment. If you are currently employed by Greater Manchester Local Authority, Combined Authority, GMFRS, TfGM as well as other public service organisations, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust will recognise your previous service for sickness and maternity/paternity/adoption entitlement and also for annual leave purposes (providing there has been no break in service). If you currently work for one of the above organisations and successfully apply for a post with Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, please ensure the Recruitment team are aware so that this service is reflected in your contract of employment.
Our Values:
We Care
About each other
Our patients and their families
The communities we serve
The environment
We support them and deliver on their promises
We Respect
Each other
Our patients and their families
Our partners
We are kind and helpful, and we expect the same in return
We Listen to
Each other
Our patients and their families
Our partners
We act and learn from what we hear
Job overview
The role will require working as part of the multidisciplinary team, alongside a registered midwife, to provide care to those attending our maternity theatres. The care provided will follow the service user journey antenatally, in the theatre environment, and postnatally by providing care on both delivery suite and our postnatal ward. |
The Assistant Practitioner will work as part of the team providing care throughout our elective section pathway. This will involve admin support planning and maintaining the elective diary, support the undertaking of preoperative appointments, and undertake admissions on elective section days. The post holder will require the following competencies: catheterisation, venepuncture, medicines management, post operative care and basic neonatal resuscitation.
The post holder will work independently under the leadership of the registered Midwife requiring, at times, minimal supervision. They will work under supervision of a midwife in the immediate care for babies at birth providing additional support if required.
They will be competent, confident and adaptable to the needs of the woman (birthing person), her baby and family, responding to each person’s unique health needs to promote safer and more personalised care.
The post holder will work within current policy & guidance. They will possess attitudes and behaviour according to Trust values and which supports a compassionate approach to caring for families.
Main duties of the job
• Work under the direction of the Midwife and senior colleagues, both independently and as part of the multi- disciplinary team.
• Participate in giving compassionate high quality personal care to women prioritising appropriately and developing competencies that safeguard practice.
• Assist and support midwife/medical staff during procedures.
• Adult BLS and newborn resuscitation at AP level with an awareness of the contents of the resuscitation trolley.
• Observation of vital signs. Use of MEWS,NEWTTs charts and their escalation procedures.
• Insertion and removal of Catheters/Cannulas under the direction of the Midwife.
• Competent in venepuncture.
• Participate in the care planning/delivery/evaluation of care.
• Liaise with all members of the multi-professional team ensuring documentation / communication is appropriately disseminated in a timely manner.
• Provide supervision for other support workers in care delivery and, where appropriate, other staff in training.
• Co-Ordinate patient’s transfer from the maternity theatre to recovery and then to the postnatal area
• Conduct postnatal checks following emergency or elective caesarean sections escalating concerns where appropriate to a registered midwife
• Facilitate and contribute to infant feeding support
• Provide essential administrative support to midwifery colleagues with the Elective Caesarean section team
• Participate in the pre op appointments for patients booked for Elective caesarean sections
Working for our organisation
We hold a unique position in the Stockport community as the provider of healthcare and we are one of its largest employers.
We believe that the best organisations are those that reflect the communities they serve. We are therefore seeking to improve the diversity of our workforce to make it truly representative of our local population.
We actively encourage applications irrespective of race, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage & civil partnership, or pregnancy or maternity. Recognising those communities that are underrepresented within our workforce, we would particularly welcome applications from you.
If you require support with your application please contact a member of the recruitment team, who can discuss alternative application methods.
We recognise that flexible working is important. We take requests for flexible working seriously, consider any request we receive and try to work with you, so we can explore if your request may fit with the needs of the service.
Benefits we offer to you:
- Between 27-33 days of annual leave plus bank holidays
- NHS pension scheme membership
- Salary sacrifice schemes for lease cars, home electronics and more, to make your salary go further
- NHS Staff discounts
- Cycle to work scheme
- Salary finance – for loans, savings, budget planning and tips on managing debt
- Stockport Credit Union– for local financial advice
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Communications
• Communicate effectively with dignity and respect to all birthing people and their families giving consideration to potential barriers to understanding including history of trauma and adversity.
• Communicate effectively with colleagues, providing clear verbal, digital or written information and instructions when sharing information, delegating or handing over responsibility for care.
• Liaising with the Multi-disciplinary Team in relation to care and needs.
• Recognise and report any situations, behaviours or errors that could result in poor care outcomes.
• Report accidents, incidents, near misses or complaints following Trust policies/procedures.
• Contribute to a culture where all staff feel safe to raise their concerns and the ability to speak up about what these concerns are is a normal part of their routine.
• Maintain accurate and timely records in line with trust documentation guidance.
• Report information concerning the women that is relevant for their care delivery and well-being to
other members of the team, including Midwives and Coordinator, in a timely manner
• Maintain effective working relationships with ward colleagues, particularly those highlighted within
the organisation chart above
- Assist in preparing patient notes, relevant charts/documentation.
Responsibility for Patient Care
- Be responsible for participating and assisting in the delivery of delegated personal care support to women within the ward/department team according to their individual needs with specific concern for their religious, cultural, and personal preference.
- Use a range of techniques for infection prevention and control including waste management, hand washing and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Under the direction of a Registered Midwife implement programmes of care, for example, to safely undertake procedures relevant to inpatient care including recording and interpreting vital signs, wound care, pressure area care, nutrition, hydration, and mood identification.
- Recognise the effects of medicines, allergies, drug sensitivity, side effects, contraindications and adverse reactions and report appropriately.
- Undertake safe and effective administration and optimisation of medicines in accordance with Trust policy for Assistant Practitioners.
- Comply with Trust policy for safe administration of time critical medicines by Assistant Practitioners.
- Monitor the condition and health needs of patients within their care following administration of medication.
- Recognise and report any situations, behaviours or errors that could result in poor care outcomes related to medicines management.
- Assist in preparing patients notes, relevant charts/documentation and ensure identity name bands and allergy bands are in place on admission.
- Demonstrate a good understanding of consent and ensure valid consent is obtained prior to the undertaking of care procedures.
Planning and organising
- Liaise with the Lead midwife for elective theatres in the planning of the workload to meet the demands of the service.
- Liaise with the Midwife in charge on the postnatal area to support postnatal checks to patients post elective caesarean sections, aiding discharge and providing continuity of care.
- Actively contribute and participate in the Trust Clinical Governance Agenda.
- Support the planning of the pre-operative appointment and election section diaries.
Responsibilities for Physical and / or Financial Resources
· Ensure safe and efficient use of equipment, resources and consumables always.
· Participate in ensuring appropriate usage and monitoring of departmental resources.
- Monitor, control and store resources/supplies according to the requirements/specifications of the clinical environment
Responsibility for Policy and Service Development and Implementation
- The Assistant practitioner will always demonstrate a knowledge of and behave in a manner consistent and uphold the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust Behaviours and Values.
- Adhere to local and professional policies and guidelines in relation to the safe custody, control and administration of medications.
- Demonstrate knowledge of relevant trust policies and procedures and ensure these are followed accordingly.
- To offer constructive views on how the existing service and teamwork can be evaluated and improved upon.
- Maintain a professional manner and maintain uniform in line with trust policy.
Responsibilities for Human Resources and Leadership
- Support new or less experienced work colleagues to adapt to the workplace.
- Ensure that equality and diversity issues are recognised, addressed in accordance with legislation, policies and procedures.
- Maintain own continuing professional development in accordance CPD requirements and contribute to formulation of own objectives and personal development plan
- Contribute to a culture where all staff feel safe to raise their concerns and that speaking up about
what these are is a normal part of their routine.
Responsibilities for Teaching and Training
· Comply with statutory mandatory competencies in line with Trust policy.
· To engage in completing competency documents as requested by Midwifery lead.
· Adopt a reflective approach to own practice with a view to continually improving.
· Undertake further training as required, prior to carrying out any additional duties identified as relevant to the role, to comply with Trust policies and procedures.
· Participate in training and development activities that are relevant to the job role.
· Provide health promotion advice to women and their partners, as appropriate.
· Support the onboarding and development of staff, sharing knowledge and being a role model for trust values.
Responsibilities for data and information resources
- Use IT systems as appropriately, completing training as required.
- Responsible for use of and security of assets within the department including own use and
correct use by others e.g., IT equipment.
- Have a responsibility to ensure all information processed for patients and staff is kept
confidential, accurate and in line with the Data Protection Act 1998 and Caldecott principles
Research, Development and Audit
- Participate in ward/ departmental audit activity as required e.g., Ward Accreditation.
- Critically consider and analyse their own practice considering best available evidence.
- Contribute to surveys, audits, research activity as required to own role, supporting recommended changes in practice.
Physical Skills and Effort
- Use of physical effort to carry out the demands of the job role (eg pushing and pulling trolleys/support to manoeuvre patients)
- Promote standards of health and safety in working practice and the workplace, by being responsible for self and others through identifying risks, undertaking work activities in a safe manner and keeping up to date with training.
- Use a range of techniques for infection prevention and control including waste management,
- Hand washing and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
- Maintain cleanliness in the work environment in line with Trust Health and Safety and Infection Prevention Practice policies.
The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and promote safeguarding by implementing the Trust’s policies and procedures, acting promptly on concerns, communicating effectively and sharing information appropriately.
If successful this vacancy will require an enhanced DBS check at a cost of £54.50. This cost will be deducted from your first Trust salary
In addition to this it will be a condition of your employment that you will join the DBS update service and pay the annual subscription fee of £16.
Person specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential criteria
- GCSEs (Grade C or above) in Maths and English Language (or New GCSE Grade 4-9) OR Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths and English or Equivalent (not entry level 2)
- NVQ level 3/4 or equivalent health related studies OR Assistant Practitioner Professional Qualification
- Evidence of Continuing Professional Development
Desirable criteria
- ECDL or equivalent IT qualification
- Care Certificate /(must be willing to complete)
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Understanding of the scope of the role of the Assistant Practitioner/Midwifery
- Awareness of patient care within the wider context of the Trust that includes caring for women, birthing people & families
- Knowledge of when to seek advice and escalate to the appropriate professional for expert help and advice
- Understanding of the importance of following procedures and treatment plans.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working in teams under appropriate supervision as part of a multi-disciplinary team
- Insight into how to evaluate own strengths and development needs, seeking advice where appropriate
- Experience of providing and receiving complex, sensitive information
- Experience of the speciality area.
Desirable criteria
- Experience in a theatre setting
Skills and Abilites
Essential criteria
- Ability to take part in reflective practice and clinical supervision activities
- Ability to organise and prioritise own delegated workload
- Ability to deal with non- routine and unpredictable nature of workload
- Ability to communicate effectively (written, verbal and non-verbal communication) with women & their families and all members of the multi-disciplinary team.
- Ability to develop effective and appropriate relationships with women, birthing people, their families, carers and colleagues
- Ability to support, supervise, assess and act as a role model to other learners and health care support workers as required within the clinical setting.
- Have effective time management skills and the ability to prioritise
- Maintain high standards of quality in corporate and clinical record keeping ensuring information is always recorded accurately, appropriately and kept up to date.
- Ability to work under pressure.
- Treats colleagues and the general public with dignity and respect
- vulnerable women & birthing people demonstrating a caring & compassionate nature.
- To have competence in clinical skills in venepuncture
Work related circumstances
Essential criteria
- Occupational Health Clearance.
- Positive approach to work & able to adapt and work flexibly.
- Capacity to work with colleagues at all levels.
- Able to cover the service 5 days a week with flexibility with regards to shift times
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Stacey Longworth
- Job title
- Labour ward Lead midwife
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01614195939
- Additional information
Emma Griffin
Maternity 2 ward manager [email protected]
Aimee Hodgkiss
Recruitment and retention midwife [email protected]
01614194984
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