MATERNITY CARE ASSISTANT at University of West of Scotland

BECOME A HIGHLY SKILLED MATERNITY CARE ASSISTANT

The Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) Maternity Care Assistant has been developed to develop the knowledge and skills of existing Maternity Care Assistants (MCAs) who are already working in a hospital or community midwifery setting.

The course integrates knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes and develops your professional and personal maturity along with attributes necessary to work in a multi-disciplinary, woman-centred healthcare environment. The course is designed to ensure equity to Senior Health Care Support Workers (Scottish Government, 2010) and to meet the requirements related to professional proficiency and fitness for practice in relation to achievement of MCA Competencies (NES, 2006).

MCAs work with childbearing women and their families and with the professionals who provide care and applicants to this course must already be employed in a maternity services setting and be nominated for entry to this course by their Line Manager.

This course is fully funded by the NHS.

SCHOOL OF HEALTH, NURSING & MIDWIFERY

The School of Health, Nursing & Midwifery at UWS offers a variety of innovative courses with hands-on experience and work in virtual and real-life ward situations.

Our modern healthcare facilities across our Scottish campuses simulate clinical environments as well as home settings to teach caring for the elderly and people with dementia. If you’re learning in London we have face-to-face and online courses that will enable you to accelerate your career in the healthcare sector.

The School’s work on breastfeeding has been internationally recognised by UNICEF and our research into dementia policy and practice won best educational initiative at Scotland's Dementia Awards 2016.

Our students graduate ready to achieve their ambitions in the healthcare sector.

COURSE DETAILS

The CertHE Maternity Care Assistant lasts one year. Each trimester comprises a short theory block followed by defined practice placements to integrate and consolidate evidence-based knowledege and understanding with skills acquisition, attitudes and behaviours.

Topic areas include:

• the professional, ethical and legal role of MCAs
• working with vulnerable women
• supporting infant nutrition early years parenting support

You will undertake practice placements within your NHS Board, and the Board will administer the placement, ensuring you experience a variety of ante and post-natal care settings.

Jobs

Following completion of the CertHE there are a number of potential career paths available including working in General Acute Maternity Services, working in a hospital-based maternity unit or supporting Community Midwifery services.

Roles in parent Education are also an option, supporting new mothers with issues such as baby and infant feeding, transitions into parenthood and postnatal support.

You could also become a Breastfeeding Supporter, leading workshops and supporting new mothers to breastfeed.    

Further Study

Upon completion you could go on to further study at UWS including Health Studies, Childhood Studies or Midwifery.