How to become a maternity support worker

Maternity support workers (MSWs) work alongside midwives on labour wards, postnatal wards, antenatal clinics and in the community, caring for women and newborn babies. You do not need a degree: entry-level posts are usually band 2 or band 3, and experienced MSWs with a Level 3 qualification can move up to band 4. In England from 1 April 2026, band 2 pays £25,272, band 3 £25,760 to £27,476 and band 4 £28,392 to £31,157. Many midwives started as MSWs.

What the job involves

Duties depend on the setting and the band. Typical tasks include:

• helping new mothers wash, move and use the toilet after birth, and caring for their babies
• supporting breastfeeding and bottle feeding
• taking and recording observations such as temperature, pulse and blood pressure
• restocking delivery rooms and preparing equipment for the midwife
• helping during labour and in theatre for caesarean births in some units
• running parts of antenatal clinics, such as weighing, urine testing and taking blood
• supporting community midwives with home visits and clinics

You are part of the team at emotional moments, good and bad. You may be with a family after a stillbirth or when a baby is taken to the neonatal unit, as well as after straightforward births.

Bands 2, 3 and 4

NHS England has a national framework for maternity support workers that describes what MSWs can do at each band and the training linked to it. Trusts use it to set their job descriptions, though not all have every level.

Band	Typical role	England, from 1 April 2026
2	Entry-level MSW or maternity care assistant, working under direct supervision	£25,272
3	MSW with more clinical tasks, such as observations, blood tests and feeding support	£25,760 to £27,476
4	Maternity assistant practitioner, working more independently to agreed protocols	£28,392 to £31,157

Band 4 posts usually ask for a Level 3 qualification or a foundation degree. Scotland’s 2026/27 rates are £26,658 to £28,947 at band 2, £29,061 to £31,364 at band 3 and £31,492 to £34,254 at band 4. Wales is reported to have followed the 3.3% England award, and Northern Ireland’s award had not been confirmed by 16 October 2026. See band 3 pay for how progression works.

Labour wards and postnatal wards run around the clock, so most MSWs work days, nights and weekends, often in 12-hour shifts. Unsocial hours payments add to basic pay, at rates that depend on when the hours fall. Community and clinic posts are more likely to be daytime only.

What you need to apply

Employers usually ask for:

• good English and maths, often shown by GCSEs or an equivalent, or a willingness to complete Functional Skills
• some care experience, paid or voluntary, especially for band 3
• a caring manner and the ability to stay calm when things change quickly
• willingness to work shifts

Previous work as a healthcare assistant is a common way in, and experience in childcare or care homes counts too. New starters complete the Care Certificate and a trust induction. Some trusts recruit MSWs as apprentices, combining paid work with a Level 2 or Level 3 qualification.

You will need an enhanced DBS check, occupational health clearance and references, which are standard pre-employment checks for NHS patient-facing roles. Applications go through NHS Jobs with a supporting statement; NHS jobs you can get without a degree explains how to present experience from outside healthcare.

From maternity support worker to midwife

Many MSWs go on to train as midwives. The two main routes are a full-time midwifery degree at university and a midwifery degree apprenticeship, where your employer releases you to study while you keep earning. Apprenticeship places are limited and trusts usually offer them to existing staff, so time as an MSW in that trust puts you in a strong position. Entry requirements for degrees normally include A-levels or an Access to HE diploma; see Access to HE diplomas.

How to become a midwife covers the training in full. Others move sideways into neonatal support worker posts or train as nursing associates.

Pay, pension and leave

NHS Pension Scheme contributions at band 2 and band 3 are 6.5%, on pay from £13,260 to £28,854. At the top of band 4, which is above £28,855, the rate is 8.3%. Annual leave is 27 days on appointment, 29 after five years and 33 after ten years of NHS service, plus eight public holidays. NHS sick pay starts at one month’s full pay and, after four months’ service, two months’ half pay in the first year, and increases with service. The take-home pay calculator shows the monthly figure at each band.

MSW posts are advertised by NHS trusts and health boards, and you can find current openings under healthcare support jobs.