NHS role

Maternity Support Worker

Supports midwives and mothers before, during and after birth — from feeding support to clinical observations. A common springboard into midwifery.

Salary
£25,760–£27,476
NHS demand
High demand
Next step
Nursing Associate

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CareRoute Career Score™
Solid
relative to other NHS roles

Strong on AI resistance and entry; held back by flexibility.

Salary growth80

Can reach ~£80,000 via Clinical Director / Consultant-level Lead.

Job security47

Smaller workforce (~2,779); growing (+18% YoY).

AI resistance95

Highly resistant to automation — hands-on clinical work.

Work–life balance37

Reasonable work–life balance; heavy shift work.

Entry access81

Easy entry — low study load, moderate competition.

Flexibility30

2 onward routes; limited flexible-working scope.

Career Score™ is CareRoute's own indicative rating from public NHS-style data — not an official NHS ranking. A composite of six factors; same inputs always give the same score.

Salary
£25,760–£27,476
Next step
Nursing Associate
Avg progression
~2 yrs
NHS demand
High demand
Study required
Low
Flexibility
Limited
Why we scored it 63: Strong on AI resistance and entry; held back by flexibility.

What you'd do

  • Support new mothers with feeding and care
  • Take and record observations
  • Assist midwives during and after birth
  • Prepare clinical areas and equipment

Is this you?

You enjoy helping people and working as part of a team
You want hands-on NHS experience
You're drawn to midwifery
You value secure, structured public-sector work

Typical progression routes

Indicative routes from the career graph — not usage data.

Your salary roadmap

Indicative pay on the highest-reaching route, by year.

£25,760
Yr 0
£27,476
Yr 2
£32,073
Yr 4
£34,592
Yr 6
£39,959
Yr 8
See how to reach £79,504

Skills & requirements

Skills you'll use in this role
CompassionCommunicationObservationCalm under pressure
What you'll need for your next step → Midwife
  • Maths & English GCSE (grade 4/C) or equivalent
  • BSc Midwifery (or midwifery degree apprenticeship)
  • UCAS / university application (degree route)
  • Funding or apprenticeship sponsorship
  • Active NMC registration as a nurse
Latest intelligence

Guides & updates

We're writing in-depth midwifery guides — pay, entry routes and progression. In the meantime, explore the roles and career map above.

FAQ

Questions, answered straight

Band 2–3 on the 2026/27 Agenda for Change scale — indicative figures; verify against official NHS sources.
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Where to look next

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