Nicola Parry (right), signs the Caring for You Charter
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is working with The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) to improve the support available for midwives and maternity colleagues.
The Trust’s maternity services have signed the RCM’s Caring for You Charter, which aims to improve the health, safety and wellbeing of midwives. This supports and enables them to continue providing the highest levels of maternity care for women and their families.
The campaign is aiming to get NHS organisations across the UK to sign up to the Caring for You Charter.
Nicola Parry, Head of Midwifery at the Trust, said: “‘This is a wonderful opportunity for us to work in partnership with the RCM.
“The Trust values all the midwives and maternity team members for the dedication and commitment they show, so ensuring that the families have the best possible experience.
“This Charter is an excellent way to further show the Trust’s commitment to ensuring the best possible staff experience to this most valued staff.”
RCM Regional Officer for the North West, Lesley Wood, said: “I am delighted that the Trust has signed the Charter.
“They have a committed team of midwives and maternity support workers at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals. This is a very positive move by the Trust and I welcome their commitment to staff and the people they care for.”
When signing the charter, organisations are committing to five key principles to:
- Work in partnership with the RCM Health and Safety Representative to develop and implement an action plan about health, safety and wellbeing issues that are important to the maternity workforce and maternity service users.
- Ensure that midwives and maternity support workers have access to a variety of shift patterns and flexible working and promote a positive workplace culture around working time including taking breaks.
- Foster a positive working environment for all by signing up to the RCM/RCOG statement of commitment calling for zero tolerance policy on undermining and bullying behaviours.
- Enable midwives and maternity support workers to access occupational health and other organisational policies for their mental and physical health, safety and wellbeing.
- Nurture a compassionate and supportive workplace that cares for midwives and maternity support workers so that they can care for women and their families.
For more information on the Caring for You campaign visit: https://www.rcm.org.uk/caring-for-you-campaign