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UHCW maternity services invest in staff to invest in better care

By RCM on 18 August 2017 Caring For You Charter Caring For You campaign

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust (UHCW) is working with the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) to enhance the support available for midwives and maternity colleagues.

The Trust’s Head of Midwifery has signed the RCM’s Caring for You Charter, which aims to improve the health, safety and wellbeing of maternity staff. This supports and enables them to continue providing the highest levels of maternity care for women and their families.

Launched in June last year the campaign is aiming to get NHS organisations across the UK to sign up to the Caring for You Charter. Almost two-thirds of all NHS trusts and boards in the UK have signed the Charter.

Carmel McCalmont, Head of Midwifery at University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, said:  “The health, safety and wellbeing of our staff is paramount as it is through them that we are able to provide our patients the best possible care. I wanted to support this Charter to demonstrate to our staff how much we value them and to show them the compassion and respect that we in turn give to our patients.”

Julia Ellis, the Royal College of Midwives, Regional Officer, said: “I am delighted that the Trust has signed the Charter. They have a committed team of midwives and maternity support workers, led by an enthusiastic Head of Midwifery committed to the welfare of staff. This is a very positive move and I welcome their commitment to staff and the people they care for.”

When signing the charter, organisations are committing to five key principles:

  • 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.

To contact the RCM Press Office on 020 7312 3456, or email pressofficer@rcm.org.uk.

 

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Notes to editors

 

The RCM is the only trade union and professional association dedicated to serving midwifery and the whole midwifery team. It provides workplace advice and support, professional and clinical guidance and information, and learning opportunities with a broad range of events, conferences and online resources. For more information visit the RCM website at www.rcm.org.uk.

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