BME Health Forum Maternity Guides Project

The Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Health Forum is looking to work with BME women who are pregnant or are trying to conceive and are planning to have their babies at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington or Queen Charlotte’s Hospital, Hammermith. The Forum will make a small financial contribution to the women who work with us as well as cover some childcare and travel expenses. Furthermore the women will receive valuable training. This project is open to all women from BME communities and particular support will be given to women with disabilities and women who do not speak English. Preference will be given to women in the early stages of pregnancy.

The Project

The BME Health Forum will be researching maternity services at St Mary’s and Queen Charlotte’s hospitals by following the journeys of BME pregnant women as they access services. Based on the experiences of the women we will be writing a report identifying best practice and making recommendations about how the service could be improved. Furthermore the women will receive training around empowerment, advocacy and support and will be encouraged to join the Imperial Maternity Services Liaison Committee to give feedback about the services they receive. The women will also be encouraged to support each other and form a network of BME women with young families that can socialise and support each other and provide information to their communities and to the NHS around maternity services.

Benefits to women involved in the project

Help improve maternity services
Gain work and research experience
Gain an in depth understanding of Maternity Services and receiving training in how to pass this on to other women and the NHS.
Gain skills and confidence around advocacy, empowerment, support and confidentiality.
Meet and socialise with other BME pregnant women and women with young families
Receive payment up to a maximum of £350
References (if and when required)

Job Description

The women will be asked to keep diaries of the services they receive during pregnancy, in labour and postnatally and discuss these in focus groups with other pregnant women trained in confidentiality. Women will meet approximately once a month to discuss the services they received and to socialise and support each other. Women will also be supported to join the Imperial Maternity Services Liaison Committee and to form a network of women who are able to provide information and support about maternity services to the NHS and communities.

Person Specification

Personal Characteristics

Willingness and ability to keep a diary of the medical services received during pregnancy, in labour and postnatally. The diary can be written in English or in a mother tongue language. If these options are not suitable, the diary can be recorded verbally.
Willingness to share experiences of medical services received during pregnancy, in labour and postnatally with a group of other pregnant women who have been trained around confidentiality.
Willingness and ability to contribute to group discussions. If a woman is not able to speak English, interpreting support will be provided.
Willingness and ability to support other pregnant women in a caring and non-judgmental way.
Willingness and ability to challenge medical professionals and other staff.
Willingness and ability to pass information back to the community and the NHS.

Commitment

Attend approximately 1 meeting per month
Keep a diary after every medical appointment during pregnancy and postnatally.
Involvement with the project for 1 year-18 months.
Offer information to community and the NHS -ongoing

Training

Training will be offered to support women to keep diaries, and to support each other in a non-judgmental way, respecting confidentiality. They will also receive training around empowerment and advocacy. Additional training (for example, ESOL) will be offered where appropriate.

Payment: Women will receive up to a maximum of £350 in exchange for keeping a diary of the services they receive and attending up to 10 meetings in the course of a year.

Expenses: The Forum will cover all travel expenses.

Childcare: The Forum will offer childcare support or cover childcare expenses as required.

If you are interested please contact Nafsika on 07958 479217 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Nafsika will arrange to have an initial meeting with you so that you can both decide if you want to be involved in the project. Referrals from community organisations are also welcome.

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