Describe the roles, responsibilities and career
pathways of three health and social care workers
In this essay, I will be describing the roles, responsibilities and career pathways of a midwife,
an adult nurse and a pharmacist. I will also be describing the salary of each of these careers,
as well as qualifications needed to do this job.
Midwife
The role of a midwife is to look after pregnant women and their unborn baby/ies during the
pregnancy, being able to spot any abnormalities or hazards to both the mother and the baby,
to help to keep them safe. The midwife also helps the mother during labour, administering
drugs to ease any pain (e.g. gas and air, epidural) and guiding them as to what to do, to try
and ensure the birth is as easy and uncomplicated as possible. They can also look after the
mother and baby for up to 28 days after the baby has been born, in certain circumstances
(www.nct.org.uk).
The responsibilities of a midwife is quite similar to the role they have. Some of the
responsibilities with midwifery include being able to provide good family planning information
and advice, which can help couples conceive a baby (e.g. helping to find out when the woman
is ovulating). Another responsibility is to provide a programme of preparation on parenting,
such as advice on hygiene and nutrition. Midwives must also carry out treatments advised or
prescribed by a doctor, as well as maintaining necessary records (www.tiger.library.dmu.ac.uk).
Midwives can develop a wide range of experience and knowledge – as they are able to work
in many different healthcare settings – with can lead to many different career paths ahead of
them. For example, midwives could become a clinical specialist in an area such as: home
birthing, breast feeding advice, labour ward supervision and antenatal screening (.
Midwives who are working in the NHS start on a Band 5 pay, which is £21,388 – minimum.
However, after 1 to 2 years, they usually progress to a Band 6, which is £25,783. This salary
can continue to rise to £34,530. Midwives can also progress to a senior level (e.g. managing
a team), where they can earn between £30,764 and £40,558.
To be a qualified midwife, you must have a minimum of 5 GCSE’s (or equivalent GCSE’s) and
at least 2 A-Levels (or equivalent). They have to go to university to gain a degree in midwifery,
which leads to registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC). However, each
university has their own individual entry requirements.
Adult Nurse
The role of an adult nurse is to care for adult patients’ who are ill; with illnesses ranging from
minor injuries and ailments such as a broken finger or ankle, to acute and long-term illnesses
and diseases such as cancer, or brain damage. Adult nurses also have the role to promote a
healthy lifestyle and wellbeing by conducting education classes as well as clinics regarding
things such as diabetes, weight loss and support while quitting smoking, for example
(www.prospects.ac.uk).
Adult nurses have many responsibilities that they must live up to in order to meet the needs
and requirements of service users’. Specific duties may be dependent on individual experience
and roles, but generally responsibilities will include writing care plans for patients’, and then
implementing those care plans through doing tasks such as preparing patients’ for operations,
pathways of three health and social care workers
In this essay, I will be describing the roles, responsibilities and career pathways of a midwife,
an adult nurse and a pharmacist. I will also be describing the salary of each of these careers,
as well as qualifications needed to do this job.
Midwife
The role of a midwife is to look after pregnant women and their unborn baby/ies during the
pregnancy, being able to spot any abnormalities or hazards to both the mother and the baby,
to help to keep them safe. The midwife also helps the mother during labour, administering
drugs to ease any pain (e.g. gas and air, epidural) and guiding them as to what to do, to try
and ensure the birth is as easy and uncomplicated as possible. They can also look after the
mother and baby for up to 28 days after the baby has been born, in certain circumstances
(www.nct.org.uk).
The responsibilities of a midwife is quite similar to the role they have. Some of the
responsibilities with midwifery include being able to provide good family planning information
and advice, which can help couples conceive a baby (e.g. helping to find out when the woman
is ovulating). Another responsibility is to provide a programme of preparation on parenting,
such as advice on hygiene and nutrition. Midwives must also carry out treatments advised or
prescribed by a doctor, as well as maintaining necessary records (www.tiger.library.dmu.ac.uk).
Midwives can develop a wide range of experience and knowledge – as they are able to work
in many different healthcare settings – with can lead to many different career paths ahead of
them. For example, midwives could become a clinical specialist in an area such as: home
birthing, breast feeding advice, labour ward supervision and antenatal screening (.
Midwives who are working in the NHS start on a Band 5 pay, which is £21,388 – minimum.
However, after 1 to 2 years, they usually progress to a Band 6, which is £25,783. This salary
can continue to rise to £34,530. Midwives can also progress to a senior level (e.g. managing
a team), where they can earn between £30,764 and £40,558.
To be a qualified midwife, you must have a minimum of 5 GCSE’s (or equivalent GCSE’s) and
at least 2 A-Levels (or equivalent). They have to go to university to gain a degree in midwifery,
which leads to registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC). However, each
university has their own individual entry requirements.
Adult Nurse
The role of an adult nurse is to care for adult patients’ who are ill; with illnesses ranging from
minor injuries and ailments such as a broken finger or ankle, to acute and long-term illnesses
and diseases such as cancer, or brain damage. Adult nurses also have the role to promote a
healthy lifestyle and wellbeing by conducting education classes as well as clinics regarding
things such as diabetes, weight loss and support while quitting smoking, for example
(www.prospects.ac.uk).
Adult nurses have many responsibilities that they must live up to in order to meet the needs
and requirements of service users’. Specific duties may be dependent on individual experience
and roles, but generally responsibilities will include writing care plans for patients’, and then
implementing those care plans through doing tasks such as preparing patients’ for operations,
