EXPECTANT AND NEW MOTHERS

Procedure

The employee must provide written notification of their pregnancy, that she has given birth in the last six months or is breastfeeding to The Care Worker Agency & We Care providing any supporting medical information or advice. Doctors are required to record the advice given regarding the employees ability to perform their usual work on either a Medical Statement (Med 3) or Maternity Certificate (MAT B1) form (although a registered midwife can also complete the MAT B1).

The Care Worker Agency & We Care must carry out a risk assessment specific to the employee, based on any medical advice provided on the Medical Statement (Med 3) or Maternity Certificate (MAT B1) form.

The employee must be asked to help with the risk assessment. This is particularly to take account of any medical advice she has received.

The risk assessment must:

• Identify the risk(s)
• Establish if the risk can be removed
• Remove the risk
• Monitor and review the risk assessment and any actions

If the risk cannot be removed The Care Worker Agency & We Care must:

• Consider working conditions and hours as to whether these can be adjusted
• Make the necessary adjustments to eliminate the risk if this is possible

If the necessary adjustments cannot be made, the company must:

• Try to provide alternative suitable work.

If alternative work is not possible, the company will:

• Suspend the employee from their work on paid leave for as long as necessary to protect her health and safety or that of her child.

Policy

The law requires every employer to assess workplace risks for all their employees, and take practical action to identify hazards and take appropriate action to remove or reduce the risk. This includes hazards that could pose a health and safety risk to expectant or new mothers.

Pregnancy is not an illness however certain work activities may involve risks to pregnant employees. If an employee is pregnant or has returned to work following a pregnancy and is breastfeeding, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and Health and Safety Executive guidance require Bloom Care Group to assess the work and work environment of an expectant or nursing mother and reduce risk.

The definition of a new or expectant mother is someone who is pregnant, has given birth within the previous six months, or is breastfeeding.

The company will identify hazards in and take appropriate action to remove or reduce any risks. This will be achieved by completing a risk assessment for employees who have advised the company that they are pregnant or in respect of new mothers returning to work. A common risk for example is manual handling particularly for the care worker role.

In HSE’s New and expectant mothers at work: A guide for employers,  employers are advised that it may be possible to reduce risks from manual handling by reducing the amount of physical work or providing aids. The guidance also outlines where some hazards lie in the following areas:

Physical hazards

• Awkward spaces and workstations.
• Vibration.
• Noise.
• Radiation (covered by specific legislation).

Biological agents

●  Infections

Chemical hazards

● For example chemical handling (handling drugs or specific chemicals such as pesticides, lead etc).

Working conditions

• Inadequate facilities (including rest rooms)
• Excessive working hours
• Unusually stressful work
• Exposure to cigarette smoke
• High or low temperatures
• Lone working
• Work at heights
• Travelling
• Exposure to violence

The Care Worker Agency & We Care will take account of relevant areas when carrying out risk assessments.

Related Policies:

COSSH

Equality and Diversity

Health and Safety

Infection Control

Moving and Handling