Principles of Health Promotion and Well-being
This subtopic equips maternity support workers with a foundational understanding of the physical, psychological, and social factors that shape maternal and infant well-being. It applies behaviour change theory to real-world health promotion scenarios, such as encouraging smoking cessation or breastfeeding, and clarifies the support worker's proactive role in public health initiatives within maternity settings. Learners explore how to facilitate informed choices and reduce health inequalities among diverse client groups.
Assessment criteria
Topic Overview
The Open Awards Level 3 Certificate in Maternity Support Work (RQF) is a vocational qualification designed for individuals aspiring to work as maternity support workers (MSWs) in NHS or private healthcare settings. This certificate equips learners with the essential knowledge and practical skills to assist midwives and other healthcare professionals in providing antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal care. The curriculum covers key areas such as anatomy and physiology of pregnancy, childbirth, and the newborn; communication and interpersonal skills; infection prevention; and the legal and ethical frameworks governing maternity care. By completing this qualification, students gain a solid foundation to support women and their families through the childbearing continuum, promoting positive health outcomes and patient safety.
This qualification is part of the wider Health and Social Care sector, specifically within the occupational pathway for maternity support. It aligns with the NHS Career Framework and the Royal College of Midwives' standards for support workers. The certificate is highly valued by employers as it demonstrates a commitment to professional development and a thorough understanding of the maternity support role. Students will learn to work under the supervision of a registered midwife, contributing to care plans, monitoring maternal and fetal wellbeing, and providing emotional and practical support. The course also emphasises the importance of multidisciplinary teamwork and the need for cultural competence in delivering inclusive care.
Mastering this certificate is crucial for anyone seeking a rewarding career in maternity services. It not only prepares students for direct patient care but also fosters critical thinking, empathy, and resilience—qualities essential for handling the dynamic and often emotionally charged environment of maternity units. With the increasing demand for skilled maternity support workers, this qualification opens doors to employment in hospitals, community midwifery teams, and birth centres. Moreover, it serves as a stepping stone for further study, such as the Nursing or Midwifery degree, allowing learners to advance their careers while making a tangible difference in the lives of mothers and babies.
Key Concepts
Core ideas you must understand for this topic
- →Anatomy and physiology of the female reproductive system, including the menstrual cycle, fertilisation, implantation, and fetal development across trimesters.
- →The stages of labour (first, second, third, and fourth) and the physiological changes occurring in both mother and baby during each stage.
- →Principles of infection prevention and control (IPC) in maternity settings, including hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and safe disposal of clinical waste.
- →Effective communication strategies with women, their families, and the multidisciplinary team, including active listening, empathy, and overcoming barriers such as language or anxiety.
- →Legal and ethical considerations in maternity care, such as consent, confidentiality, safeguarding, and the Mental Capacity Act (2005) as applied to pregnant women.
Learning Objectives
What you need to know and understand
- 1. Understand factors that influence health and well-being 2. Understand how principles of behaviour change can be applied to health promotion 3. Understand your role in the promotion of public health
Assessment Criteria
Key criteria assessors look for in your portfolio
- Award credit for accurately identifying at least three categories of factors influencing health (e.g., socioeconomic, environmental, biological, lifestyle) with clear examples relevant to maternity.
- Award credit for explaining how one recognised behaviour change model (e.g., Stages of Change, Health Belief Model) can be used to support a pregnant individual in adopting a healthy behaviour, with specific reference to a maternity context.
- Award credit for describing the maternity support worker's responsibilities in promoting public health, including health education, signposting to services, and advocacy, while maintaining professional boundaries.
- Award credit for demonstrating understanding of how to address health inequalities and promote health equity through non-judgmental, person-centred communication and culturally sensitive practice.
Assessment Guidance
Guidance for achieving higher grades
- 💡Always ground your answers in the specific context of maternity care, using examples such as breastfeeding support, smoking cessation during pregnancy, or promoting perinatal mental health.
- 💡Reference relevant national guidance (e.g., NICE guidelines, Public Health England campaigns) to demonstrate current, evidence-based knowledge and enhance credibility.
- 💡When discussing behaviour change, explicitly name a recognised model and walk through how you would apply each stage or construct to a client scenario, highlighting your communication skills.
- 💡Make clear distinctions between your role as a support worker and that of other health professionals; emphasis should be on empowerment, education, and enabling access to services, not on clinical intervention.
- 💡When answering questions about anatomy and physiology, use diagrams to label structures and describe processes step-by-step. For example, when explaining the menstrual cycle, mention the roles of FSH, LH, oestrogen, and progesterone, and link them to uterine changes. This demonstrates depth of understanding.
- 💡For communication-based questions, always refer to the specific models or frameworks taught in your course, such as the Calgary-Cambridge Guide or the SOLER technique. Provide concrete examples of how you would adapt your communication for a non-English speaking woman or a teenager. Examiners look for application, not just definition.
- 💡In questions about legal and ethical issues, always cite the relevant legislation (e.g., Data Protection Act 2018, Human Rights Act 1998) and professional guidelines (e.g., NMC Code). Show how you would balance confidentiality with safeguarding concerns, such as when a mother discloses domestic abuse. This shows you can think critically about real-world dilemmas.
Common Mistakes
Common errors to avoid in your coursework
- Confusing health promotion with public health, often missing the broader population-level focus of public health and the preventive, educational emphasis of health promotion.
- Failing to link factors influencing health to real maternity examples, instead providing generic lists without application (e.g., mentioning poverty but not its impact on antenatal attendance or nutritional status).
- Describing behaviour change models theoretically but not showing how to apply them in practice with a pregnant person or new parent, missing the practical 'how-to'.
- Overstepping professional boundaries by suggesting the maternity support worker should diagnose conditions or provide clinical advice, rather than focusing on signposting and supporting informed choice.
- Misconception: Maternity support workers can perform the same tasks as midwives. Correction: MSWs work under the delegation and supervision of a registered midwife. They cannot independently manage complex pregnancies, perform vaginal examinations, or prescribe medications. Their role is to support, not replace, the midwife.
- Misconception: Infection control is only important during labour and birth. Correction: Infection prevention is critical throughout the entire maternity journey, from antenatal clinics to postnatal wards. For example, urinary tract infections in pregnancy can lead to preterm labour, and neonatal sepsis can be prevented by strict hand hygiene before handling newborns.
- Misconception: All women experience the same pattern of labour. Correction: Labour varies greatly between individuals and even between pregnancies for the same woman. Factors such as position of the baby, maternal health, and emotional state can influence the duration and intensity of contractions. MSWs must be prepared to support diverse labour experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions students ask about this topic
Pass / Merit / Distinction Evidence Checklist
How your portfolio evidence is graded for OPEN AWARDS Principles of Health Promotion and Well-being
Every vocational unit is marked against named criteria rather than an exam percentage. Your tutor's brief lists the exact codes for this unit — here is what each band is asking you to do.
Demonstrate baseline knowledge, accurate terminology, and core practical application.
Provide detailed analysis, structured explanations, and clear workplace reasoning.
Deliver thorough evaluation, original problem solving, and fully justified recommendations.
Before You Start
Prior knowledge that will help with this topic
- •Basic understanding of human biology, particularly the reproductive system and fetal development, as covered in Level 2 Health and Social Care or GCSE Biology.
- •Familiarity with the principles of person-centred care and the importance of dignity and respect in healthcare settings.
- •Awareness of the roles and responsibilities within a multidisciplinary healthcare team, including the scope of practice for different professionals.
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Key Terminology
Essential terms to know
- 1. Understand factors that influence health and well-being 2. Understand how principles of behaviour change can be applied to health promotion 3. Understand your role in the promotion of public health
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