Healthwatch Kirklees are a watchdog for NHS and Social Care services in Kirklees.

We take feedback (positive or negative) from the general public about their experiences of NHS and Social Care services in Kirklees.
It’s crucial that the voices of people who use health and social care services are clearly heard and valued by decision makers. That’s our role.
Healthwatch Kirklees is here to gather and represent the views of adults, young people and children living or using services in Kirklees. We want to know what’s working well and what needs to be changed. Together we can make a difference

The Maternity & Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP) brings together women, birthing people, families, maternity and neonatal staff, and commissioners to improve local maternity and neonatal services.
We listen to people's experiences of pregnancy, birth, neonatal care and the postnatal period and use this feedback to help shape and improve services. Our volunteers play a vital role in ensuring the voices of local families are heard.

Join Our Maternity & Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP )Team!

Passionate about improving maternity and neonatal care in Kirklees, Calderdale, or Wakefield?

We’re looking for Volunteer Champions to join our friendly Maternity & Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP) team.

If you’ve recently used local maternity or neonatal services, your experience is exactly what we need to help shape future care.

MNVP volunteer champions help ensure that all families have the opportunity to share their experiences and influence improvements to
local maternity and neonatal services. Particular attention is given to hearing from communities whose voices are often under-represented,
such as those from diverse ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ families, disabled parents, bereaved parents, and families with neonatal experience.

This may involve: Attending community groups, baby clinics, and hospital wards to listen to the experiences of pregnant people, new parents, and families. Taking part in hospital visits, including "15 Steps" visit, where volunteers observe the care environment and share feedback from a patient and family perspective. Attend MNVP meetings (typically four times per year) to share themes and ideas with midwives, doctors, and commissioners. Support MNVP social media and local events to raise awareness of the partnership.

Time commitment: approximately 3–8 hours per month- Flexible times

Is this the right role for me?
We are looking for volunteers who are:

• Passionate about improving maternity and neonatal services
• Good listeners and able to communicate with people from different backgrounds.
• Friendly, approachable and non-judgemental.
• Respectful of confidentiality and able to deal with information sensitively and appropriately.
• Reliable, punctual and able to work as part of a team.
• Committed to treating everyone with dignity and respect.
• Able to use basic IT skills, including Microsoft Word.
• Available to commit to training, planning, visits and reporting information.
• Able to use their personal experience of using local maternity or neonatal services or working/volunteering with expectant and new
  parents.

You do not need professional healthcare experience.

We particularly welcome applications from:
• Parents and carers with recent experience of maternity or neonatal services.
• People from under-represented communities.
• Fathers, partners and co-parents.
• People with experience of pregnancy loss, neonatal care or specialist maternity services.
• Young parents and families.

To maintain the independence of the MNVP, volunteers cannot currently be employed by local maternity or neonatal provider organisations, including Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust and Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust.

Full training will be given.

• Application form required
• References required
• DBS (criminal record check that the organisation will organise)

• 18+