Celebrating Our Maternity Support Worker Apprentices - Apprenticeship Week 2026
This Apprenticeship Week 2026, we are thrilled to celebrate the incredible work of our Maternity Support Worker (MSW) apprentices in CTM, a group of dedicated individuals who are making a real difference for families across our community.
From supporting new mums with breastfeeding, monitoring newborns’ health, assisting midwives in clinics and hospitals, to providing reassurance and guidance to families, these apprentices are at the heart of maternity care.
Meet our Maternity Support Worker Apprentices
Tammy Hale joined the community healthcare team in June 2024, coming from an antenatal care background. She admits she hadn’t originally considered maternity support, but encouragement from colleagues and her desire to eventually pursue midwifery inspired her to apply.
“I saw this job advertised, and my aunt is a midwife and she said, ‘Tammy, you would be amazing at this role.’ I applied two hours before it closed!”
Tammy’s typical day sees her shadowing her mentors in clinics, taking women’s observations, performing blood tests and taking urine samples, booking appointments, and providing reassurance. She loves being part of the journey from early pregnancy to postnatal care.
“The best part of this job is being there for the women and having those newborn cuddles. It’s about guiding them through the journey and knowing they’re never alone,” Tammy explains.
Her apprenticeship has also offered extraordinary learning opportunities, including observing emergency C-sections at Princess of Wales Hospital: "I was fortunate enough to see category three emergency sections and learn about the process, blood management, and theatre routines. It was phenomenal, and it only strengthened my admiration for midwives.”
Hannah Traff joined the MSW role after working in the emergency surgical ward. Her motivation stemmed from her love for working with babies and supporting breastfeeding families.
“I wanted to help with babies, breastfeeding, and support families. Being able to spend time with mums and babies, answer their questions, and give reassurance, that’s what makes this role so special.”
Hannah has embraced the apprenticeship framework, balancing online study, protected study days, and practical assessments under the guidance of midwives in clinics and hospitals. She also picks up extra shifts to gain hands-on experience with newborn care, from blood pressure checks and urine sampling to newborn bloodspot screening.
“The midwives and community teams are amazing. They’ve supported me every step of the way and helped me feel confident in my role,” she says.
Fay Gould, who joined after a long career in care and hospital wards, took on the apprenticeship at the age of 59. Her story shows that it’s never too late to start something new.
“I love being with people, and this job allows me to be hands-on with families. I feel like this could be my retirement job – it doesn’t feel like work. Every day is rewarding.”
Like Tammy and Hannah, Fay highlights the emotional as well as practical aspects of the role:
“It’s such a different kind of exhaustion, not just physical, but emotional. Being able to support a mum through her first feeding, help with the baby’s weight checks, or just be there to reassure her, that’s what makes this job so fulfilling.”
All of our MSW apprentices emphasise the importance of mentorship and teamwork. From midwives like Kate Strong and Nick Morong to community teams across antenatal and postnatal care, the support network has been essential for their learning. “The support is incredible, and the learning opportunities are endless,” Tammy says.
Hannah agrees: “Being observed and guided in clinics and practical tasks makes a huge difference. It builds confidence, and knowing the team has your back allows you to focus on learning and giving the best support to families.”
For all of these apprentices, the joy comes from the direct impact they have on families. They help parents navigate the early days of parenthood, provide breastfeeding support, explain newborn screening tests, and ensure families never feel alone.
“Sometimes mums are worried about what might seem like small things, their urine colour, feeding, weight, but we’re there to give reassurance, guidance, and support. It’s amazing to see their relief and happiness,” Tammy explains.
“I can spend hours supporting a family if needed, whether it’s bottle feeding, breastfeeding, or explaining tests. That connection and trust are everything,” Hannah adds.
Cassie Cook’s journey is a shining example of determination, passion, and care. From the start, Cassie knew she wanted to be a midwife. Growing up surrounded by children in her family, she always dreamt of being a mother herself, and helping other families as a midwife felt like a natural path.
“I didn’t know from a young age I wanted to be a midwife,” she says, “but I always knew I wanted to be a mammy. Watching kids grow up around me made me want to care for others too.”
Before joining the apprenticeship, Cassie gained valuable experience working in elderly care, gradually building her skills and learning the importance of compassionate support. Her determination paid off when she joined the MSW apprenticeship in CTM in 2024, starting on Ward 18.
Now, Cassie thrives in her role, shadowing experienced midwives, attending appointments, monitoring patients’ wellbeing, and even performing her first dressing changes. Her favourite part.
“The babies,” she says with a smile. “Seeing the mothers’ faces when they meet their newborns, the smell of a new baby, it’s just incredible.”
Cassie is fascinated by the science behind maternal care, from breastfeeding benefits to the magic of skin-to-skin contact, and she’s eager to share this knowledge with families, friends, and future parents.
What sets Cassie apart is not just her technical growth, but her joy and empathy. She emphasises that this apprenticeship isn’t just a job, it’s a way to flourish, to truly make a difference in families’ lives.
Debbie Griffiths, Senior Midwife with 38 years of experience, reflects on the journey of midwifery and the vital role of apprentices like Cassie and the others. Having trained as a nurse before moving into midwifery, Debbie has witnessed the evolution of care from the heavily medicalised, hospital-based practices of the 1980s to the empowering, evidence-based, woman-centred care of today.
“Hearing the apprentices’ stories is incredibly humbling,” Debbie says. “Even though I knew your names on paper, listening to your experiences and the passion coming through was emotional. It reminded me why we do this work: to support women, families, and each other.”
Rhian Lewis, the Learning and Development Lead at Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, reflects on the dedication and growth she has seen: “Watching these apprentices develop their skills, confidence, and passion has been incredibly inspiring. Each of them has faced challenges, taken every opportunity to learn, and shown the resilience that this profession demands. You are not just learning a job, you are shaping the future of midwifery and community care.”
08/02/26