Chelsea & Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Finalist 2011, The Best for Mothers Award

The Trust has recently overhauled its maternity provisions to make it easier for women to manage their pregnancy, leave and return. As well as producing a completely new maternity guide for mothers which covers antenatal and postnatal issues, all women going on maternity leave are given a designated HR contact with whom they can liaise and keep in touch. Staff are encouraged to book an early meeting with their HR contact to discuss options around flexible working, childcare, transitioning back to work. They are also encouraged to discuss relevant packages with the Employee Benefits Manager. Managers make arrangements to keep in touch with women before they go on leave and the Trust takes this further by arranging baby massage classes for women on maternity leave. Women are able to come in, enjoy the class and then stay for coffee and an informal chat if they wish with a HR representative who comes to the meetings to be available for the mothers should there be any issues they want to discuss.