Breast Feeding Advisor/Dietetic Assistant for Special Feeds Unit

Job overview

King’s College Hospital is at the forefront of academic and nursing excellence and is offering an exciting opportunity to work on the Neonatal Unit at Denmark Hill as a Breastfeeding Advisor and dietetic assistant  for the special feeds unit.

The Neonatal Unit at Denmark Hill is a Level 3 care provider. As well as being a referral unit for premature babies, we accept specialist referrals for abdominal, neurological and eye surgery and for the world-wide celebrated liver service at King’s. We work hand in hand with the internationally renowned Harris Birthright Centre to deliver highly specialised care to vulnerable newborns and holistic care to the family.

We are looking to recruit  experienced breast feeding advisors to help provide breast feeding care, participate in parent education and support breast feeding practices across our unit. The post holder will also be responsible for the preparation of special feeds for our infants and children within Kings College Hospital under the supervision and  direction of the Paediatric Dietetic Service.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will actively promote breast feeding and participate in the training of both parents and healthcare professionals on the neonatal unit. In addition, the postholder will also provide a reliable special feed preparation service to the Paediatric wards under the supervision of the Paediatric Dietitians.

The main duties of this role include:

• Being a specialist in breast feeding, acting as a resource for the multidisciplinary team.
• Supporting, supervising, and facilitating the training of multidisciplinary team staff including, student nurses, student midwives, and health care support workers.
• Actively supporting women with establishing and maintaining milk supply and breastfeeding
• Acting as a role model in breast feeding in the clinical area
• Being responsible for the preparation of special feeds, ordering and maintaining adequate supplies to all children’s wards and cleaning of the Special Feed Unit.
• Participating in clerical duties and general administrative duties related to infant feeding.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Job Summary

The post holder will actively promote breast feeding and participate in the training of both the parents and professionals on the neonatal unit and also provide a reliable special feed preparation service to the Paediatric wards under the supervision of the Paediatric Dietitians.

• This will entail being a specialist in breast feeding, acting as a resource for the multidisciplinary team
• The post holder will support, supervise, and facilitate the training of multidisciplinary team staff including, student nurses, student midwives, and health care support workers.
• The post holder will actively support women with establishing and maintaining milk supply and breastfeeding.
• To act as a role model in breast feeding in the clinical area.  The post holder will participate in clerical duties and general administrative duties related to infant feeding.
• The post-holder will be responsible for the preparation of special feeds, ordering and maintaining adequate supplies to all children's wards and cleaning of the Special Feed Unit.

Clinical Responsibilities

Breast Feeding Advisor

• To actively support women with establishing and maintaining milk supply and breastfeeding.
• To support, supervise, and facilitate the training of multidisciplinary team staff including, student nurses, student midwives, and health care support workers.
• Ensure the legibility and accuracy of documentation in such a manner that enables the information to be effectively handed over to other staff.
• To establish and maintain effective communication with nursing, medical and ancillary colleagues in order to provide optimum baby/family care.
• To liaise with staff in other departments, in particular staff on the post-natal wards, delivery suite and paediatric wards, to ensure that the specific needs and care of the baby and his/her family are identified and met.
• To have regard for each infant and family customs, religious beliefs and doctrines.

• To work in the special feed unit (SFU) under the supervision and instruction of the Paediatric Dietitians.
• Following the direction of the Paediatric Dietitians:

• To label all feeds correctly (in line with the SFU policy).
• To deliver prepared feeds to ward kitchens and ensure they are stored safely and to dispose of any unused feeds in an appropriate manner.
• To clean the milk room:

• To order adequate supplies of all products and equipment used.
• To monitor fridge temperatures and help the Lead Children’s Dietitian send samples of milks for microbial analysis when necessary.
• To keep documentation/records in accordance with the SFU policy.
• To liaise with other departments concerned with the smooth running of the milk kitchen eg. nursing staff, catering supplies and porters.
• To run the training program for nursing staff required to make feeds.
• To assist in change in policy or procedures in the SFU where necessary.

• Dietetic Assistant
• To prepare milk feeds for infants (in line with the SFU Policy).
• To prepare special feeds for older children.
• All equipment used must be cleaned and stored appropriately.
• All storage shelves/walls cleaned once a week. - In line with the SFU cleaning guide.

Management

• To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.
• We want to be an organisation where everyone shares a commitment to delivering the very best care and feels like their contribution is valuable and valued.
• At King’s we are a kind, respectful team:

• Using evidence based practice promote guidelines in feeding and milk storage to staff and participate in their update.
• To ensure that all Trust and local policies, protocols and procedures are adhered to by colleagues as appropriate
• To work within and support the multi-disciplinary team and maintain effective communication and professional relationships with all areas within the Care Group and with associated clinical areas within the Trust. To participate with the monitoring of standards of hygiene and cleanliness within the milk kitchen
• To share knowledge and skills developed with other members of the multi- disciplinary team
• To complete audits as required both locally and nationally related to the role General The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.

Kind. We show compassion and understanding and bring a positive attitude to our work

Respectful. We promote equality, are inclusive and honest, speaking up when needed

Team. We support each other, communicate openly, and are reassuringly professional

• To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.
• To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.
• This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder.
• All employees must hold an 'nhs.net' email account which will be the Trust's formal route for email communication.
• Everyone is responsible for promoting inclusion no matter their role or team. At King’s, we want to create an environment where everyone feels valued, respected and welcomed