Infant Feeding Clinical Advisor

Job overview

The Infant Feeding Clinical Advisor is a clinical expert and the lead practitioner responsible for driving forward and supporting the continuous improvement of Infant Feeding and relationship building in the perinatal period. The role supports close parent-baby relationships, breastfeeding promotion, safer formula feeding practices, and equitable outcomes for mothers and infants.

The post holder will lead in the clinical area, acting as an Infant Feeding resource, providing expert infant feeding knowledge and support to the on-going development of all staff, demonstrating commitment to best practice and challenging staff if best practice is not being demonstrated.

For the purposes of this role, the perinatal period includes antenatal care through 6 weeks postnatal, in line with NMC frameworks.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work closely with the multi professional team, providing leadership, clinical expertise and family focussed care and support. The post holder will lead and manage team of B4 Infant Feeding Supporters and provide clinical support to the Transitional Care service on the postnatal ward.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will liaise closely with the BFI Co-Ordinator to support the implementation of Infant Feeding Strategy for retaining the BFI full accreditation status with drive to achieve and maintain Gold Award status.

Management and Leadership

• Work in partnership with Midwifery managers and relevant stakeholders to ensure a co-coordinated approach to breastfeeding support
• Ensure effective partnerships with primary health care colleagues, statutory and voluntary agencies
• Provide evidence based information to women and staff to facilitate best practice and support decision making
• Make direct referrals to other support agencies where appropriate
• Collaborate, contribute and implement new ideas, embedding practices and approaches to clinical care of mothers and babies followed by audit and evaluation, ensuring care is evidenced based and effective as part of the Infant Feeding Team
• Lead on breastfeeding promotion and support the development of guidelines and protocols
• To support the implementation of the Infant Feeding Strategy for retaining BFI full accreditation status
• Foster an active role in risk management with infant feeding incidents and readmissions- analysing trends, completing and writing up reports, feedback to staff with both positive and learning development needs to enhance service improvements. Disseminate the findings by presenting at relevant meetings and sharing learning with the team.
• Be an exemplary role model for the support of breast feeding practices within maternity
• Encourage engagement in action planning and service development from the wider maternity team and support the implementation of the actions.
• Able to demonstrate both the abilities and skills to promote, support, protect and normalise breastfeeding in line with trust Infant Feeding Policy.
• To be personally compliant with the World Health Organisation (WHO) Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes To demonstrate proven change management skills