Senior Infant Feeding Support Worker

Job overview

The postholder will work in the Infant Feeding Team to promote, support and protect breastfeeding and close mother baby relationships for the mothers and birthing parents having their babies within Dartford & Gravesham NHS Trust in line with UNICEF BFI standards.

Please Note:

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must already hold the right to work in the UK independently, with a visa or immigration status that allows them to fulfil the full duration and type of contract offered. The Trust is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.

Main duties of the job

To provide care under the guidance and supervision of the Infant Feeding Coordinator. Supporting women in their care during the antenatal and postnatal period. To assist with teaching, administration and non-clinical duties at the discretion of the Infant feeding team.

The Infant Feeding Support Worker is pivotal in facilitating health promotion groups for families to support breast feeding and infant feeding and referring and signposting to appropriate services. The post holder will have knowledge, skills and experience in infant feeding and will work in close collaboration with maternity services to ensure the seamless delivery of care across the infant feeding service, providing continuity of care to the families.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Demonstrate a commitment to best practice in breastfeeding / infant feeding in line with  UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative and Trust Guidelines.

Offer specialist support and guidance for mothers to initiate and maintain breastfeeding – in hospital, face-to-face, group settings, or on the phone.

Identify, respond to and evaluate health needs. Focussing on establishing breastfeeding, latch and positioning, skin to skin, hand expressing and prioritising mother-infant bonding.

Play an active role on the maternity wards acting as a resource and champion. Supporting ward MSWs to deepen their learning and improve their skills in lactation support.

Work occasional weekends as part of a 7 day rota

Organise and deliver antenatal and postnatal group workshops on breastfeeding and relationship building

Support the Programme Lead with the implementation of UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative.

Support the Infant Feeding Coordinator with facilitation of staff BFI training courses

Support with staff and patients breastfeeding’ audits, skills reviews and other baby friendly activities as required.

Promote breastfeeding service effectively – identifying opportunities and proactively suggesting ways to connect with patient groups

Contribute recommendations for own work area to enhance policies and improve service delivery.

Participate in audit, quality improvement, research projects and/or innovations following agreed policy and protocol.

Support parents who mix or formula feed with the information they need to feed their babies safely and responsively.

Create individualised feeding plans in collaboration with parents and ward staff and under the supervision of the Infant Feeding Coordinator.

Promote effective communication. Have awareness of barriers to communication. Communicates with the first/preferred language of client. Requires good IT, written and oral skills.

Use organisation skills to help prepare for, as well as participate and support with local and national promotional events (as appropriate) e.g. Place of Birth Showcase, National Breastfeeding Week or World Breastfeeding Week.  Be responsible for own workload on the day-to-day basis, under the supervision of the Infant Coordinator

Maintain accurate and appropriate documentation.

Be responsible for own workload on the day-to-day basis, under the supervision of the Infant Coordinator.

Demonstrate awareness of the needs of children and their families from diverse ethnic groups and demonstrate awareness of the Trust Equal Opportunities.

Ensure Health and Safety policies and all relevant Trust and National policies and guidelines are adhered to, including issues relating to the Children Act, Children’s rights and needs.

Have knowledge and understanding of trust guidelines and policies appropriate to the role and demonstrate evidence-based practiced based on these and Baby Friendly standards.

Identify and pursue own educational and professional development including mandatory training