Senior Infant Feeding Support Worker

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, Childrens 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