Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a part time support worker to join the infant feeding team at University Hospital Lewisham.
We are looking for a friendly, dedicated and motivated specialist infant feeding support worker who, under the supervision of the Infant Feeding Lead Midwife and Infant Feeding advisor, will provide daily practical support for mums/birthing people on the postnatal ward, and throughout the department/hospital as required. You will also be expected to support the Infant Feeding Lead to provide care, support and advice for women/birthing people on the maternity ward antenatally, and provide feeding support for parents with babies admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
You will support running breastfeeding classes for expectant and new mums, taking part in audit, and assisting the Infant Feeding Midwife to implement the Baby Friendly Initiative Standards. With training, you will provide specialist support to mums with ongoing feeding issues, such as tongue tie, and will also assist with implementing Baby Friendly Training to all members of the multi-disciplinary team.
You must be organised, flexible with working hours, and able to take responsibility and prioritise your own workload. Good communication and some experience of working with breastfeeding mums is essential. A recognised qualification is desirable.
Main duties of the job
Applicants need not apply if you do not have at least 1 years' experience as a band 2/3 Health Care Assistant (not a volunteer) on either a maternity ward or paediatric ward as you will NOT be shortlisted.
You will support women / birthing people with their choice on how they feed their baby ensuring informed consent is received and record all clinical care given as appropriate.
You will provide, support and care for the woman / birthing person/baby with regards to how they have chosen to feed their baby respecting their need for privacy and dignity.
You will help to facilitate breast feeding support and workshops on the postnatal ward in addition to Antenatal Infant feeding classes
You will give breast feeding support in other clinical areas when asked i.e. Children's' Wards, Neonatal Unit, Children's A&E
You will show how women / birthing people how to prepare and give formula milk if asked
You will be able to diagnosis, support, referral, and follow up of babies with tongue tie as well as supporting women / birthing people in the care of their baby providing knowledge and up to date information on infant feeding practices and to refer on to Infant Feeding Lead Midwife when confronted with breast feeding issues outside of own competence
You will be able to support and advise women / birthing people and other staff members who are using the breast pumps.
About us
Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:
- Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
- Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
- Improving the experience of staff with disability
- Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
- Making equalities mainstream
Job description
Job responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Infant Feeding Lead Midwife, take a lead in the care of women / birthing people both antenatally and postnatally with respect to how they choose to feed their baby. To provide women / birthing people/family centred Specialist care and to document all care given.
You will be an important part of the maternity unit working alongside midwives, doctors, and other health professionals in the hospital setting, understanding their different roles.
Key responsibilities:
- To support women / birthing people with their choice on how they feed their baby.
- Record all clinical care given as appropriate.
- To provide, support and care for the woman / birthing person/baby with regards to how they have chosen to feed their baby respecting their need for privacy and dignity.
- Ensure informed consent is obtained when giving care to women / birthing people and their babies
- To facilitate breast feeding support and workshops on the postnatal ward
- To give breast feeding support in other clinical areas when asked i.e. Childrens Wards, Neonatal Unit, Childrens A&E
- To facilitate Antenatal Breastfeeding classes
- Show women / birthing people how to prepare and give formula milk if asked
- Provide diagnosis, support, referral, and follow up of babies with tongue tie
- To support women / birthing people in the care of their baby providing knowledge and up to date information on infant feeding practices and to refer on to Infant Feeding Lead Midwife when confronted with breast feeding issues outside of own competence
- To support and advise women / birthing people and other staff members who are using the breast pumps
- To support Infant Feeding Lead Midwife with data entry of infant feeding statistics and participate in audit
- To support the implementation of the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
- Demonstrate duties to new starters/volunteers
- General and clinical supervision of less experienced staff.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Infant Feeding Lead Midwife, take a lead in the care of women / birthing people both antenatally and postnatally with respect to how they choose to feed their baby. To provide women / birthing people/family centred Specialist care and to document all care given.
You will be an important part of the maternity unit working alongside midwives, doctors, and other health professionals in the hospital setting, understanding their different roles.
Key responsibilities:
- To support women / birthing people with their choice on how they feed their baby.
- Record all clinical care given as appropriate.
- To provide, support and care for the woman / birthing person/baby with regards to how they have chosen to feed their baby respecting their need for privacy and dignity.
- Ensure informed consent is obtained when giving care to women / birthing people and their babies
- To facilitate breast feeding support and workshops on the postnatal ward
- To give breast feeding support in other clinical areas when asked i.e. Childrens Wards, Neonatal Unit, Childrens A&E
- To facilitate Antenatal Breastfeeding classes
- Show women / birthing people how to prepare and give formula milk if asked
- Provide diagnosis, support, referral, and follow up of babies with tongue tie
- To support women / birthing people in the care of their baby providing knowledge and up to date information on infant feeding practices and to refer on to Infant Feeding Lead Midwife when confronted with breast feeding issues outside of own competence
- To support and advise women / birthing people and other staff members who are using the breast pumps
- To support Infant Feeding Lead Midwife with data entry of infant feeding statistics and participate in audit
- To support the implementation of the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
- Demonstrate duties to new starters/volunteers
- General and clinical supervision of less experienced staff.
Person Specification
Education Qualification
Essential
Desirable
- NVQ III
- Working towards Diploma level
Previous Experience
Essential
- Experience of working within a hospital or community setting supporting breastfeeding women / birthing people
Skills/Knowledge/Ability
Essential
- Demonstrate organisational skills
- Demonstrate good written and spoken English skills.
- Demonstrate basic numeracy skills
- Ability to give breastfeeding support in line with UNICEF BFI guidelines.
- Basic IT skills
Desirable
- UNICEF 2 day breast feeding training
- Peer support training
- Experience of audit
- Excel database skills
Person Specification
Education Qualification
Essential
Desirable
- NVQ III
- Working towards Diploma level
Previous Experience
Essential
- Experience of working within a hospital or community setting supporting breastfeeding women / birthing people
Skills/Knowledge/Ability
Essential
- Demonstrate organisational skills
- Demonstrate good written and spoken English skills.
- Demonstrate basic numeracy skills
- Ability to give breastfeeding support in line with UNICEF BFI guidelines.
- Basic IT skills
Desirable
- UNICEF 2 day breast feeding training
- Peer support training
- Experience of audit
- Excel database skills
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
