Job summary
Are you looking to work in an award winning, well-supported, friendly, dynamic, culturally astute and inclusive environment that puts women / birthing people at the centre of a high standard of care? If so, come and join us.
Our latest CQC report rates us again as good, maintaining our good rating since 2017 and has now awarded us outstanding for leadership.
An exciting opportunity for a 12 month secondment, has arisen for an experienced, driven midwife interested in infant feeding to manage and lead our Infant Feeding Team based at University Hospital Lewisham, covering Lewisham borough, the hospital boasts an above 80% breastfeeding initiation rate, and caters for a birth rate of 3,000 - 3,500 births per year.
Through regular auditing of the service, you will ensure that all mothers/birthing people and babies receive the best, evidence-based information about feeding, and building relationships with their babies. You will address areas that fall below the expected standard, and work with colleagues across the service to improve care.
You will be focussed, organised, flexible, dedicated and able to work to targets and problem shoot, making decisions on your own initiative, while at the same time working as part of the wider multi-disciplinary team, leading your colleagues through changes in practice and improvements in care. You will be passionate in supporting clients to successfully help all women/birthing people and their babies however they choose to feed.
Main duties of the job
You will lead on the strategic planning, implementation and achievement of UNICEF BFI standards across the maternity services at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust.
You will be responsible for delivering infant feeding training to staff on a regular basis. The writing and implementation of policies and guidelines around infant feeding, the day to day running of the infant feeding support service based on the postnatal ward, and the specialist infant feeding service including the tongue tie service will all be part of your responsibilities.
You will be involved in audit and data collection to roll out best practice standards across the maternity unit.
You will be the designated lead for the development of guidelines and policy on infant feeding and will be able to provide expert knowledge and advice whilst being a role model in ensuring that women/birthing people are fully supported in their feeding method choices.
You may be asked to be clinical if service needs require it.
You will be accountable to the Head of Midwifery.
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
Include but please see full JD for description
Key Result Areas & Performance:
To take the lead responsibility for ensuring the effective implementation and ongoing maintenance of the UNICEF BFI standards in the hospital setting.
Develop, implement and monitor a staff education programme for all maternity areas based on best practice standards.
Oversee and implement monitoring mechanisms, including audit, action planning and evaluation across areas.
Coordination and management of the infant feeding team.
Convening relevant infant feeding forums across areas to discuss challenges and provide support.
Coordinate the audit of practice against best practice standards, including developing a regular reporting mechanism on progress made.
Action planning, including coordinating the implementation of the action plan and evaluation of effectiveness.
Coordinate the production of local guidelines and materials pertaining to infant feeding.
Development, implementation and delivery of a training curriculum which meets the Baby Friendly Initiative standards for education.
Maintaining accurate attendance records and alerting relevant managers to persistent non attendance
Evaluating the education programme including modification and updating as required
Act as an expert in the field of infant feeding, including common and uncommon feeding challenges and assist in the education of the multi disciplinary team as required.
Liaise with colleagues in other areas of the hospital to ensure women/birthing people receive up to date information and support
Monitor the efficiency of equipment and stock levels and manage accordingly.
Take responsibility for the implementation of the safe storage of breast milk and infant formula
Ensure that women/birthing people are given information on how to safely prepare artificial feeds.
This post is not suitable for newly qualified midwives or those that have not yet passed their OSCE.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Include but please see full JD for description
Key Result Areas & Performance:
To take the lead responsibility for ensuring the effective implementation and ongoing maintenance of the UNICEF BFI standards in the hospital setting.
Develop, implement and monitor a staff education programme for all maternity areas based on best practice standards.
Oversee and implement monitoring mechanisms, including audit, action planning and evaluation across areas.
Coordination and management of the infant feeding team.
Convening relevant infant feeding forums across areas to discuss challenges and provide support.
Coordinate the audit of practice against best practice standards, including developing a regular reporting mechanism on progress made.
Action planning, including coordinating the implementation of the action plan and evaluation of effectiveness.
Coordinate the production of local guidelines and materials pertaining to infant feeding.
Development, implementation and delivery of a training curriculum which meets the Baby Friendly Initiative standards for education.
Maintaining accurate attendance records and alerting relevant managers to persistent non attendance
Evaluating the education programme including modification and updating as required
Act as an expert in the field of infant feeding, including common and uncommon feeding challenges and assist in the education of the multi disciplinary team as required.
Liaise with colleagues in other areas of the hospital to ensure women/birthing people receive up to date information and support
Monitor the efficiency of equipment and stock levels and manage accordingly.
Take responsibility for the implementation of the safe storage of breast milk and infant formula
Ensure that women/birthing people are given information on how to safely prepare artificial feeds.
This post is not suitable for newly qualified midwives or those that have not yet passed their OSCE.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Registered Midwife
- BSc or willing to undertake degree level studies
- Practice assessor
Desirable
- Infant feeding Qualification
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Significant experience at Band 6 level
- Good working knowledge of midwifery practice and skills
- Excellent knowledge of breastfeeding anatomy and physiology
- Experience of delivering staff training
- Excellent knowledge of cultural, social and epidemiological issues relating to infant feeding
Desirable
- Previous experience of working within an infant feeding role
- Leadership or change management experience
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Excellent communication skills
- Excellent organisational skills
- Demonstrate ability to challenge practice/behaviour when required
- Passionate about ensuring women/birthing people receive excellent and up to date information and support about how to feed their baby
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Registered Midwife
- BSc or willing to undertake degree level studies
- Practice assessor
Desirable
- Infant feeding Qualification
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Significant experience at Band 6 level
- Good working knowledge of midwifery practice and skills
- Excellent knowledge of breastfeeding anatomy and physiology
- Experience of delivering staff training
- Excellent knowledge of cultural, social and epidemiological issues relating to infant feeding
Desirable
- Previous experience of working within an infant feeding role
- Leadership or change management experience
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Excellent communication skills
- Excellent organisational skills
- Demonstrate ability to challenge practice/behaviour when required
- Passionate about ensuring women/birthing people receive excellent and up to date information and support about how to feed their baby
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
