Neonatal Infant Feeding Lead

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust

The closing date is 26 April 2025

Job summary

Do you want to be a part of an exciting and dynamic Neonatal Team? A vacancy has arisen for an enthusiastic and experienced Neonatal Infant Feeding Lead.

Walnut is a busy SCU with twenty-two cots, three of which are currently designated as high dependency and four as transitional care. Our birth rate is rising with around 5000 deliveries per year and we are business planning to become a LNU.

We are seeking an Infant Feeding Lead who will provide professional leadership, expert knowledge, and advice on infant feeding. You will work closely with the maternity infant feeding team. Additionally, you will conduct audits and action planning to monitor and measure the implementation of best practice standards. The successful candidate will lead the planning, implementation, maintenance, and accreditation of UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) standards across the neonatal service.

You will be well supported in your role by a Neonatal Matron, Neonatal PDNs and a senior nursing team of six clinically based Band 7 Senior Sisters. The Band 7 Senior Sisters lead a team of qualified Neonatal Nurses, Registered Children's Nurses, Registered Nurses, Nursery Nurses, Neonatal Support Workers and Neonatal Ward Administrators in caring for neonates.

Main duties of the job

The ideal candidate will be an experienced QIS neonatal nurse with training on implementing BFI standards. They will need to be an excellent communicator both written and verbally. They will have practical experience of teaching small groups and multi professional teams.

The post holder will lead the Neonatal team to achieve and maintain UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) accreditation standards for neonatal units. They will provide training and education to all staff on best practices regarding infant feeding, fostering a motivated and strong team of key workers.

They will support and assess neonatal nurses in essential infant feeding skills across all clinical areas. Develop systems for assessing, planning, delivering, and evaluating breastfeeding advice and support for mothers and families of premature and sick newborns, Write and update policies, guidelines, procedures, and leaflets, and disseminate changes to staff as needed. Maintain up-to-date records of breastfeeding training for all neonatal staff. Conduct audits on the skills and knowledge of all staff and parents' experiences using the Baby Friendly audit tool, and submit results to UNICEF UK. To organise and lead all visits to the Unit by UNICEF UK Baby Friendly.

You will work closely with the nursing, medical and midwifery team to ensure a high standard of nursing care, patient safety and experience.

About us

We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse employer. We strive to employ people who reflect the communities we serve, and aim to create an inclusive culture where everyone can reach their full potential. Whatever your race, ethnicity, belief, generation, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, disability or experience, you'll appreciate the opportunities we give you to work in an inclusive atmosphere. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to build on the progress we've achieved to make our Trust diverse and the best place to work. We celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that help us overcome challenges and embrace new possibilities.

If you are considering applying for a role, please be aware that as an NHS Employee you may have contact with vulnerable service users. Due to the government regulations for mandatory vaccinations for COVID-19 for NHS employees, it has been necessary to take significant steps to protect the health and safety of our staff and our patients. In order to comply with our duty of care, we require all of our staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Your vaccination status will be a condition of your employment and evidence of vaccination will be obtained during the recruitment process, unless you are medically exempt.

Your commitment will help us to put the safety and care of our patients first, as well as helping us to protect you and your colleagues.

Date posted

11 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£48,270 to £54,931 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

252-7091790

Job locations

Darent Valley Hospital

Darenth Wood Road

Dartford

DA2 8DA

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical ResponsibilitiesManagerial responsibilitiesEducation and development responsibilities

For a detailed description of the Job roles and responsibilities please see the attached job description.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical ResponsibilitiesManagerial responsibilitiesEducation and development responsibilities

For a detailed description of the Job roles and responsibilities please see the attached job description.

Person Specification

Educational achievements, qualifications and training

Essential

Registration on the NMC register as a Children's or Adult Nurse
masters level degree or equivalent experience
Neonatal QIS
Mentorship qualification
Evidence of CPD
NLS qualification

Desirable

BFI Embedding baby friendly standards in neonatal care
BFI Breastfeeding and relationship building - health professionals
BFI Train the trainer
BFI - Audit training

Experience

Essential

Significant experience at band 6, working in an acute neonatal care environment
Previous leadership and management experience
Practical experience of teaching small groups and multiprofessional teams
Evidence of leading change and able to demonstrate implementation of new ways of working within a team
Experience of audit and action plans

Desirable

Experience in managing BFI accreditation
Previous band 7 experience
Experience of developing and implementing education programmes.

Knowledge and skills

Essential

Good communicator both written and verbally
Ability to prioritise workload and to work under pressure
Negotiating and influencing skills
Ability to work either autonomously or as part of a team
Teaching skills
Report writing and presentation skills

Desirable

Evidence of data collection, evaluation and analysis
Line management skills
Ability to lead and manage change

Person Specification

Educational achievements, qualifications and training

Essential

Registration on the NMC register as a Children's or Adult Nurse
masters level degree or equivalent experience
Neonatal QIS
Mentorship qualification
Evidence of CPD
NLS qualification

Desirable

BFI Embedding baby friendly standards in neonatal care
BFI Breastfeeding and relationship building - health professionals
BFI Train the trainer
BFI - Audit training

Experience

Essential

Significant experience at band 6, working in an acute neonatal care environment
Previous leadership and management experience
Practical experience of teaching small groups and multiprofessional teams
Evidence of leading change and able to demonstrate implementation of new ways of working within a team
Experience of audit and action plans

Desirable

Experience in managing BFI accreditation
Previous band 7 experience
Experience of developing and implementing education programmes.

Knowledge and skills

Essential

Good communicator both written and verbally
Ability to prioritise workload and to work under pressure
Negotiating and influencing skills
Ability to work either autonomously or as part of a team
Teaching skills
Report writing and presentation skills

Desirable

Evidence of data collection, evaluation and analysis
Line management skills
Ability to lead and manage change

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.