Job summary
The Maternity service is seeking to appoint a Specialist Infant Feeding Midwife to provide leadership, development and implementation of infant feeding policies and practice within the Trust, in-line with UNICEF requirements, to meet national and local breastfeeding targets and address health inequalities.
You should have significant knowledge and experience in breastfeeding practice and management and will work as part of a county-wide Breastfeeding Development Team towards improving breastfeeding initiation and continuation rates, ensuring continuity of services from Acute to Community settings.
Main duties of the job
- To line manage other members of the team as required and make sure the team are uptodate with their training needs. under take performance Reviews.
- To work closely with the Education team in providing education and training sessions to all grades of staff and students.
- To lead and conduct audits of Infant feeding standards to determine baselines and assess progress towards maintenance of BFI Standards leading to presentation of these audits at multidisciplinary meetings and innovate change according to the results.
- To work closely with user representatives and MVP to ensure PAHT maternity webpage is up to date and reflect latest standards.
- To participate in the management of the maternity department, this entails carrying the maternity bleep and On-call manager as part of a rota.
- Report accidents, incidents and complaints to the appropriate line manager / Clinical Risk Midwife and Non-clinical Risk Midwife in accordance with the Trust governance policy.
- Support, manage and evaluate the specialist lactation clinics including offering professional advice and support to women attending the infant feeding clinic and support/feedback to the team members running clinics.
- Support, manage and evaluate the frenotomy service, including ongoing training and reflections related to tongue tie practice and research for the team.
- To take the lead responsibility for ensuring the effective implementation and on-going maintenance of UNICEF BFI standards across the services.
About us
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) provides a full range of general acute, outpatient and diagnostic services at The Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, the Herts and Essex Hospital in Bishop's Stortford, and St Margaret's Hospital in Epping.
We employ 3,500 staff and serve a local population of around 350,000 people living in west Essex and east Hertfordshire, centred on the M11 corridor and the towns of Harlow, Bishop's Stortford and Epping. Our extended catchment area incorporates a population of up to 500,000 and includes the areas of Hoddesdon, Cheshunt and Broxbourne in Hertfordshire.
We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to build a new hospital that will transform healthcare for the people of Harlow and beyond. The New Princess Alexandra Hospital will be a world-class facility delivering first-rate care for our patients and providing the best place to work for our people.
It will be a hospital for the future; one that will care for many generations to come.
Join us on this exciting journey to bring our new hospital to life. Together, we're building #Our New PAH
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Responsible for leading on the strategic planning and implementation of the UNICEF BFI standards across the PAH NHS Trust to ensure a co-ordinated approach to breast feeding support and management.
- To lead the World Health Organisation and UNICEF Baby friendly programme within the maternity department. Planning, designing and implementing course programme and content for all members of the multidisciplinary team.
- Responsible for the provision of expert advice, education, training and support in infant feeding to women, pregnant people and staff within the hospital and community setting.
- To develop proactive partnerships with the wide multi-disciplinary team to promote the benefits of breastfeeding and long-term health benefits.
- To maintain a high standard of professional expertise and to ensure that the highest standard of midwifery care is given during the ante-natal, intrapartum and postnatal periods.
- Provide professional leadership and mentoring to less experienced midwives and support to colleagues in a multi-disciplinary team.
- To provide direct antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care in hospital and/or community when required.
- To provide specialist advice on all areas of infant feeding within the maternity environment to the multidisciplinary team.
- To take the lead responsibility for ensuring the effective implementation and on-going maintenance of UNICEF BFI standards across the service.
- To lead and coordinate the MDT infant feeding strategic group
- To line manage other members of the team as required
- Acts as a mentor and participates in preceptorship and induction programmes for MDT staff.
- To work closely with the Education team in providing education and training sessions to all grades of staff.
- To lead and conduct audits of Infant feeding standards to determine baselines and assess progress towards maintenance of BFI Standards leading to presentation of these audits at multidisciplinary meetings and innovate change according to the results.
- To conduct other audit and spot checks within maternity services as required.
- To work closely with user representatives and MVP to ensure PAHT maternity webpage is up to date and reflect latest standards
- Jointly with the wider team, coordinate the review of the maternity health records, ensuring up to date information are included.
- To participate to other transformation workstreams as required.
- To work closely with the governance team to ensure to learning from case reviews.
- To participate in the management of the maternity department, this entails carrying the maternity bleep and On-call manager as part of a rota.
- Undertake Performance Review and Development Plans as delegated by the Line Manager.
- Report accidents, incidents and complaints to the appropriate line manager / Clinical Risk Midwife and Non-clinical Risk Midwife in accordance with the Trust governance policy.
- To communicate any Health and Safety issues within the ward environment to the appropriate line manager.
- To retrieve and analyse statistical data that will facilitate delivery of the service pertaining to continence care and to lead to work in partnership with the multi disciplinary team at PAH NHS Trust to deliver breastfeeding and infant feeding training to all relevant staff members.
- Support, manage and evaluate the specialist lactation clinics including offering professional advice and support to women attending the infant feeding clinic and support/feedback to the team members running clinics
- Empower patients to demonstrate effective compliance to specialist advice and management plans.
- Work closely with other members of the multi-disciplinary team to provide a comprehensive clinical service.
- Support, manage and evaluate the frenotomy service, including ongoing training and reflections related to tongue tie practice and research for the team.
- Support, manage and evaluate the antenatal education service around infant feeding which includes providing antenatal breastfeeding workshop for expectant mothers to encourage mothers, prior to the birth of their infant, to consider and make an informed choice on the feeding method they will use.
- Support, manage and evaluate the infant feeding education provided to staff including leadership training, mandatory annual updates, and full day training for new staff
- Keep up to date with Infant feeding developments by attending relevant conferences and being part of the county wide and National Infant Feeding Networks. Maintain own clinical competency in respect of infant feeding, utilizing opportunities for professional development.
- To lead the teams to achieve Baby Friendly status, striving to raise the breastfeeding rate in line with Government targets and provide all families optimum care around infant feeding. Work with the ward managers in each area of Maternity and Neonatal to provide up to date action plans and take responsibility in their clinical areas.
- To have good knowledge of the UNICEF standards and be able to complete various forms of audit (including audit of services, feedback, interviews, staff training).
- Be Responsible for monitoring and evaluating the infant statistics throughout the Trust including feeding data, frenotomy service, specialist clinic, readmissions for feeding difficulties and other relevant data for ongoing improved practice
- Work closely with all teams within the Maternity Department as well as the IT and digital team, quality improvement, practice development, and other ward areas working towards the baby friendly initiative.
- A registered health professional able to fulfil the role through the ability to make decisions within current protocols and principles of care in compliance with the NMC Code.
- Lead the team to actively support women with breastfeeding in the community and postnatal ward.
- Accurately monitor the success of further developments in the service.
- Act as a resource for staff in both a hospital and community setting.
- Maintain an active role in clinical governance initiatives.
- To monitor and assess staff/students during their clinical experience and participate in the appraisal of their performance.
- Be aware of current research/approaches to client care and demonstrate this in practice & encourage innovation in midwifery practice.
- Continue to develop existing audit programs for infant feeding, to include monitoring and reporting of standards.
- Prepare and present regular evaluation and progress reports to enable the Maternity Unit to monitor progress in meeting targets relating to breastfeeding.
- Monitor and disseminate breastfeeding statistics, identifying trends and rates, and reviewing practice accordingly.
- Report to UNICEF all required reports and data.
- Share audit presentations with the audit department and audit specialist midwife. Provide up to date amendments of guidelines and policies related to infant feeding.
- Monitor, implement, and evaluate breastfeeding practices in the hospital and continuity into community settings and provide specialist breastfeeding support.
- Maintain an effective system for audit of practice and disseminate results.
- The post holder will demonstrate highly effective interpersonal skills including communication and negotiation skills together with the ability to work effectivelyand cohesively with a wide range of clinical and non-clinical staff within the Trust and also with external organizers.
- Lead the development and implementation of breastfeeding policy and practice in line with UNICEF requirements.
- Ensure systems are in place so that the Trust meets national and local breastfeeding targets.
- Co-ordinate practice to support relevant national and local targets, monitoring, and action planning with Heads of Service where and when these targets are at risk.
- Develop and implement targeted approaches to improve breastfeeding uptake by the most socially excluded mothers and families to address health inequalities.
- Work across all partnership agencies to profile / champion breastfeeding and contribute to the evidence base to support needs led service development.
- Develop accessible information for women about infant feeding.
- Promote and foster an environment which encourages breastfeeding as the optimum method of feeding.
- Attend any other relevant groups and forums, championing breastfeeding at all levels.
- Keep accurate records of all women and babies in line with Trust Policies
- Ensure that guidelines relating to the clinical specialty are available to all staff and are updated appropriately.
- Ensure effective communication with all staff and women.
- Promote good relationships with the womens and childrens services and other areas in the Trust.
- Ensure that the team management of appraisals are kept up to date
- Ensure and support the team to keep up to date with CPD and mandatory training
- To ensure data is recorded accurately and timely into maternity records and IT systems.
- Updating and maintaining information databases, guidelines and/or systems when required.
- This job description is neither exclusive nor exhaustive and the duties and responsibilities may vary from time to time in the lights of changing circumstances and in consultation with the job holder.
- This job description may be subject to change according to the varying needs of the service. The post holder will be assigned to a specific Clinical Specialty Groups (CSG) or specialty specific department/s, with future rotation to other departments within the Womens Directorate.
- Such changes will be made after discussion between the post holder and their line manager.
- All duties must be carried out under supervision or within trust policy and procedure.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Responsible for leading on the strategic planning and implementation of the UNICEF BFI standards across the PAH NHS Trust to ensure a co-ordinated approach to breast feeding support and management.
- To lead the World Health Organisation and UNICEF Baby friendly programme within the maternity department. Planning, designing and implementing course programme and content for all members of the multidisciplinary team.
- Responsible for the provision of expert advice, education, training and support in infant feeding to women, pregnant people and staff within the hospital and community setting.
- To develop proactive partnerships with the wide multi-disciplinary team to promote the benefits of breastfeeding and long-term health benefits.
- To maintain a high standard of professional expertise and to ensure that the highest standard of midwifery care is given during the ante-natal, intrapartum and postnatal periods.
- Provide professional leadership and mentoring to less experienced midwives and support to colleagues in a multi-disciplinary team.
- To provide direct antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care in hospital and/or community when required.
- To provide specialist advice on all areas of infant feeding within the maternity environment to the multidisciplinary team.
- To take the lead responsibility for ensuring the effective implementation and on-going maintenance of UNICEF BFI standards across the service.
- To lead and coordinate the MDT infant feeding strategic group
- To line manage other members of the team as required
- Acts as a mentor and participates in preceptorship and induction programmes for MDT staff.
- To work closely with the Education team in providing education and training sessions to all grades of staff.
- To lead and conduct audits of Infant feeding standards to determine baselines and assess progress towards maintenance of BFI Standards leading to presentation of these audits at multidisciplinary meetings and innovate change according to the results.
- To conduct other audit and spot checks within maternity services as required.
- To work closely with user representatives and MVP to ensure PAHT maternity webpage is up to date and reflect latest standards
- Jointly with the wider team, coordinate the review of the maternity health records, ensuring up to date information are included.
- To participate to other transformation workstreams as required.
- To work closely with the governance team to ensure to learning from case reviews.
- To participate in the management of the maternity department, this entails carrying the maternity bleep and On-call manager as part of a rota.
- Undertake Performance Review and Development Plans as delegated by the Line Manager.
- Report accidents, incidents and complaints to the appropriate line manager / Clinical Risk Midwife and Non-clinical Risk Midwife in accordance with the Trust governance policy.
- To communicate any Health and Safety issues within the ward environment to the appropriate line manager.
- To retrieve and analyse statistical data that will facilitate delivery of the service pertaining to continence care and to lead to work in partnership with the multi disciplinary team at PAH NHS Trust to deliver breastfeeding and infant feeding training to all relevant staff members.
- Support, manage and evaluate the specialist lactation clinics including offering professional advice and support to women attending the infant feeding clinic and support/feedback to the team members running clinics
- Empower patients to demonstrate effective compliance to specialist advice and management plans.
- Work closely with other members of the multi-disciplinary team to provide a comprehensive clinical service.
- Support, manage and evaluate the frenotomy service, including ongoing training and reflections related to tongue tie practice and research for the team.
- Support, manage and evaluate the antenatal education service around infant feeding which includes providing antenatal breastfeeding workshop for expectant mothers to encourage mothers, prior to the birth of their infant, to consider and make an informed choice on the feeding method they will use.
- Support, manage and evaluate the infant feeding education provided to staff including leadership training, mandatory annual updates, and full day training for new staff
- Keep up to date with Infant feeding developments by attending relevant conferences and being part of the county wide and National Infant Feeding Networks. Maintain own clinical competency in respect of infant feeding, utilizing opportunities for professional development.
- To lead the teams to achieve Baby Friendly status, striving to raise the breastfeeding rate in line with Government targets and provide all families optimum care around infant feeding. Work with the ward managers in each area of Maternity and Neonatal to provide up to date action plans and take responsibility in their clinical areas.
- To have good knowledge of the UNICEF standards and be able to complete various forms of audit (including audit of services, feedback, interviews, staff training).
- Be Responsible for monitoring and evaluating the infant statistics throughout the Trust including feeding data, frenotomy service, specialist clinic, readmissions for feeding difficulties and other relevant data for ongoing improved practice
- Work closely with all teams within the Maternity Department as well as the IT and digital team, quality improvement, practice development, and other ward areas working towards the baby friendly initiative.
- A registered health professional able to fulfil the role through the ability to make decisions within current protocols and principles of care in compliance with the NMC Code.
- Lead the team to actively support women with breastfeeding in the community and postnatal ward.
- Accurately monitor the success of further developments in the service.
- Act as a resource for staff in both a hospital and community setting.
- Maintain an active role in clinical governance initiatives.
- To monitor and assess staff/students during their clinical experience and participate in the appraisal of their performance.
- Be aware of current research/approaches to client care and demonstrate this in practice & encourage innovation in midwifery practice.
- Continue to develop existing audit programs for infant feeding, to include monitoring and reporting of standards.
- Prepare and present regular evaluation and progress reports to enable the Maternity Unit to monitor progress in meeting targets relating to breastfeeding.
- Monitor and disseminate breastfeeding statistics, identifying trends and rates, and reviewing practice accordingly.
- Report to UNICEF all required reports and data.
- Share audit presentations with the audit department and audit specialist midwife. Provide up to date amendments of guidelines and policies related to infant feeding.
- Monitor, implement, and evaluate breastfeeding practices in the hospital and continuity into community settings and provide specialist breastfeeding support.
- Maintain an effective system for audit of practice and disseminate results.
- The post holder will demonstrate highly effective interpersonal skills including communication and negotiation skills together with the ability to work effectivelyand cohesively with a wide range of clinical and non-clinical staff within the Trust and also with external organizers.
- Lead the development and implementation of breastfeeding policy and practice in line with UNICEF requirements.
- Ensure systems are in place so that the Trust meets national and local breastfeeding targets.
- Co-ordinate practice to support relevant national and local targets, monitoring, and action planning with Heads of Service where and when these targets are at risk.
- Develop and implement targeted approaches to improve breastfeeding uptake by the most socially excluded mothers and families to address health inequalities.
- Work across all partnership agencies to profile / champion breastfeeding and contribute to the evidence base to support needs led service development.
- Develop accessible information for women about infant feeding.
- Promote and foster an environment which encourages breastfeeding as the optimum method of feeding.
- Attend any other relevant groups and forums, championing breastfeeding at all levels.
- Keep accurate records of all women and babies in line with Trust Policies
- Ensure that guidelines relating to the clinical specialty are available to all staff and are updated appropriately.
- Ensure effective communication with all staff and women.
- Promote good relationships with the womens and childrens services and other areas in the Trust.
- Ensure that the team management of appraisals are kept up to date
- Ensure and support the team to keep up to date with CPD and mandatory training
- To ensure data is recorded accurately and timely into maternity records and IT systems.
- Updating and maintaining information databases, guidelines and/or systems when required.
- This job description is neither exclusive nor exhaustive and the duties and responsibilities may vary from time to time in the lights of changing circumstances and in consultation with the job holder.
- This job description may be subject to change according to the varying needs of the service. The post holder will be assigned to a specific Clinical Specialty Groups (CSG) or specialty specific department/s, with future rotation to other departments within the Womens Directorate.
- Such changes will be made after discussion between the post holder and their line manager.
- All duties must be carried out under supervision or within trust policy and procedure.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- NMC live registration
- Degree level or equivalent, with evidence of further professional development
Desirable
- Minimum 5 years experience as a midwife and infant feeding support
- Experience in leading and delivering programme of change with in an NHS acute setting
Skills
Essential
- Teaching and mentorship skills
- leadership skills
Desirable
- Expereince in performing frenulectomy and a appropriate qualification
- Excellent IT skills including excel
Infant feeding experience
Essential
- depth knowledge and understanding of BFI standards
- expereince in conducting and presenting audits
Desirable
- previous expereince as infant feeding lead /postnatal lead
- Being flexible
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- NMC live registration
- Degree level or equivalent, with evidence of further professional development
Desirable
- Minimum 5 years experience as a midwife and infant feeding support
- Experience in leading and delivering programme of change with in an NHS acute setting
Skills
Essential
- Teaching and mentorship skills
- leadership skills
Desirable
- Expereince in performing frenulectomy and a appropriate qualification
- Excellent IT skills including excel
Infant feeding experience
Essential
- depth knowledge and understanding of BFI standards
- expereince in conducting and presenting audits
Desirable
- previous expereince as infant feeding lead /postnatal lead
- Being flexible
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).
