Public Health Support Worker - Infant Feeding

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose:

To support the 0-19 Public Health Nursing team in their provision of Health Promotion and Child Development assessments offering a 8am-8pm service for children, young people and families.

Activities undertaken may be delivered in the home, school or clinic environment under the direction of the Health Visitor or School Nurse.

To support the delivery of the Healthy child programme to all children from 0-19 across a geographical location.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Clinical

1. To provide breast feeding support to families across Warrington following appropriate training
2. Provide sign posting as appropriate for families and children and young people across the 0-19 service following completion of training
3. To undertake appropriate follow up visits to clinic defaulters under the direction of the Health Visitor and school nurse, checking addresses and rebooking appointments.
4. To ensure the smooth running of a variety of clinical sessions such as, NCMP
5. Support agreed PSHE and health promotion activities for all ages of children within the 0-19 service, in a variety of settings such as school, home visits, childrens centre, public buildings and community clinics after the completion of training and assessment of competence
6. To prepare resources/materials/information for health education group/individual sessions for the 0-19 service
7. To provide home safety advice unsupervised in clients own home following training and assessment of competence
8. Assist the 0-19 Team members in preparation for all 0-19 Core Service activities within School, Home, Childrens centres, Clinic/Health Centre, Community environments
9. Maintain an effective cold chain by ensuring safe storage of vaccine by rotating stock and monitoring vaccine fridge temperature adhering to the current Immunisation Policy and advise members of the 0-19 service to low stock levels to maintain adequate vaccine supply
10. Undertake and assist in Vision and Hearing screening as per agreed protocol for the 0-19 service following the completion of training.
11. To support the delivery of Child Health surveillance activities for the 0-19 service by preparing and tidying rooms/equipment/resources
12. To Measure childrens heights, weights and head circumferences and plot centiles after the completion of training and assessment of competence in order to complete the delivery of the healthy child programme offer and the national child measurement programme(NCMP)
13. To support the 0-19 Team with a range of administrative duties
14. To support the 0-19 team in ordering of supplies ensuring constant availability for use by the team.
15. Recognise respect and support cultural variations and spiritual beliefs that influence parenting and nutrition
16. To report signs of child neglect/abuse to School Nurse/Health Visitor, colleagues immediately

Management and clerical

1. To be responsible and accountable for timely and accurate record keeping including attendance or non attendance at clinic appointments in the Electronic patient record.

2. Check the 0-19 service NHS mail boxes, signposting any messages/referrals appropriately.

3. Support all national immunisation and screening programmes in schools by ensuring that all lists and consent forms are up to date and prepared in a timely way and to co-ordinate appropriate administrative support within immunisation clinics in schools.

4. Record data as requested for service development and audit purpose

5. Maintain strict confidentiality for all clients

6. To store and maintain records in accordance within Trust Policy

7. To provide accurate information to the identified administrator regarding absences, study leave, cover for holidays, expenses and other patient related data as required.

8. To contribute to the development of and implementation of polices, procedures and guidelines relevant to own area of work

9. To complete statistical data and other returns promptly in accordance with the needs of the service

10. Plans and organises own workload and informs team leader

11. Maintains a current up to date electronic diary of activity

Professional

1. To participate in the Personal Development Review process and 1 to 1 to identify opportunities for enhancing professional or clinical knowledge

2. To attend 0-19 team meetings and ensure read minutes if not able to attend to maintain up to date knowledge

Teaching and Learning

1. To attend mandatory training as required by the Trust

2. To participate in study days as appropriate

3. Assist in the learning experience of students and support induction of new staff in the community placement

Communication

1. Ensure a friendly and welcoming point of contact to all service users, giving prompt attention to their requests, directing enquiries and signposting as appropriate.
2. Deal with information in a tactful, sensitive and strictly confidential manner, showing empathy and judgement, in liaison with appropriate professionals as required.
3. Liaise with administrative staff within Bridgewater, the Local Authority, childrens centres and schools.
4. Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with colleagues

Clinical Governance

1. Reports to Health Visitor/ school nurse/ Team leader all accidents/incidents and completes appropriate documentation

2. To participate in audit activity as agreed with 0-19 service manager

3. To promote individuals equality diversity and rights

This job description is an outline of the role and responsibilities. From time to time, due to the needs of the service, we may ask you to flexibly undertake other duties that are consistent with your role and banding.

The 0-19 service is commissioned to deliver a service 8am-8pm and offering weekend delivery, dependant on the needs of the service.

As the 0-19 service is delivered across Warrington you will have a base for administrative purposes only, as we may ask you to deliver a service from a variety of bases dependent on needs of the service.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with pregnant people, pre-school children and their families.
• To have experience of working in a clinical environment, either in hospital or community setting.
• Evidence of supporting mothers and their infants with infant feeding and the promotion of breastfeeding.
• Basic IT skills.

Desirable

• Experience of working in a clerical setting.
• Experience of working across a variety of community settings.
• Experience of giving information on a one-to-one or in a group setting.
• Experience of delivering PowerPoint presentations in a group setting.
• Experience of working with people from different backgrounds and respect different lifestyles and views.
• Trained BFPS with experience in a community / hospital setting.

Qualifications

Essential

• Good standard of education to include GCSE English and Maths at C or above or equivalent
• Extensive knowledge of current infant feeding practices

Desirable

• NVQ level 2 in Health/Child Care/Education.
• Evidence of completing a breastfeeding observation, workbook and/or clinical skills assessments, or relevant breastfeeding training for Breastfeeding Peer Supporters.
• Childcare Development qualification.
• Care certificate in Healthcare.

Additional Criteria

Essential

• Commitment to promoting breastfeeding.
• The ability to travel independently across the Trust and (access to use of car).
• The ability to work flexibly in accordance with service needs.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to show initiative and take on own responsibility and
• accountability.
• Ability to prioritise workload and manage own time, recognizing own limitations and when to seek assistance.

Sponsorship

Essential

• Do you have the right to stay and work in the UK without sponsorship (share-codes will be checked if applicable), please state this on your application form.

Relations

Essential

• If you are related to a director or have a relationship with a director or employee of an appointing organisation, please state the relationship in your application form.

Skills & Attributes

Essential

• Basic knowledge of the principles of the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative and the care standards.
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
• Knowledge of Infant Feeding practices.
• Demonstrates enthusiasm and
• motivation in supporting mothers in
• breast feeding.
• Basic awareness of Child. Protection issues.
• Good communication skills.
• Good organisation skills.
• Understanding of safeguarding.
• Interest in developing skills and knowledge related to the wellbeing of children and their mothers.

Desirable

• Working knowledge of the principles of successful breast feeding and supporting families with infant feeding challenges.
• Identification of tongue tie training.
• Knowledge of Local Authority, Health and other relevant agencies and structures.
• Knowledge of infant nutrition.
• Ability to reflect and learn from different situations.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Knowledge of basic parenting 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).