Infant Feeding Support Worker

Job responsibilities

The post holder is responsible for:

Supporting the development and co-ordination of the Infant Feeding Team (IFT) as part of the universal 0-19 Integrated Public Health Service in Warrington. To support and coordinate the volunteers ensuring staff are working in line with Trust policies and procedures

Promoting/supporting breastfeeding in Warrington, including working with health services, childrens centres, and families in the community; developing and maintaining infant feeding support groups, especially in areas of inequality

Providing support to the Infant Feeding Coordinator (IFC) for key infant feeding initiatives including the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative, peer mentoring and communications

Gathering information on needs and the views of women, writing reports, evaluating services, retrieving and managing data and information

Principle Responsibilities:

To support the IFC in the development of all new Infant Feeding Volunteers. To assist in the recruitment, induction training, coordinating and planning the peer support/volunteer mentoring programme

To work as part of the IFT ensuring close collaboration and, where appropriate, joint working with colleagues. To act as a representative of the IFT to health and social care staff to support joint working practice with other partners i.e. Doctors, Health Visitors, Midwives, nursery nurses, Childrens Centre staff, and Infant Feeding Groups to support parents both in a variety of settings, to promote, support and encourage breastfeeding

To support the IFC in all relevant tasks to work towards achieving UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) Accreditation. This includes undertaking audit and collecting data as required by the IFC to monitor progress towards achievement of the BFI standards

To support and promote the principles of the UNICEF BFI best practice standards, in order to maintain accreditation of the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative

Organise communications events, presentations, workshops, ensuring all logistical requirements are met; Design and produce infant feeding notices and other presentational materials; overseeing all communications to promote breastfeeding and safe, effective bottle feeding, including managing levels of products and stock

Collate, co-ordinate and communicate information for reports, planning documents or policies for infant feeding. Responsible for the maintenance and updating of the infant feeding databases, and collating any relevant infant feeding data as required

Managing queries and requests from parents, staff in partner agencies and the voluntary sector, offering information/advice, including referrals on electronic systems such as SystmOne

To support the strategic work of the IFC and to undertake project support tasks as required by the IFC

To ensure that statistical data required demonstrating progress towards achievement of infant feeding targets is collected and provided to the Commissioner

Clinical

To work to the principles of the UNICEF BFI practice standards

To provide feeding support to families across Warrington following appropriate training

To provide support to mothers in the early days of feeding with (non-clinical) advice and provide intimate, hands-on support including demonstrations of effective positioning and attachment of the baby at the breast, also hand and pump expressing of breast milk with permission. To demonstrate good breastfeeding techniques discussing alternative positions and effective attachment at the breast

To answer queries on breastfeeding, offer infant feeding support to all families

To work within a variety of community settings and within the home to provide infant feeding support

To signpost and support attendance of breastfeeding mothers to existing peer support breastfeeding groups

To address and reduce health inequalities by targeting young mothers and women from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds

To refer patients with medical problems to appropriate health professionals including IFC/midwife/health visitor/paediatrician/GP

To provide specific information and support the feeding of milk to the baby through to introducing solid foods

To offer home visits and telephone support, encouragement and practical assistance to breastfeeding mothers, with intensive support in the initial weeks following delivery, and then up to 8 weeks and beyond

Have a responsibility for assessing infant feeding issues via telephone, in the home and in community venues. This includes identification of Tongue Tie and referral to relevant services

To assess patients suitability for phone or home visit support and to make day to day decisions about the support and advice required for each patient

Provide signposting as appropriate for families and children and young people across the 0-19 service following completion of training

To ensure the smooth running of a variety of infant feeding sessions such as, antenatal information sessions, specialist infant feeding drop-in clinics and postnatal support groups

Support agreed health promotion activities for all ages of children within the IFT and the wider 0-19 service, in a variety of settings such as schools, home visits, childrens centres, public buildings and community clinics after the completion of training and assessment of competence

Recognise respect and support cultural variations and spiritual beliefs that influence parenting and nutrition.

To report signs of child neglect/abuse to Line Manager/School Nurse/Health Visitor and social care colleagues immediately

Management and clerical

To be responsible and accountable for timely and accurate record keeping including attendance or nonattendance at clinic appointments in the Electronic records

Check the IFT NHS mailboxes, signposting any messages/referrals appropriately

Record data as requested for service development and audit purposes

Maintain strict confidentiality for all clients

To store and maintain records in accordance with Trust Policy

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

To contribute to the development of and implementation of policies, procedures and guidelines relevant to own area of work

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

Maintains a current up to date electronic diary of activity.

To prepare resources/materials/information for health education groups/individual sessions for the IFT and the wider 0-19 service

To support the 0-19 IFT and the wider 0-19 service with a range of administrative duties

To support the IFT and the wider 0-19 service in ordering of supplies ensuring constant availability for use by the teams

To transport and keep physical resources safe and clean. To adhere to breast pump loan policy

Ensure adequate levels of stock of information, hand-outs, etc. are available

Ensure all equipment kept by the IFT is kept clean and in good order and report all problems promptly to Line Manager

Professional

To attend IFT and wider 0-19 Team meetings and ensure read minutes if not able to attend to maintain up to date knowledge

Plan own day to day tasks i.e. delivery of sessions to new and expectant mothers

To plan and organise time effectively to meet the needs of the individuals and the service

Teaching and Learning

To attend relevant infant feeding and peer support training

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

To support the IFT in the delivery of parental information sessions and staff training

Communication

Ensure a friendly and welcoming point of contact to all service users, giving prompt attention to their requests, directing enquiries and signposting as appropriate

Deal with information in a tactful, sensitive and strictly confidential manner, showing empathy and judgement, in liaison with appropriate professionals as required

Liaise with administrative staff within Bridgewater, the Local Authority, childrens centres and schools

To maintain close communication with the Midwifery and Health Visiting services to identify breast feeding mothers as early as possible and support all women with feeding their babies

To deliver or facilitate peer support group sessions and promote infant feeding support groups

To work alongside and have a regular presence within Childrens centres across the borough

To facilitate a drop-in clinic service that women can access regarding any infant feeding issues

Using tact and persuasive skills the IFSW should encourage and support Warrington women to initiate breastfeeding at birth and support them to continue breastfeeding and to actively encourage mothers to volunteer as peer supporters and link into existing structures

To contribute to programmes of work to raise awareness of breastfeeding in the Warrington area, e.g. events during National Breastfeeding Week

To act as a link to the IFT to identified local schools to engage in sessions to promote breastfeeding in school settings providing education and support and early messages to young people around changing the culture of breastfeeding within the borough

Through effective partnership working the post holder will ensure a common approach with other practitioners, to empower women to make informed decisions about how to feed their baby

To liaise with health care professionals, local authority and other staff in the community regarding the IFT

To operate as part of a team, sharing information and knowledge and learning

To support in developing and contributing to team support networks and join in team learning activities

Clinical Governance

To participate in audit activity as agreed with IFC and 0-19 service manager

To promote individuals equality diversity and rights

Experience

Essential

• Demonstrable practical experience and evidence of supporting mothers and their infants with infant feeding and the promotion of breastfeeding.
• Experience in data collection, analysis and completion of written reports.
• Experience of using IT systems, including MS Office applications such as Excel and Access.
• Experience of developing initiatives and implementing change.
• Experience of supporting Volunteers/Peers/Junior Staff/Students

Desirable

• Previous experience as a breastfeeding volunteer or infant feeding peer support worker
• Experience of working in a clerical setting.
• Experience of working in a community setting.
• Experience of giving information on a one-to-one or in a group setting.
• Experience of organising and delivering PowerPoint presentations in a group setting.
• Experience of working with people from different backgrounds and respect different lifestyles and views.

Job Specific Requirements

Essential

• Commitment to promoting breastfeeding.
• The ability to travel independently across the Trust.
• The ability to work flexibly in accordance with service needs.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to reflect and learn from different situations.
• 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.
• Ability to work under pressure.

Skills & Attributes

Essential

• Excellent communication skills demonstrating tact, sensitivity and diplomacy at all levels.
• Ability to demonstrate adequate knowledge of infant feeding including having awareness of UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative care standards and best practice.
• Ability and confidence in working with individuals and with small groups.
• Excellent oral and written skills including presentation skills and ability to produce reports.
• Organisational skills and ability to prioritise workload and work under pressure., and able to work to deadlines.
• To be self-motivating and work with the minimum of supervision in an organized, efficient, and effective manner, in order to maximise the use of own time.
• To be flexible in their approach to the changing needs of the service as it develops in the future.
• Effective team member with a proven ability to support a multi-professional team.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to be assertive in dealing with clinical staff, and support and motivate both staff and clients.
• Positive can do approach.
• Empathy and respect for all.
• Willingness and ability to deal with conflict and challenge oppressive practices.
• Demonstrates professional integrity at all times and an ability to stay calm under pressure.
• Must be able to respond effectively to changing circumstances and unexpected demands.
• Approachable, helpful and encouraging.
• Demonstrates enthusiasm and motivation in supporting mothers in breast feeding.
• Interest in developing skills and knowledge related to the wellbeing of children and their mothers.
• Basic awareness and understanding of Safeguarding and Child Protection issues.
• Knowledge of basic parenting skills.

Desirable

• Working knowledge of the principles of the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative and the care standards.
• 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.

Qualifications

Essential

• Recognised Infant/Breast Feeding training course certificate.
• Good standard of education to include GCSE English and Maths at C or above (or equivalent).
• NVQ level 3 in Care or equivalent knowledge through experience.

Desirable

• Recognised breastfeeding counsellor qualification.
• Evidence of completing a breastfeeding observation, workbook and/or clinical skills assessments, or relevant breastfeeding training for Breastfeeding Peer Supporters.
• Childcare Development qualification.

Sponsorship

Essential

• Do you have the right to stay and work in the UK without sponsorship (share-codes will be checked if applicable)

Relationships

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:

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).