Infant Feeding Practitioner

Job responsibilities

Key Result Areas:

CLINICAL RESPONSBILITIES

To:

Monitor and maintain standards of care in accordance with the Trusts policies, Guidelines, Protocols and Professional Regulations

Actively participate in the promotion of breastfeeding and increasing the initiation and maintenance of breast feeding

Provide infant feeding support in line with the BFI Standards and SWFT Infant Feeding Policy

Obtain skills and knowledge to advise and support midwives, neonatal nurses , nursery nurses, clinical support workers and volunteers with infant feeding in line with the BFI Standards

Ensure a high level of clinical visibility in the clinical areas, working alongside staff and supporting women

Ensure all Maternity staff are competent in supporting mothers/parents with positioning and attachment of the baby at the breast and assessing and evaluating the effectiveness of infant feeding

Have the skill to recognise feeding complications and deal with clinical problems in a safe and appropriate manner including making appropriate feeding plans

Provide support to women with complex feeding difficulties in a clinic setting (following appropriate training)

Liaise with and advise members of the multidisciplinary team on the individual needs of mothers in relation to infant feeding and ensure that each mother has access to appropriate services

Make direct referrals to the Infant Feeding Coordinator, consultant obstetrician, paediatrician, clinical psychology department as determined by the health needs of the mother and baby

Give information on accessing breastfeeding supporters/support groups when appropriate

Maintain accurate and contemporaneous clinical records using computer based clinical information system when appropriate

Identify and report any risk management issues, in accordance with trust procedures

Ensure timely referral of babies to the Tongue Tie clinic where tongue immobility is suspected to be contributing to feeding problems

Support the Tongue Tie Practitioners with the provision of the Frenulotomy service

MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Infant Feeding practitioner will:

Ensure that consistent care is provided throughout the maternity service in line with the BFI standards

Contribute to the creating and updating of evidenced based guidelines to support clinical practice and the BFI Standards

Manage the BFI Audit programme, collate the information obtained and submit it to Unicef

conduct Unicef BFI Audits of staff, mothers/parents, supplementation rates and the environment in all areas of the Maternity Service and ensure findings are discussed with the Infant Feeding Coordinator

Assist the Infant Feeding Co-ordinator in making Action Plans to achieve any BFI Standards which Audits indicate arent being met

Take responsibility for ensuring effective communication about relationship building and infant feeding with pregnant women/individuals and parents through approved social media platforms, including live video sessions, the Maternity Electronic Healthcare Record and visual displays in the Maternity Unit

Assist the Infant Feeding Co-ordinator with ordering, distributing and monitoring equipment and resources for infant feeding purposes

Ensure the safe working order of infant feeding equipment and teach and advise staff and families how to use equipment safely and appropriately following local guidelines and infection control policies

Arrange the recruitment and training for the Volunteer Infant Feeding Supporter programme

Liaise with Maternity staff to advise on changes to care plans

Provide regular feedback to staff on an individual basis with regards to compliance with BFI Standards through Practical Skills Reviews

Manage complaints sensitively and in accordance with Trust policy, referring to the Infant Feeding Coordinator and Maternity Service managers when appropriate.

Attend and contribute to BFI project meetings

Establish good communication/working relationships with multi-disciplinary agencies both internal and external to the department with the aim of providing a seamless service for women and their families

EDUCATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Infant Feeding practitioner will:

Participate in regular reviews of antenatal classes, ensuring they meet the needs of the women, partners and families attending and are consistent with the Baby Friendly Initiative Standards

Assist the Infant Feeding Co-ordinator with the review of infant feeding information available for staff and parents, ensuring all literature is based on the BFI standards and is available in languages appropriate to the local population

Take responsibility for maintaining and developing clinical skills and practices which enhance the role of the midwife and improve the care to the mother

Develop, deliver and monitor mandatory training programs for all staff involved with infant feeding

Fulfil the role of mentor to colleagues and student midwives by teaching, assessing and evaluating their skills and knowledge in relation to infant feeding

Advise and support clinical support workers in assisting mothers/individuals with their chosen method of feeding their babies, in accordance with the BFI standards

Advise and support the clinical support workers to demonstrate the principles of sterilisation, expressing breastmilk and safe preparation of formula milk

Apply evidence -based knowledge to practice

Update their own knowledge by continuing education and through personal and professional development

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Midwife
• UNICEF BFI Breastfeeding and Relationship Building Course
• UNICEF BFI Train the Trainer Course/Recognised Teaching Qualification

Desirable

• Advanced Clinical Skills in Tongue Tie (Ankyloglossia) Management
• Solihull Approach training
• Counselling certificate/diploma

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience of working with parents and babies with feeding difficulties
• Training and presenting with groups and individuals

Desirable

• Audit Experience

Skills

Essential

• Detailed knowledge of the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative Standards
• Effective communication skills
• Ability to assess maternal and neonatal wellbeing and infant feeding and implement appropriate feeding management plans
• Teaching/presentation skills
• Leadership and motivation skills
• Computer literacy
• Ability to motivate self and others
• Change management skills

Personal

Essential

• Committed to positively promoting the health and wellbeing of parents and babies
• Positive, professional role model
• Self -motivated and an ability to motivate others.
• Self -awareness and ability to reflect and constructively challenge both own and others' practices and behaviours
• Assertive and confident

Other

Essential

• Ability to work both on own initiative and within a team
• Flexibility to work days, nights, weekends and bank holidays

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).