Infant Feeding Support Worker

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Result Areas:

The main tasks of the role are to:Adhere to the South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust Infant Feeding PolicyProvide breastfeeding support to clients on an individual and group basis, giving information, guidance and support, within the home and community whilst also providing very brief advice (VBA) on smoking cessation, in line with Making Every Contact Count (MECC)Promote, protect and support breastfeeding, considering safe formula feeding practices inline with UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative.Provide information and support to help families initiate and maintain breastfeeding.Sign post to other services/organisations locally.Proactively engage pregnant women to access the SSIP service using the Very Brief Advice approach and refer directlyProvide one-to-one or group support to pregnant women, new mothers and their families in community settings or in the home.Act as a key worker providing breastfeeding support to new mothers allocated to the caseload as per service specification in the antenatal and postnatal period.Provide ongoing support to help mothers/parents overcome barriers and offer appropriate advice.Take referrals and manage appropriately, referrals from Health Visitors and other Health Professionals.Provide support to volunteers as appropriate.Attend meetings as required.Ability to work unsupervised and manage own workload feeding back any concerns to the Infant feeding coordinator, Health Visiting Service and SSIP team where appropriate.Ability to answer queries from mothers/parents, families and staff regarding all aspects of feeding and problem solve accordingly, either on the telephone or in person.Assist in identifying local needs and areas of priority to be established through utilising various methods including consultation with service users and local community groups.Provide information and support around feeding to all mothers as required.Administrative duties as required. This may include daily admin rota tasks and admin project work, such as breast pump loan scheme.To work in an agile manner where possible, including working from base, home or other sites as felt beneficial to the service and individual, whilst recognising the need for continued team working and communication

Communication Skills and Working Relationships:Work with existing groups and networks to identify and engage with individuals to support breastfeeding within the community.Develop links with key health professionals, community workers and volunteers delivering breastfeeding peer support.Under the supervision of the infant Feeding Lead, provide a link between midwifery, peer support groups, and mainstream health services and other organisations to support good, joint working in order to provide seamless and excellent quality support service.

Analytical and Judgement Skills:Assist in collecting and recording data on caseload and activities as required and under the supervision of the Infant Feeding Co-ordinator.

Planning and Organisational Skills:Ensure effective running of feeding groups and provide support as required, utilising promotional materials as necessary.Reporting regularly to manager on workload planning and feedback, as agreed.Assist in the development of, and facilitate the delivery of, antenatal education to pregnant mothers/parents and their families to promote the benefits of breastfeeding in group settings or one-to-one in the home.

Freedom to Act:Ensuring the security and confidentiality of records is in accordance with trust policies and procedures for record keeping and data protection.Responsibility for Patient Care:Provide support to peer support groups and breastfeeding promotional activities.

Responsibility for Policy/Service Development:Suggest ideas on the overall development of the service in conjunction with the Infant Feeding Co-ordinator.

Responsibility for Research and Development:Participate in appraisal and learning activities and participate in evaluation including UNICEF audits.

Physical Skills/Physical Effort:To undertake travel between various community/acute settings, meeting with pregnant women, new mothers and their families.Ability to carry and transport equipment in accordance with SWFT Manual Handling Procedures.

Emotional Effort:Adhere to the safeguarding policies and protocols ensuring they are implemented and adhered to under the supervision of the Infant Feeding Co-ordinator.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• GCSE level A-C English and maths or equivalent
• 2-day breastfeeding management training or Peer Support Training Course
• An understanding of the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative of breastfeeding and relationship building

Experience

Essential

• Experience of Microsoft Computer packages inc. Word, Excel
• Have worked with babies, young children and families in the last year
• Previous work, minimum of 1 year offering breastfeeding support to babies, mothers and families.
• To understand the breastfeeding needs in the area the service covers

Skills

Essential

• Confident to provide breastfeeding support to mothers and families on an individual and group basis, giving information guidance and support
• Ability to identify and sustain appropriate relationships, partnerships, and networks to influence and improve breastfeeding rates, and health outcomes
• Must be willing, to undertake further training as required
• Must be able to demonstrate the importance of maintaining confidentiality of client information
• Ability to work unsupervised and manage own workload and must feedback any concerns to family midwife/ health visitor
• Experience of partnership working
• Ability to engage with and encourage other professional groups to promote breastfeeding.
• Must be aware of Child Protection principles

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Committed to self-development and willing to share experience with others to influence practice
• Good interpersonal skills and be able to communicate effectively, including an excellent telephone manner and message taking skills.
• Must be able to demonstrate an understanding of equal opportunities and anti- discriminatory practice in the workplace.
• Must be able to work as a member of a team, supporting other members.

Other job requirements

Essential

• Must be able to meet the travel requirements of the role, to be based in Rugby
• Must hold a full driver's licence
• Must be willing to work flexibly within working hours of 9am-5pm Monday to Friday
• Must be willing to undertake criminal bureau disclose to enhanced level
• Must be able to demonstrate an understanding of equal opportunities
• Must be legally entitled to work in this country

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).

Employer details

Employer name

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Cranmore Park

Cranmore Avenue

Shirley

B904LF

Employer's website

https://www.swft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)