Job summary
We are looking for a caring, conscientious and motivated person to work as an Infant Feeding Support Workers based in the Women's' Centre and on occasions in the community.
Flexibility with shift patterns is essential as this post includes early and late shift, weekends and bank holidays. We request that candidates only apply if you can fully commit to the advertised working hours.
Experience working within maternity not essential but previous experience supporting parents with infant feeding would be beneficial. In house training will be provided.
Successful candidates will be expected to work towards the Care Certificate. Support and study time will be given in order to achieve this.
Main duties of the job
As a member of the Infant Feeding Team within maternity you will support and work closely with registered midwives and nurses to deliver a high standard of care to families in a caring and safe environment. You will work as part of a wider team in developing and maintaining services provided to parents and contribute to the safe, efficient and smooth running of the clinical area. You will maintain the dignity and privacy of all parents and respect their right to confidentiality.
About us
Here in Oxfordshire, we offer a unique set up of our Maternity Services with around 7500 babies born annually.
We have 4 stand-alone Midwifery-Led Birth units within the county. These are based at Banbury, Chipping Norton, Wantage and Wallingford and we also offer home births to all areas. There is also an integrated Midwifery-Led birth unit, where around 10% of women and birthing people choose to go in labour. We work closely with specialist services such as the Fetal and Maternal Medicine Unit, Breech Team, and Maternity Bereavement Teams. Midwives employed within the service have the opportunity to rotate to all our units/departments providing care to both low and high risk women.
For those working with us, we have a substantial support network for staff, focusing on wellbeing and development. This includes a team of professional Midwifery Advocates, Wellbeing Champions, staff networks and a staff Maternity Psychologist. You will be supported by the Practice Development Team who provide regular study days and updates and support staff clinically. We champion diversity and strive to ensure every member of our team feels included, valued, and has the confidence to speak up and be heard.
We genuinely believe that by supporting our staff to feel happy and offering support within their work environment, we ensure the best quality of care for the women and birthing people who access our services.
Job description
Job responsibilities
As a member of the Infant Feeding Team within maternity you will support and work closely with registered midwives and nurses to deliver a high standard of care to families in a caring and safe environment. You will work as part of a wider team in developing and maintaining services provided to parents and contribute to the safe, efficient and smooth running of the clinical area. You will maintain the dignity and privacy of all parents and respect their right to confidentiality.
Deliver a daily Early Days Information Session (EDIS) to all women on the postnatal wards in groups and individually where appropriate. The EDIS ensures that parents have the knowledge and skills to be able to feed their babies once home and prevent postnatal readmission.
Identify parents that need additional support with feeding when providing the EDIS;
- Provide evidence based infant feeding support within the scope of your knowledge with regards to:
- positioning and attachment
- hand expressing
- using a breast pump when appropriate
- safe formula milk preparation
- responsive feeding
- Be able to put a feeding plan in place if necessary.
- Refer to the Infant Feeding midwives for more complex situations.
Work in collaboration with the wider Infant Feeding Team ensuring parents receive appropriate support.
Work in collaboration with the ward and community staff (midwives/nurses/maternity support workers) to maintain standards and support parents with feeding up to the age of 6 weeks.
Attend daily safety huddles as necessary on the postnatal ward to maintain Infant Feeding presence and provide updated information and advice to staff.
Answer telephone calls from staff and parents about feeding issues.
- Support staff to put appropriate plans in place with regards to managing excessive weight loss/faltering growth with the support of the Infant Feeding Midwives.
- Provide infant feeding support over the phone and via online video conferencing portals.
Provide infant feeding support to parents who may be in patients in the main hospital.
Provide infant feeding support to parents whose babies have been admitted to the Childrens ward.
Carry out practical skills reviews on staff as part of staff mandatory study days to maintain standards.
Support the infant feeding midwives with the annual UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative audit and monthly supplementation audit.
Answer buzzers on the postnatal ward to assist the ward staff and handle the parents request appropriately.
Inform ward staff if concerned regarding a parents or babys condition. Seek support from a registered practitioner when indicated.
Job description
Job responsibilities
As a member of the Infant Feeding Team within maternity you will support and work closely with registered midwives and nurses to deliver a high standard of care to families in a caring and safe environment. You will work as part of a wider team in developing and maintaining services provided to parents and contribute to the safe, efficient and smooth running of the clinical area. You will maintain the dignity and privacy of all parents and respect their right to confidentiality.
Deliver a daily Early Days Information Session (EDIS) to all women on the postnatal wards in groups and individually where appropriate. The EDIS ensures that parents have the knowledge and skills to be able to feed their babies once home and prevent postnatal readmission.
Identify parents that need additional support with feeding when providing the EDIS;
- Provide evidence based infant feeding support within the scope of your knowledge with regards to:
- positioning and attachment
- hand expressing
- using a breast pump when appropriate
- safe formula milk preparation
- responsive feeding
- Be able to put a feeding plan in place if necessary.
- Refer to the Infant Feeding midwives for more complex situations.
Work in collaboration with the wider Infant Feeding Team ensuring parents receive appropriate support.
Work in collaboration with the ward and community staff (midwives/nurses/maternity support workers) to maintain standards and support parents with feeding up to the age of 6 weeks.
Attend daily safety huddles as necessary on the postnatal ward to maintain Infant Feeding presence and provide updated information and advice to staff.
Answer telephone calls from staff and parents about feeding issues.
- Support staff to put appropriate plans in place with regards to managing excessive weight loss/faltering growth with the support of the Infant Feeding Midwives.
- Provide infant feeding support over the phone and via online video conferencing portals.
Provide infant feeding support to parents who may be in patients in the main hospital.
Provide infant feeding support to parents whose babies have been admitted to the Childrens ward.
Carry out practical skills reviews on staff as part of staff mandatory study days to maintain standards.
Support the infant feeding midwives with the annual UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative audit and monthly supplementation audit.
Answer buzzers on the postnatal ward to assist the ward staff and handle the parents request appropriately.
Inform ward staff if concerned regarding a parents or babys condition. Seek support from a registered practitioner when indicated.
Person Specification
Education and Experience
Essential
- 5 GCSE's or equivalent
- Good command of spoken and written English
Desirable
- Experience working in maternity/supporting new parents with feeding
- Experience of working in NHS
Personal Qualities and Attiributes
Essential
- Excellent communication skills
- Able to work shift patterns as described
- Understanding of role and maternity care - good insight
- Can cope under pressure
Person Specification
Education and Experience
Essential
- 5 GCSE's or equivalent
- Good command of spoken and written English
Desirable
- Experience working in maternity/supporting new parents with feeding
- Experience of working in NHS
Personal Qualities and Attiributes
Essential
- Excellent communication skills
- Able to work shift patterns as described
- Understanding of role and maternity care - good insight
- Can cope under pressure
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.
Employer details
Employer name
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Women's Centre John Radcliffe Hospital
Headley Way
Headington
OX3 9DU
Employer's website
https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
