Job summary
The post holder will support the current Infant Feeding Advisor on all aspects of Infant Feeding within the Division. This is a strategic role in developing policy and practice on infant feeding within the Maternity Service but liaising with partner organisations e.g. Health Visiting. A significant part of the role will be to lead on the project management of the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative accreditation process. The post holder will work within the framework of the NMC Midwives Rules and Standards and Luton & Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust Protocols and Guidelines.
Main duties of the job
Leadership/Strategy
- Lead on the production and revision of maternity guidelines pertaining to Infant Feeding
- Participate in regional infant feeding network meetings
- Member and participant of local MDT
- Disseminate new research/guidance to staff
- Provide a resource to staff with regards to breastfeeding and medication
- Provide expert feeding advice and support to staff and raise issues to Senior Management
- Participate in Maternity Governance
- Participate in the design and production of local infant feeding media/publicity/posters/leaflets/promotional events (such as National Breastfeeding Awareness Week)
- Link with the current Breastfeeding Network, Luton Family Hubs Initiative, etc. supporting projects such as Breast feeding Peer Support Programmes
- Work closely with Maternity & Neonatal Voices Partnerships
UNICEF BFI
- Support the Infant Feeding Advisor to deliver BFI training and maintain records of training
- Support Infant Feeding Advisor to conduct Practical Skills Assessments with staff
- Participate in the writing of annual Infant Feeding updates on mandatory study days for MWs/MCAs/NNN
- Audit :breastfeeding mothers, bottle feeding mothers/mothers with a baby on NNU
- Audit supplementation
- Produce infant feeding newsletters as staff updates on new guidelines/research
- Attend ward meetings or safety briefings to address issues/challenges
- Work closely with the NNU Lead to achieve BFI
- Produce and maintain BFI Action Plan reporting to monthly Maternity Governance and LMNS Board
About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics.
You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career.
We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. Please ensure that you make your application as soon as possible.
All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required.
Please review all documents attached to this advert to ensure you familiarise yourself with all requirements of the job.
Job description
Job responsibilities
*** See Job Description Attached for full details***
Areas of Clinical Specialism:
In addition to the Strategic Role there is Clinical Specialism to include the following responsibilities, this is not an exhaustive list:
Complex Feeding/Lactation Consultant
- Support Infant Feeding Advisor to provide telephone support to mothers with complex feeding needs as well as to colleagues/GPs/HVs on complex feeding
- Support staff when a newborn baby is readmitted to the Postnatal Ward with a feeding problem
- Support Infant Feeding Advisor with escalations from the Infant Feeding Support Clinics
- Lead on the Community Midwifery Teams embedding MSW drop in feeding clinics
- Maintain certification as IBCLC
Organisational Skills:
Priority should be given to embedding the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative Standards within the service. Escalating to Senior Management an action plan when standards are not being met.
Supporting staff with complex feeding issues to build their knowledge and skills and improve feeding experience for families.
Communication and Working Relationships:
The postholder must have excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to lead on issues relating to infant feeding. They should be able to collaborate with all levels of staff and in a multi-disciplinary team. They must be able to produce effective reports and articulate these with skill. Strong IT skills are necessary to maintain accurate records and produce reports and audits.
Patient Care
- Be responsible to maintain NMC registration
- Communicate management plan with wider MDT as appropriate.
- Provide specialist midwife/nurse intervention/support to staff with relation to feeding/lactation management in accordance with trust guidelines.
- Communicate with patients and families and provide continuity of care in order to understand individual needs and formulate a safe and tailored management plan to keep mothers and babies safe.
- Practice in accordance with NMC scope of practice, recognise deviations from normal and act to ensure safety in accordance with Trust guideline and governance procedure.
- Report any untoward incidents as per InPhase process to manage risk and support clinical governance.
- Provide education, supervision and support to staff as well as mothers and families.
- Synthesise knowledge and expertise related to the specific area of practice efficiently, to provide professional leadership within the specialty and organisation.
- Work collaboratively and in partnership with other health care professionals, offering appropriate leadership, guidance and supervision to colleagues.
- Foster teamwork, effective communication and responsiveness within the team.
- Demonstrate and disseminate clinical practice developments, utilising research to develop evidence-based care.
- Manage and facilitate change to support practice development and service improvement/modernisation activities, in accordance with local and national service policy or guidance.
- Collate data and use audit to inform practice and service development. Present audit findings to Maternity Governance.
- Respond to calls to assist with feeding / lactation difficulties throughout the service.
- Contribute to clinical governance activities in relation to specialism
- Contribute to the management of the service to deliver trust and directive objectives, ensuring cost effective use of resources, adherence to policies and achievement of service targets.
- Maintain clear and contemporaneous record keeping in accordance with NMC requirements
Communication and Relationships
- To ensure that all team members report change in patient progress effectively, both verbally and in written form. Ensure that accurate, legible and comprehensive midwifery records according to NMC and local guidelines are maintained.
- Where appropriate, interpret and present clinical information to clients and their families, demonstrating the highest levels of interpersonal and communication skills. Giving highly complex information to clients and families where there may be barriers to understanding. Provide relevant verbal and written information.
- To actively support staff working in highly distressing situations.
- To respond appropriately to ineffective communication techniques and styles used by staff, taking first line performance management action in the event of continued issues. To initiate basic ward-based training for junior staff in relation to communication strategies.
- To demonstrate sensitivity in dealing with complex and confidential information from clients, families and colleagues, giving advice and support when necessary. Take appropriate action where necessary.
- To ensure that information/decisions are cascaded appropriately both to junior and senior staff using tools such as regular timetabled meetings (for which minutes are produced), newsletters, memos and other relevant communication strategies e.g. Senior Leadership Team meetings (attend or send representative).
- To maintain collaborative working relationships and effective communications between all members of the multi-disciplinary team, resolving conflict and working within the team to ensure a high standard of coordinated client care.
Education, Professional Development and Training
- To take every reasonable opportunity for maintaining, developing and acquiring competencies and skills for self-development.
- To participate in the appraisal system, ensuring that all staff for whom they have responsibility have set objectives that identify and support individual development and training needs.
- To co-ordinate and oversee the support training and effective mentorship and/or preceptorship of junior staff, students and support workers.
- To identify the training and educational needs for all staff, contributing to the development and provision of the yearly training plan and educational training programmes and opportunities.
- To participate in informal and formal teaching sessions for their staff and provide relevant feedback to all members of the team.
- To undertake orientation of new staff to their clinical duties.
- To ensure that all team members attend mandatory training sessions.
Research and Audit
- To promote and disseminate clinical policies and guidelines which support clinical practice and education. To participate in and support systems for assessing the users views on the quality of services provided.
- Initiate and participate in ongoing research, audit and projects.
Job description
Job responsibilities
*** See Job Description Attached for full details***
Areas of Clinical Specialism:
In addition to the Strategic Role there is Clinical Specialism to include the following responsibilities, this is not an exhaustive list:
Complex Feeding/Lactation Consultant
- Support Infant Feeding Advisor to provide telephone support to mothers with complex feeding needs as well as to colleagues/GPs/HVs on complex feeding
- Support staff when a newborn baby is readmitted to the Postnatal Ward with a feeding problem
- Support Infant Feeding Advisor with escalations from the Infant Feeding Support Clinics
- Lead on the Community Midwifery Teams embedding MSW drop in feeding clinics
- Maintain certification as IBCLC
Organisational Skills:
Priority should be given to embedding the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative Standards within the service. Escalating to Senior Management an action plan when standards are not being met.
Supporting staff with complex feeding issues to build their knowledge and skills and improve feeding experience for families.
Communication and Working Relationships:
The postholder must have excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to lead on issues relating to infant feeding. They should be able to collaborate with all levels of staff and in a multi-disciplinary team. They must be able to produce effective reports and articulate these with skill. Strong IT skills are necessary to maintain accurate records and produce reports and audits.
Patient Care
- Be responsible to maintain NMC registration
- Communicate management plan with wider MDT as appropriate.
- Provide specialist midwife/nurse intervention/support to staff with relation to feeding/lactation management in accordance with trust guidelines.
- Communicate with patients and families and provide continuity of care in order to understand individual needs and formulate a safe and tailored management plan to keep mothers and babies safe.
- Practice in accordance with NMC scope of practice, recognise deviations from normal and act to ensure safety in accordance with Trust guideline and governance procedure.
- Report any untoward incidents as per InPhase process to manage risk and support clinical governance.
- Provide education, supervision and support to staff as well as mothers and families.
- Synthesise knowledge and expertise related to the specific area of practice efficiently, to provide professional leadership within the specialty and organisation.
- Work collaboratively and in partnership with other health care professionals, offering appropriate leadership, guidance and supervision to colleagues.
- Foster teamwork, effective communication and responsiveness within the team.
- Demonstrate and disseminate clinical practice developments, utilising research to develop evidence-based care.
- Manage and facilitate change to support practice development and service improvement/modernisation activities, in accordance with local and national service policy or guidance.
- Collate data and use audit to inform practice and service development. Present audit findings to Maternity Governance.
- Respond to calls to assist with feeding / lactation difficulties throughout the service.
- Contribute to clinical governance activities in relation to specialism
- Contribute to the management of the service to deliver trust and directive objectives, ensuring cost effective use of resources, adherence to policies and achievement of service targets.
- Maintain clear and contemporaneous record keeping in accordance with NMC requirements
Communication and Relationships
- To ensure that all team members report change in patient progress effectively, both verbally and in written form. Ensure that accurate, legible and comprehensive midwifery records according to NMC and local guidelines are maintained.
- Where appropriate, interpret and present clinical information to clients and their families, demonstrating the highest levels of interpersonal and communication skills. Giving highly complex information to clients and families where there may be barriers to understanding. Provide relevant verbal and written information.
- To actively support staff working in highly distressing situations.
- To respond appropriately to ineffective communication techniques and styles used by staff, taking first line performance management action in the event of continued issues. To initiate basic ward-based training for junior staff in relation to communication strategies.
- To demonstrate sensitivity in dealing with complex and confidential information from clients, families and colleagues, giving advice and support when necessary. Take appropriate action where necessary.
- To ensure that information/decisions are cascaded appropriately both to junior and senior staff using tools such as regular timetabled meetings (for which minutes are produced), newsletters, memos and other relevant communication strategies e.g. Senior Leadership Team meetings (attend or send representative).
- To maintain collaborative working relationships and effective communications between all members of the multi-disciplinary team, resolving conflict and working within the team to ensure a high standard of coordinated client care.
Education, Professional Development and Training
- To take every reasonable opportunity for maintaining, developing and acquiring competencies and skills for self-development.
- To participate in the appraisal system, ensuring that all staff for whom they have responsibility have set objectives that identify and support individual development and training needs.
- To co-ordinate and oversee the support training and effective mentorship and/or preceptorship of junior staff, students and support workers.
- To identify the training and educational needs for all staff, contributing to the development and provision of the yearly training plan and educational training programmes and opportunities.
- To participate in informal and formal teaching sessions for their staff and provide relevant feedback to all members of the team.
- To undertake orientation of new staff to their clinical duties.
- To ensure that all team members attend mandatory training sessions.
Research and Audit
- To promote and disseminate clinical policies and guidelines which support clinical practice and education. To participate in and support systems for assessing the users views on the quality of services provided.
- Initiate and participate in ongoing research, audit and projects.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Midwife (NMC)
- Evidence of CPD
- Maintained Certification as IBCLC
- Substantial Experience including IF support
Desirable
- Educated to Degree level
- NIPE Qualification
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Demonstrable clinical experience in relevant clinical role/ area
- A sound understanding of the NMC Code of Professional Conduct
- Experience in change management
- Awareness of local and national policies and strategies relating to BFI
- Evidence of experience of supporting breastfeeding dyads experiencing complex feeding difficulties
- Good working knowledge of up-to-date IT software packages
Desirable
- Evidence of participation in audit and research. Able to analyse, organise and present audit
- Experience of teaching in a variety of settings
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills - written and verbal
- Ability to produce and deliver presentations and teaching sessions
- Ability to work autonomously and independently
- Ability to communicate effectively at all levels of the organisation
- Organisation, prioritisation and management skills
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Midwife (NMC)
- Evidence of CPD
- Maintained Certification as IBCLC
- Substantial Experience including IF support
Desirable
- Educated to Degree level
- NIPE Qualification
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Demonstrable clinical experience in relevant clinical role/ area
- A sound understanding of the NMC Code of Professional Conduct
- Experience in change management
- Awareness of local and national policies and strategies relating to BFI
- Evidence of experience of supporting breastfeeding dyads experiencing complex feeding difficulties
- Good working knowledge of up-to-date IT software packages
Desirable
- Evidence of participation in audit and research. Able to analyse, organise and present audit
- Experience of teaching in a variety of settings
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills - written and verbal
- Ability to produce and deliver presentations and teaching sessions
- Ability to work autonomously and independently
- Ability to communicate effectively at all levels of the organisation
- Organisation, prioritisation and management 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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
