Infant Feeding Specialist

Job responsibilities

• Supervise and maintain high standards of professional care in accordance with current NMC Code of Professional Conduct, Scope of Professional Practice and ethical considerations.

  Work with a high degree of autonomy and minimal daily supervision. Work directly, unsupervised with senior managers and front-line staff of the Bridgewater Community Health Care Trust and partner organisations.

  Prioritise own workload and manage own diary.

  Develop, implement and monitor policies, procedures and clinical guidelines in relation to area of Infant Feeding.

  To act as a link with relevant outside agencies e.g. UK Baby Friendly, National Childbirth Trust and Representatives of Suppliers of Breast Milk Substitutes.

  To facilitate with partner organisations such as children centres the assessment of premises to achieve the Baby Welcome Award

  The post holder will be responsible for the management of the paid breastfeeding support service and co-ordination and continued development of the peer volunteer breastfeeding support services operating within Bridgewater boroughs.

  Develop an action plan with realistic goals to maintain BFI standards. Responsible for training and completing clinical supervision of all Bridgewater staff who have contact with women and their babies.

  Develop and deliver specialised programmes of care including specialist advice clinics for babies and mothers with complex feeding problems using highly developed physical and emotional skills. Record personally generated clinical records.

  To support the 0-19 public health teams to increase and improve breastfeeding rates in Halton and Warrington to attend 0-19 team meetings to raise awareness, provide updates, specialist advice and support.

  To lead on the collation of Breastfeeding Data provided by the 0-19 team across Halton and Warrington. Provide expert advice to develop and implement action plans to improve/ provide solutions to address issues with performance indicators in collaboration with 0-19 team leaders and challenge practice where appropriate. To be responsible for reporting monthly breastfeeding data across Halton and Warrington working with the Performance and data Lead to produce monthly reports and report to the 0-19 clinical manager on a monthly basis.

  To establish and maintain necessary partnership groups across primary, secondary care, Borough councils and partners to ensure effective Infant feeding service delivery.

  Use multiple communication and marketing methods to disseminate health information about breastfeeding, introducing solid foods and infant feeding e.g. press releases, development of health information, training etc

  Participate in formal and informal ways of communication both within the team and the wider primary care setting where appropriate.

  Ensure data for KPI is submitted within expected deadlines.

  To facilitate with Breastfeeding Peer support and volunteers, the assessment of premises to achieve the Baby Welcome Award.

  To actively participate in relevant operational planning groups, service audits and evaluations and provide appropriate reports for programme lead.

  Work with partners to gather baseline and target data in order to evaluate services, targets and progression against action plans

  To monitor performance and outputs from all agencies involved in delivery across breastfeeding/infant feeding services, informing the Infant feeding/Early Years Steering Group of progress against targets.

  Leadership

  To lead in designing and delivering education and training to all health professionals, primary care, statutory and voluntary sector colleagues in relation to infant feeding enabling evidence-based practice and improving quality and consistency of advice given by Health Care professionals, primary care statutory and voluntary sector colleagues using a variety of methods including training, workshops, presentations and promotion events.

  Develop monitoring programmes and respond to evaluation accordingly including user involvement, accessibility, feedback and future service development

  Delegate responsibility where appropriate and encourage a culture where flexibility and adaptability are positively encouraged.

  Support and maintain the focus of the Infant feeding agenda.

  To develop innovative and effective initiatives to increase breastfeeding rates and reduce obesity rates using up to date technologies to increase spread and coverage of service.

  To work closely with the Early Years element of the Public Health Teams and Childrens centres taking a strategic lead across the partnership for infant feeding.

  To act as lead professional in Halton and Warrington in respect of progress toward Baby Friendly Accreditation. Work closely with UNICEF as part of this process. Develop an action plan with realistic goals. Responsible for training and completing clinical supervision of all Bridgewater staff who have contact with women and their babies.

  Develop resources, training, presentations and marketing material to support infant feeding activity for senior staff, front-line staff and local communities.

  Identify research and develop new initiatives together with partner organisations and community groups, aimed at improving and extending the service

  Clinical

  Exercise a high degree of clinical autonomy and professional judgement to provide skilled care to mother/baby and the family.

  Work independently within the 0-19 service and where necessary referring to a range of primary and secondary services.

  Responsible for his/her own competence by developing the requisite knowledge, skills and attitude necessary for the role of clinical specialist Infant Feeding. Maintain the specialist infant feeding qualification and continue to study in this field.

  Assess health care needs of mothers and babies in relation to infant feeding, diagnose, treat and manage as appropriate, developing care plans.

  Possess proven skills in the management of a wide range of infant feeding problems i.e. Ankloglossia, recurrent mastitis, differential diagnosis of thrush, faltering weight, milk allergies and intolerances.

  Provide health promotion and education around infant feeding and mother infant relationship building.

  To act as a resource for parents and thereby improve health outcomes by providing advice, counselling, support and training in respect of Infant Feeding

  Identify at risk patients and manage appropriately in accordance with national and local policy and procedures i.e. vulnerable children, adults and child protection.

  Act as an advocate for the mother and baby at all times.

  Offer a complementary service to that of other health care providers within the local health economy

  Utilizing own professional knowledge and skills, act as a resource for other members of the 0-19 and all partners providing care to mothers and babies

  Empower colleagues and clients and demonstrate the ability to facilitate effective clinical practice based on best evidence

  Possess a clear understanding of legal and ethical issues, professional accountability and responsibility.

  Training and Education

  To take the lead in coordinating, designing and delivering education and training to all professionals, multi-agency teams and students, thereby enabling evidence based practice and improving the quality and consistency of advice given to parents by all health care professionals and partner organisations.

  Identify and disseminate best practice through evidence, clinical guidelines, benchmarking.

  Research and Audit

  To complete audits and evaluations of breastfeeding initiatives, BFI implementation, training and other related infant feeding programmes.

  Identify research and develop new initiatives, together with partner organisations and community groups, aimed at improving and extending services, especially to identified target groups/ areas.

  Actively involved in research and manage clinical audit projects.

  To plan and design appropriate audit tools whereby trends in Infant Nutrition and Feeding can be monitored against both local and national standards.

  Communication

  To establish and maintain necessary partnership groups across primary, secondary care, Borough councils and partners to ensure effective Infant feeding service delivery

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

  Demonstrate professional skills in facilitating effective and clear communication when dealing with individuals, families and professionals in planning and delivering care and in sensitive situations such as child protection, domestic abuse, drug and alcohol misuse, mental illness and others.

  Promote and maintain effective comprehensive clinical documentation in accordance with local and NMC guidelines for record keeping.

  Maintain confidentiality at all times in accordance with local and National requirements.

  Ensure primary care staff, other professionals and public have appropriate information regarding services using a variety of methods including training workshops, presentations and events.

  Produce qualitative and quantitative robust reports on performance indicators.

  Chair multiagency meetings leading the infant feeding agenda and provide contemporaneous minutes.

Sponsorship

Essential

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

Skills & Attributes

Essential

• Specialist knowledge of breastfeeding
• Ability to demonstrate an awareness of social and cultural factors relating to breastfeeding, infant feeding and weaning practices.
• Knowledge of national/international strategies and targets specific to Infant feeding/parent education.
• Knowledge of Baby Friendly Initiative
• Excellent communication skills
• Presentation skills
• Report writing
• Developing and disseminating health information
• Ability to effectively prioritise and organise workload and workload of others
• IT skills: ability to use Microsoft packages
• Leadership skills
• Understanding of Clinical Governance & Audit
• Good knowledge of Research and Development
• Evidence of recent breastfeeding management training
• Understand principles of process of change model and apply practically in work
• Knowledge of nutrition and weight management principles
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to work under pressure
• Ability to analyse data and to problem solve
• Enthusiasm and ability to motivate others

Desirable

• Evidence of change management

Right to Work

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:

Experience

Essential

• Experience in providing breastfeeding support
• Evidence of breastfeeding speciality experience
• Experience & evidence of working with multi-disciplinary/agency groups and partnership working
• Project management experience
• Experience of working across various disciplines and agencies
• Evidence of involvement in teaching and mentoring learners
• Experience of working in the community setting
• Evidence of delivery of programmes for care of women and families
• Staff Supervision / Management

Desirable

• Experience in developing training programmes

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Midwife or Health Visitor
• Post-registration qualification or evidence of further study e.g. International Board of Lactation Consultant Certified (IBLCC)
• Evidence of Continued Professional Development
• UNICEF breastfeeding management certificate
• Project Management Qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience

Desirable

• Completed UNICEF BFI Train the Trainer
• Management Qualification
• Masters degree or modules in relevant health related subject or working towards
• Assessing & Mentoring Qualification

Job Specific Requirements

Essential

• Willing to work evenings and weekends when required
• Ability to travel within the requirements of the post.
• Light moderate physical effort to include the carrying of equipment.
• Daily concentration on and planning of client assessment.
• Commitment to providing a people centred service
• Commitment to working in ways which challenge discrimination

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).