Infant Feeding Midwife

The Methodist Church in Britain; Epsom, Saint Helier; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

HCAS included in pay

Job summary

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust is seeking a Band 6 midwife to lead infant feeding initiatives within the UNICEF Baby Friendly framework. The role involves group sessions, antenatal education, and after-discharge telephone support, with a strong emphasis on frontline clinical delivery.

You will audit practice, supervise staff, and maintain records while collaborating across site teams to sustain Gold Award standards and high-quality care for mothers and babies.

Qualifications

• Band 6 registered midwife with UK NMC PIN.
• Demonstrated infant feeding expertise and UNICEF Baby Friendly standards.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development.
• Mentorship/SSSA qualification or equivalent.
• Experience providing antenatal and postnatal education.

Responsibilities

• Implement and maintain UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative standards to keep the Trust's Gold Award status.
• Promote and support infant feeding practice in line with guidelines.
• Work with IFLs to embed new ideas in direct clinical care of mothers and babies.
• Autonomous midwifery practitioner linking to breastfeeding support networks.
• Carry out clinical audits using BFI tools to evaluate practice.

Skills

NMC PIN

Infant feeding

Autonomous practice

Mentorship

Tools

BadgerNet

Cerner

Job description

A Band 6 midwife post in the Infant Feeding Team at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, working across both sites. The work centres on delivering and maintaining the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative standards that underpin the Trust's Gold Award, alongside teaching and clinical supervision of colleagues. The post is specialist, with group sessions for families, antenatal education, telephone breastfeeding support after discharge and a visible presence in clinical settings. Fit turns on current NMC registration and proven Band 6 midwifery experience in infant feeding.

What the job involves

• Implement and maintain UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative standards to keep the Trust's BFI Gold Award status
• Promote and support Trust infant feeding practice in line with the blended infant feeding guidelines and responsive parenting guidance
• Work with the IFLs to introduce and embed new ideas, practices and approaches to direct clinical care of mothers and babies
• Work as an autonomous midwifery practitioner and link to wider breastfeeding support networks
• Carry out clinical audit using BFI audit tools to evaluate and develop infant feeding practice in maternity services
• Provide education and clinical supervision to staff on evidence-based infant feeding and relationship building
• Support women with feeding using evidence-based information in line with the Trust Infant Feeding Policy
• Initiate, implement and review feeding management plans where required
• Facilitate antenatal and postnatal group sessions for families and antenatal education, including 1-1 sessions with parents, in hospital and community settings
• Provide telephone breastfeeding support for women after discharge and cover the infant feeding phone calls
• Keep accurate records on the maternity notes system
• Support colleagues to undertake midwife-led assessment of mothers' and babies' needs

What's required

Qualifications

• Mentorship/SSSA
• Evidence of ongoing professional development and training

Registration & licences

• Band 6 registered midwife with UK NMC PIN

Experience

• Experience working as a Band 6 midwife
• Demonstrated experience in infant feeding and UNICEF Baby Friendly standards

Skills & knowledge

• Excellent clinical midwifery skills
• Skilled practitioner in infant feeding
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Willingness to undertake training on appointment in any skills not already held
• Understanding of the current public health agenda in relation to infant feeding

Nice to have

• Completion of BFI 2-day breastfeeding and relationship management course
• Completion of BFI train the trainer course
• IBCLC accredited lactation consultant
• Experience in an infant feeding support role
• Experience teaching parent education on infant feeding
• Experience of change management
• Experience using electronic patient record systems (e.g. Badgernet, CERNER)

What's offered

• Higher cost area supplement (HCAS) included in pay