Infant Feeding Support Worker

The Methodist Church in Britain; Lewes; Vor Ort; GBP 26.000 - 35.000; Vollzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

Flexible working opportunities

Staff benefits

Zusammenfassung

Medway NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a seven-month fixed-term post within the Infant Feeding team, delivering family-centred feeding support from pregnancy to six weeks postnatally across hospital and community settings.

You will support mothers with their feeding method, including breastfeeding, and work with families with complex needs, NICU or preterm babies. Strong English communication is essential.

Qualifikationen

• UNICEF BFI management course or equivalent breastfeeding training required.
• Experience in infant feeding support or similar role preferred.
• Ability to work with families with complex feeding needs.
• Excellent written and spoken English.

Aufgaben

• Deliver family-centred infant feeding support from pregnancy to six weeks postnatally.
• Support mothers with their chosen feeding method, including breastfeeding.
• Assist families with complex feeding needs, such as multiples, NICU and preterm babies.
• Identify feeding problems and refer to multidisciplinary services such as specialist clinics, health visiting and neonatal staff.
• Provide antenatal and postnatal education in small groups, large groups, face to face and virtually.
• Provide face to face and telephone feeding support in hospital and community settings.
• Support or facilitate breastfeeding support groups.
• Help Infant Feeding Lead and Support Midwife maintain UNICEF standards across the Trust.

Kenntnisse

UNICEF BFI awareness

Baby Friendly Initiative

Peer support

Breastfeeding support

English proficiency

Jobbeschreibung

Seven-month fixed-term post in the Infant Feeding team within Women's Care at Medway NHS Foundation Trust, funded through Medway Council's Start for Life programme. The work gives family-centred feeding support from pregnancy to six weeks after birth, through antenatal education, clinics, hospital and home visits. Based mainly on the postnatal ward and in the community, the post-holder supports families with complex feeding needs. A UNICEF BFI management or peer counsellor qualification, or equivalent breastfeeding training, is required.

What the job involves

• Deliver family-centred infant feeding support from pregnancy to six weeks postnatally
• Support mothers with their chosen feeding method, including specialist help to start and sustain breastfeeding
• Support mothers with complex feeding needs, such as multiple births, NICU babies and preterm babies
• Identify feeding problems and refer to multidisciplinary services such as specialist feeding clinics, health visiting and neonatal doctors
• Provide antenatal and postnatal education in small and large groups, face to face and virtually
• Provide face to face and telephone feeding support in hospital and community settings
• Support or facilitate breastfeeding support groups
• Help the Infant Feeding Lead and Support Midwife give family-centred support and maintain UNICEF standards across the Trust
• Support mothers to build relationships and attachment with their babies in the antenatal and postnatal periods
• Promote the service and the benefits of breastfeeding to antenatal women and their families
• Collect data, statistics and feedback for audit and service improvement
• Work to Medway NHS Foundation Trust infant feeding guidelines and policies

Qualifications

• UNICEF BFI Management Course, Peer Counsellor course or equivalent higher breastfeeding training

Skills & knowledge

• Awareness or experience of the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative
• Knowledge of local, national and global infant feeding strategies
• Understanding of how peer support programmes work and why they work
• Good understanding of breast anatomy, breastfeeding mechanics and barriers to feeding
• Understanding of how to support parents to safely and responsively formula feed
• Good written and spoken English

Other

• Excellent verbal and written communication
• Good time management
• Able to prioritise and triage competing demands
• Works well within the MDT and understands the limits of own role
• Confident advocate for families

What’s offered

• Choice of coverage and supplemental benefits for staff and their families
• Flexible working opportunities across the Trust