KEY DUTIES To act as a resource for staff in both a hospital and community setting. To offer professional advice and support to women attending the Infant Feeding Clinic. To provide antenatal breastfeeding workshops for expectant mothers to encourage mothers, prior to the birth of their infant, to consider and make an informed choice on the feeding method they will use. To support the Infant Feeding Co-ordinator to develop and maintain a framework in which all professionals are using evidence-based practice in respect of infant feeding To provide advice and act as a resource for all professionals, parents and outside agencies in respect of issues relating to all aspects of infant feeding. To support the Infant Feeding Co-ordinator to develop and sustain resources for use by staff and mothers that support and promote breastfeeding practices. To act as a link with relevant outside agencies e.g., UK Baby Friendly, National Childbirth Trust, La Leche League and Representatives of Suppliers of Breast Milk Substitutes. To support the Infant Feeding Co-ordinator to develop and implement an Infant Feeding Strategy / Policies for Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (MWL) and improve care by changing feeding practices and ideals within the Trust. To support the Infant Feeding Co-ordinator to work in collaboration with Integrated Care Boards (ICB) To act as a resource for parents and thereby improve health outcomes by providing advice, counselling, support, and training in respect of infant feeding for special needs babies both acute and chronic health needs. To support the Infant Feeding Co-ordinator to develop and deliver programmes of care including specialist and highly complex advice for babies and mothers in hospital and in the community and record personally generated clinical observations. To support the Infant Feeding Co-ordinator to facilitate the drop-in clinic that women can access for infant feeding issues. To assist under supervision with investigating incidents, reported via the Trust Datix systems, related to infant feeding such as where babies have been re-admitted with feeding problems and auditing of re-admissions. To be responsible for the documentation and record keeping of patients, collecting, and recording breast feeding data and supporting the Infant Feeding Co-ordinator to summit the data. To provide and support mothers and sick babies experiencing feeding difficulties. To give skilled care to mother / baby and the family and be an excellent communicator between parents and health professionals, showing empathy, sensitivity, and reassuring parents at upsetting and difficult times. To possess analytical and judgmental skills to assess complex feeding problems and refer as appropriate. To work autonomously as a practitioner in the field of infant feeding. To support the Infant Feeding Co-ordinator to establish and maintain effective channels of communication with health care professionals, parents and outside agencies. To support the Infant Feeding Co-ordinator to identify service needs and priorities in relation to infant feeding and contribute to the development and implementation of the Directorates objectives / business plans. To work flexibly to the needs of the role and the service. CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES To maintain professional registration with the NMC and fulfil revalidation requirements. To abide by the legal requirements and statutory rules relating to practice and to be familiar with all NMC publications this may affect his / her role, responsibilities, and accountability. ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES To demonstrate the ability to plan and organise own workload and to work to deadlines. To support the Infant Feeding Co-ordinator to organise meetings and plan strategies with ICB. To support the Infant Feeding Co-ordinator in the development of policies / guidelines and to ensure the dissemination to appropriate professionals through communication networks. To deputise at midwifery meetings and other directive meetings as part of the team if the Infant Feeding Co-ordinator cannot attend. To be fully able to use the Trust computerised systems (once trained) integral to the running of the Maternity Service. To maintain efficient multi-disciplinary communication systems within the area of responsibility reporting to the midwifery manager / shift leaders as appropriate. To ensure midwifery records are legible, accurate, contemporaneous, signed, dated, and maintained in accordance with Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC) policies and guidelines, and Trust Policies relating to Record Keeping. To develop and utilise advanced communication methods and skills, such as negotiating, and empowering language to effectively communicate complex, sensitive, and often distressing information, to women and their families in a way they understand. Employ these skills to effectively address and overcome any barriers and promote an open and honest culture with service users and their families in keeping with the Trust Duty of Candour policy. TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES To support and train Peer Counsellors, who can then support breast feeding women in the hospital and in their local communities. To support the Infant Feeding Co-ordinator in designing and delivering education and training to all professionals and students, thereby enabling evidence-based practice, and improving the quality and consistency of advice given to parents by all health care professionals. To ensure that they keep up to date with infant feeding developments by attending conferences, courses etc. To be responsible for his / her own competence by developing a high level of requisite knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary for the role of Infant Feeding Specialist Midwife. To be actively involved in women and midwifery education, which will include the need to facilitate any training needs as identified, providing, and delivering education and training for the hospital and community maternity staff To provide infant feeding training and updates for all grades of staff. To be personally responsible for ensuring participation in in-service training programmes, including mandatory requirements, and continuing professional development needs as required of a Midwife. To facilitate meeting the needs of all learners, by proactively contributing to provide a good learning environment and maximising opportunities in clinical and non-clinical teaching. To be a role model for all students, junior midwives and support staff, utilising quality leadership and supervision skills. To participate in the mentoring and preceptorship of newly qualified midwives to assist with their development and competency to perform specific clinical and non-clinical tasks. To attend mandatory annual updating and maintain competence in respect of Health and Safety, Fire and Resuscitation Procedures and infection control etc. LINE MANAGEMENT / SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES To be aware of the Major Incident Policy and drills. To contribute towards monitoring and evaluating standards of care and undertaking the regular appraisal of assigned staff, supporting them to receive agreed training, setting clear and achievable objectives appropriate to the grade and role, liaising with the ward manager as appropriate. To supervise, delegate and co-ordinate the professional work of midwifery and other staff within the team as directed. To act in an advisory and guiding role for all aspects of midwifery care in a sensitive and non-judgemental manner. To attend and participate in departmental / team meetings and act as a representative when necessary to other committees / groups. To be proactive in the prevention and de-escalation of informal and formal complaints, and the initial management of informal complaints, including reporting to the Ward / Dept Manager / Shift Leader on the initial outcome of actions taken. To be fully aware of and act in accordance with the Trust Complaints Management Policy. To contribute to and encourage patient and public feedback / involvement at a local level. To support the Friends and Family process. To proactively contribute towards ensuring a healthy, supportive, team working environment, that enables colleagues to enjoy their time at work. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES To assist and support cost improvement ideas and share these with the Infant Feeding Co-ordinator. To utilise resources and supplies effectively and economically, reporting deficiencies to the Infant Feeding Co-ordinator. To ensure the effective and efficient utilisation of staff. RESEARCH & AUDIT To support the Infant Feeding Co-ordinator to plan and design appropriate audit tools whereby trends in infant nutrition and feeding can be monitored against both local and national standards. To participate in research and clinical audit programmes, in order to foster innovative, best practice, and contribute to the development, improvement and advancement of services and quality initiatives. To identify audit topics that would improve the service to women and enable learning to be shared.