Job summary The post holder will work in the Infant Feeding Team in West Middlesex Maternity Service and the local community services, to promote close mother baby relationships for the families and support infant feeding /breastfeeding. This post will encourage families to access services close to home that will support the feeding and parenting journey. It offers the opportunity for the post holder to have continuity from antenatal engagement through the feeding journey, building supportive networks within the population. This exciting job opportunity is a collaborative role between the Queen Mary Maternity department at West Middlesex hospital and the Public Health Team at Hounslow Borough Council. This is an exciting role which will provide a seamless service promoting antenatal preparation in relation to feeding, understanding and caring for a baby in the postnatal period. Main duties of the job You will be a champion in the area you work in promoting the wide range of activities and services that are available to support parents in their journey to maximise the health outcomes for them and their baby. This role is a specialised feeding post and as such will also support the growth and development of colleagues and students who are also caring for families too. This is a dynamic post within the Infant Feeding team and each day will be different, sometimes working directly alongside colleagues in the maternity department but also working independently facilitating workshops and groups within children centres in the community on others. About us Proud of our workforce Our 7,500 staffare recruited from local communities and around the world Our staff rate us second among acute trusts in London as a place to work Despite challenges in the NHS, our low staff vacancy rate remains significantly better than the national average We are passionate about the health and wellbeing of our staff with a huge support offer, including our nationally-recognised free back-up care scheme and Timewise accreditation as a flexible employer We love to develop our people, offering a range of development programmes and apprenticeships, with our healthcare support worker apprentices winning Apprentice of the Year for two years running We offer a fantastic range of salary sacrifice schemes, from season ticket loans, bicycles and vehicles, to gym memberships, home electronics and holidays Date posted 23 October 2024 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 4 Salary £31,081 to £33,665 a year pro rota per annum inc. HCAS Contract Fixed term Duration 18 months Working pattern Part-time, Flexible working, Compressed hours Reference number 289-SC-2302 Job locations Queen Mary Maternity Unit, West Middlesex University Hospital Twickenham Road Isleworth TW76AF Job description Job responsibilities Roles and responsibilities Ensure teaching and parent information resources are stocked up, available and accessible for staff to use, in all clinical areas of maternity. Organise, promote and deliver 2 hour group antenatal workshops on breastfeeding and relationship building to pregnant women and their family/partners (group size up to 30 people) within the hospital and Childrens centres. Organise, promote and deliver 2 hour group antenatal workshops on Early days with your baby to pregnant women and their family/partners (group size up to 30 people) within the hospital and Childrens centres. Facilitate teaching Antenatal colostrum collection, particularly to families with known risk factors for Hypoglycaemia- clinic and ward setting. Support parents who mix or formula feed with the information they need to feed their babies safely and responsively. Promoting the feeding service, identifying opportunities, and proactively suggesting ways to connect and engage with the local community Help prepare for, as well as participate and support with local and national promotional events (as appropriate) e.g Celebratory breastfeeding weeks. Encourage parents to engage with local health promotion activities, signposting parents to the most up to date information about local activities with their communities. Organise and deliver 30 min group postnatal workshops on breastfeeding and relationship building on the ward. Promote and facilitate postnatal feeding support groups, within the community and hospital setting Have the skills to assess for a tongue tie if felt it may be impeding feeding and refer to the appropriate service if required. Infant feeding support on postnatal ward whilst working alongside new staff members to support the implementation and embedding of best practice, ensure relevant documentation is completed. Provide infant feeding support to families of newborn babies on paediatric wards or other wards in the hospital and ensure relevant documentation is completed. Provide telephone advice on infant feeding and document as required. Refer to Infant Feeding Clinical Advisor or Infant Feeding Co-ordinator as appropriate for complex infant feeding issues beyond own knowledge or experience. Supporting the learning and development of Students and Infant Feeding Volunteers. Be aware of sources of infant feeding support external to the Trust (e.g National Breastfeeding Helpline, First Steps Nutrition Trust). Communicate with /refer to community midwives, health visitors and Infant Feeding leads from other trusts to ensure families receive the support they need based on their geographical location. Assist with Baby Friendly audits, including face to face, by telephone and documentation audits, after appropriate training. Facilitate service user feedback to evaluate the effectiveness of the service on a regular basis. Assess feeding and identify any problems, develop an appropriate plan of care with mother and document and communicate with the multidisciplinary team. Work collaboratively within the Infant Feeding Team to support the development of resource and service development. Please see attached job description and person specification to this advert for further details. Job description Job responsibilities Roles and responsibilities Ensure teaching and parent information resources are stocked up, available and accessible for staff to use, in all clinical areas of maternity. Organise, promote and deliver 2 hour group antenatal workshops on breastfeeding and relationship building to pregnant women and their family/partners (group size up to 30 people) within the hospital and Childrens centres. Organise, promote and deliver 2 hour group antenatal workshops on Early days with your baby to pregnant women and their family/partners (group size up to 30 people) within the hospital and Childrens centres. Facilitate teaching Antenatal colostrum collection, particularly to families with known risk factors for Hypoglycaemia- clinic and ward setting. Support parents who mix or formula feed with the information they need to feed their babies safely and responsively. Promoting the feeding service, identifying opportunities, and proactively suggesting ways to connect and engage with the local community Help prepare for, as well as participate and support with local and national promotional events (as appropriate) e.g Celebratory breastfeeding weeks. Encourage parents to engage with local health promotion activities, signposting parents to the most up to date information about local activities with their communities. Organise and deliver 30 min group postnatal workshops on breastfeeding and relationship building on the ward. Promote and facilitate postnatal feeding support groups, within the community and hospital setting Have the skills to assess for a tongue tie if felt it may be impeding feeding and refer to the appropriate service if required. Infant feeding support on postnatal ward whilst working alongside new staff members to support the implementation and embedding of best practice, ensure relevant documentation is completed. Provide infant feeding support to families of newborn babies on paediatric wards or other wards in the hospital and ensure relevant documentation is completed. Provide telephone advice on infant feeding and document as required. Refer to Infant Feeding Clinical Advisor or Infant Feeding Co-ordinator as appropriate for complex infant feeding issues beyond own knowledge or experience. Supporting the learning and development of Students and Infant Feeding Volunteers. Be aware of sources of infant feeding support external to the Trust (e.g National Breastfeeding Helpline, First Steps Nutrition Trust). Communicate with /refer to community midwives, health visitors and Infant Feeding leads from other trusts to ensure families receive the support they need based on their geographical location. Assist with Baby Friendly audits, including face to face, by telephone and documentation audits, after appropriate training. Facilitate service user feedback to evaluate the effectiveness of the service on a regular basis. Assess feeding and identify any problems, develop an appropriate plan of care with mother and document and communicate with the multidisciplinary team. Work collaboratively within the Infant Feeding Team to support the development of resource and service development. Please see attached job description and person specification to this advert for further details. Person Specification Education and training Essential A recognised training / qualification in breastfeeding support: BfN Registered Breastfeeding Helper / ABM Mother Supporter / NCT Level 4 Breastfeeding Counsellor course year 1 Experience of 1:1 breastfeeding support face to face with mother of newborn Excellent communication skills Sensitive to families' different needs Desirable BfN Registered Breastfeeding Supporter Experience Essential Experience of 1:1 breastfeeding support face to face with mother of newborn babies Able to demonstrate a good understanding of the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Experience of, or understanding of the principles of, teaching/leading groups (either antenatal or postnatal) Experience/understanding of community outreach /public health work Working with diverse ethnic and social community groups An understanding of the issues affecting young children and families in areas of disadvantage Desirable Experience of discussing/ supporting parents with information about safe and timely introduction of solid foods Participation in audit or research and/or UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative audit process Skills and knowledge Essential Excellent communication skills face to face, on telephone and in writing Excellent skills to support mothers to feed their baby safely and responsively (with breastmilk or formula Understanding of UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Maternity Standards Desirable Car driver and have access to a car Able to use Excel spreadsheet to present simple audit data Person Specification Education and training Essential A recognised training / qualification in breastfeeding support: BfN Registered Breastfeeding Helper / ABM Mother Supporter / NCT Level 4 Breastfeeding Counsellor course year 1 Experience of 1:1 breastfeeding support face to face with mother of newborn Excellent communication skills Sensitive to families' different needs Desirable BfN Registered Breastfeeding Supporter Experience Essential Experience of 1:1 breastfeeding support face to face with mother of newborn babies Able to demonstrate a good understanding of the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Experience of, or understanding of the principles of, teaching/leading groups (either antenatal or postnatal) Experience/understanding of community outreach /public health work Working with diverse ethnic and social community groups An understanding of the issues affecting young children and families in areas of disadvantage Desirable Experience of discussing/ supporting parents with information about safe and timely introduction of solid foods Participation in audit or research and/or UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative audit process Skills and knowledge Essential Excellent communication skills face to face, on telephone and in writing Excellent skills to support mothers to feed their baby safely and responsively (with breastmilk or formula Understanding of UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Maternity Standards Desirable Car driver and have access to a car Able to use Excel spreadsheet to present simple audit data 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. Employer details Employer name Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Address Queen Mary Maternity Unit, West Middlesex University Hospital Twickenham Road Isleworth TW76AF Employer's website https://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)