Baby Friendly Support Worker | East Lancashire Hospitals Nhs Trust

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our Baby Friendly infant feeding maternity team; we are looking for enthusiastic motivated and caring individuals who want to enhance the experience of the families who use our services. Working across inpatient and outpatient services alongside Midwives and Doctors to deliver women centred, holistic and personalised care.
The post-holder will assist the Baby Friendly Lead in maintaining the Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) Standards within maternity / neonatal services. This will be by providing infant feeding support and information to local families in the antenatal and postnatal period. Additional activities will be to assist the Baby Friendly Lead in infant feeding / BFI related activities, supporting the work of the Baby Friendly Team.
The scope of the role and the job description for the post is aligned with the national maternity Support Worker competency, education and career framework and enables opportunities to develop on an exciting career pathway.
The successful applicant will support the Baby Friendly infant feeding maternity teams, undertaking a range of clinical skills and providing knowledge and support to women and babies. Be accountable for particular reference to infection control, health and safety and audit. This will also include offering infant feeding support for which mandatory training will be given.
At East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust our vision is to be widely recognised for providing safe, personal and effective care. We currently provide high quality services and treat over 600,000 people across East Lancashire and the surrounding area. We employ over 8,000 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work.
Primarily this role will be with postnatal mothers. However, it may also include the facilitation of conversations with women in the antenatal period about their feeding choices and experiences.
The post holder will give information about feeding in the antenatal period to allow women to make fully informed choices, refer women for specialist information / support to the senior Baby Friendly Team members when appropriate, and support new mothers to establish breastfeeding and formula feeding on the wards, using your skills and knowledge to teach them how to feed and handle their baby.
The successful candidate will also support mothers whose babies are on the neonatal unit / or whose babies aren’t breastfeeding effectively, to establish a milk supply and progress to breastfeeding effectively.
You will work with mothers on varying areas if required i.e. antenatal ward / birth suite / birth centre / NICU, promoting woman centred care with an emphasis on normality, providing information and support, whilst liaising with the multi-disciplinary team.
The post holder will also:-
- ensure relevant records are completed as per the digital systems.
- ensure women / new mothers have access to relevant leaflets and resources that are available to support conversations – including resources in alternative languages
- support the postnatal ward in keeping the ‘milk room’ clean and caring for breast pumps and other infant feeding resources.
- be an active member of the Baby Friendly Champions group – following up any actions identified
- be conversant with the infant feeding policy and infant feeding guidelines maintaining Baby Friendly Initiative Standards
Alongside other required duties within the role.
This advert closes on Monday 22 Jan 2024