We are pleased to share an exciting opportunity for a passionate and dedicated Midwife to join the Infant Feeding Team at West Herts.
In this role, you will have the chance to promote and support infant feeding practices within the maternity department, in alignment with the trust's joint infant feeding policy. A key responsibility will be to help implement and maintain the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) standards, with the goal of achieving and preserving Gold Award status.
Main duties of the job
The role involves providing education and clinical supervision to assist staff in implementing evidence-based approaches to infant feeding and relationship building. Collaboration with the Infant Feeding team is essential to align with the government health promotion agenda and the NHS Long Term Plan vision for the Baby Friendly Initiative.
Establishing a visible presence in the clinical setting is crucial. The individual in this role will participate in relevant training programmes, as needed, to enhance clinical skills related to ankyloglossia (tongue tie), enabling effective management and operation of the tongue tie clinic.
Job responsibilities
Ensure that all families receive support and information to allow them to make an informed choice regarding feeding. Engage with colleagues and support them to enhance clinical judgement with infant feeding assessments of service users and babies needs and evaluate clinical care as appropriate. Act as a role model and demonstrate evidence-based care in relation to infant feeding and relationship building. Review cases of infant feeding readmissions (maternal/newborn), completing incident reports with feedback to staff with both positive and identified learning development needs. Review trends of readmissions reports to support strategies to reduce likelihood of occurrence and present findings at relevant meeting in the absence of the infant feeding lead. Be familiar with multi-disciplinary guidelines and policies relating to infant feeding and supporting staff to evolve if there are any changes in practice. Undertake audits, using appropriate tools to evaluate and develop infant feeding practices with maternity services both BFI and internal. Participate in group sessions for families both in pregnancy and the postnatal period where needed in person or virtually. Develop resources on infant feeding and relationship building. Foster harmonious relationships, liaising with colleagues and other agencies. Deliver one to one support, guidance and care planning in feeding clinics for complex cases in the antenatal period. Provide a responsive service for feeding clinics postnatally and manage accordingly. Delegate to other members of the team to continue ongoing support. Be an autonomous practitioner providing clinical leadership and direct clinical care to families who have significant infant feeding challenges or requirements. Confident in making assessments of the clinical wellbeing of babies and making effective care plans as part of the multidisciplinary team. Work collaboratively with the infant feeding team which includes transitional care to support continuity of care of complex cases from the antenatal to the postnatal period. Support the discharge planning of women and referral process for providing specialist breastfeeding support for complexities. Actively participate in the management, assessment and diagnosis of suspected restricted frenulum. Provide clinic expertise within the in-house tongue tie service. You may be required to support the unit clinically in times of escalation.
Person Specification
Education and Experience
Essential
Registered Midwife with UK NMC Pin Evidence of ongoing professional development and training Mentorship/SSSA Willingness to undergo training relevant to the role
Desirable
Advanced clinical skills in tongue tie (Ankyloglossia) IBCLC - International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Baby friendly advocacy training NIPE qualification
Knowledge
Essential
Knowledge of the baby friendly initiative Significant knowledge and skills relating to infant feeding practices and evidence of supporting service users. Understanding of local, national and international strategies relevant to breastfeeding Able to demonstrate awareness of research related to midwifery practice
Desirable
Experience of clinical audit
Experience
Essential
Experience supporting junior staff within the clinical area Evidence of supporting infant feeding within the clinical areas/community Experience working in all areas of maternity
Desirable
Experience in an infant feeding role Experience teaching parent education training Evidence of classroom teaching
Skills
Essential
Organisational and time management skills are essential Able to manage and resolve conflict Excellent communication skills Able to work in a team and independently Able to delegate workload Flexible approach to working pattern
Personal qualities
Essential
Positive role model
Employer details
Employer name
West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Address
Watford General Hospital
Watford
WD18 0HB #J-18808-Ljbffr
In this role, you will have the chance to promote and support infant feeding practices within the maternity department, in alignment with the trust's joint infant feeding policy. A key responsibility will be to help implement and maintain the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) standards, with the goal of achieving and preserving Gold Award status.
Main duties of the job
The role involves providing education and clinical supervision to assist staff in implementing evidence-based approaches to infant feeding and relationship building. Collaboration with the Infant Feeding team is essential to align with the government health promotion agenda and the NHS Long Term Plan vision for the Baby Friendly Initiative.
Establishing a visible presence in the clinical setting is crucial. The individual in this role will participate in relevant training programmes, as needed, to enhance clinical skills related to ankyloglossia (tongue tie), enabling effective management and operation of the tongue tie clinic.
Job responsibilities
Ensure that all families receive support and information to allow them to make an informed choice regarding feeding. Engage with colleagues and support them to enhance clinical judgement with infant feeding assessments of service users and babies needs and evaluate clinical care as appropriate. Act as a role model and demonstrate evidence-based care in relation to infant feeding and relationship building. Review cases of infant feeding readmissions (maternal/newborn), completing incident reports with feedback to staff with both positive and identified learning development needs. Review trends of readmissions reports to support strategies to reduce likelihood of occurrence and present findings at relevant meeting in the absence of the infant feeding lead. Be familiar with multi-disciplinary guidelines and policies relating to infant feeding and supporting staff to evolve if there are any changes in practice. Undertake audits, using appropriate tools to evaluate and develop infant feeding practices with maternity services both BFI and internal. Participate in group sessions for families both in pregnancy and the postnatal period where needed in person or virtually. Develop resources on infant feeding and relationship building. Foster harmonious relationships, liaising with colleagues and other agencies. Deliver one to one support, guidance and care planning in feeding clinics for complex cases in the antenatal period. Provide a responsive service for feeding clinics postnatally and manage accordingly. Delegate to other members of the team to continue ongoing support. Be an autonomous practitioner providing clinical leadership and direct clinical care to families who have significant infant feeding challenges or requirements. Confident in making assessments of the clinical wellbeing of babies and making effective care plans as part of the multidisciplinary team. Work collaboratively with the infant feeding team which includes transitional care to support continuity of care of complex cases from the antenatal to the postnatal period. Support the discharge planning of women and referral process for providing specialist breastfeeding support for complexities. Actively participate in the management, assessment and diagnosis of suspected restricted frenulum. Provide clinic expertise within the in-house tongue tie service. You may be required to support the unit clinically in times of escalation.
Person Specification
Education and Experience
Essential
Registered Midwife with UK NMC Pin Evidence of ongoing professional development and training Mentorship/SSSA Willingness to undergo training relevant to the role
Desirable
Advanced clinical skills in tongue tie (Ankyloglossia) IBCLC - International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Baby friendly advocacy training NIPE qualification
Knowledge
Essential
Knowledge of the baby friendly initiative Significant knowledge and skills relating to infant feeding practices and evidence of supporting service users. Understanding of local, national and international strategies relevant to breastfeeding Able to demonstrate awareness of research related to midwifery practice
Desirable
Experience of clinical audit
Experience
Essential
Experience supporting junior staff within the clinical area Evidence of supporting infant feeding within the clinical areas/community Experience working in all areas of maternity
Desirable
Experience in an infant feeding role Experience teaching parent education training Evidence of classroom teaching
Skills
Essential
Organisational and time management skills are essential Able to manage and resolve conflict Excellent communication skills Able to work in a team and independently Able to delegate workload Flexible approach to working pattern
Personal qualities
Essential
Positive role model
Employer details
Employer name
West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Address
Watford General Hospital
Watford
WD18 0HB #J-18808-Ljbffr
