Infant Feeding Midwife

This post is for a designated band 6 Midwife with the responsibility for promoting excellent infant feeding practices throughout the directorate. The post holder will be responsible for ensuring Unicef Baby Friendly Initiative best practice Standards throughout maternity.
- To ensure all women receive support and advice with their chosen method of feeding.
- To ensure that all staff encourage and support mothers to develop an early relationship with their unborn baby as the way a baby is parented can have a long term impact on development
- To work in tandem with the Infant Feeding Lead (IFL) and assist her/him to give specialist infant feeding training across the Trust for all staff including midwifery, nursing and doctors
- To work in tandem with the IFL in supporting mothers in their feeding choices for their babies
- To assist, support and maintain standards for the implementation of the maternity services infant feeding strategy for maintaining and sustaining the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) standards.
- To provide expert and professional support for staff by demonstrating a commitment to best practice in infant feeding.
- To work as an autonomous midwifery practitioner and provide an effective link to the wider networks for breastfeeding support

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.
- To help the IFL to implement and maintain the UNICEF best practice maternity standards for infant feeding throughout the Trust
- To be responsible for and undertake all clinical audits relating to infant feeding, using specific audit tools to evaluate and develop best practice within the maternity services
- In conjunction with the IFL, develop and provide a midwifery led frenulotomy service
- To be an effective time manager whilst working as an autonomous midwifery practitioner
- To support the IFL in ensuring that midwifery practice in regards to infant feeding is both evidence based and is developed in line with best practice
- In conjunction with the IFL and with her guidance, be aware of and ensure compliance with the International Code of Breastmilk Substitutes.
- Work with the IFL and team, with the support of the Director of Midwifery and lead midwifery colleagues to develop infant feeding strategies for the maternity service in line with national and local policy.
- To be recognized as a specialist professional with increased knowledge in infant feeding, and act as a resource of information and support for colleagues
- Work in conjunction with the IFL in the education of the multi-disciplinary team in matters relating to infant feeding, including participation in the mandatory midwifery training programme