Infant Feeding Advisor

Work with staff individually and in groups to build their skills to provide a high level of care in infant feeding. Participate in the provision of breastfeeding workshops for expectant parents. Support staff to develop care plans with complex clinical cases. Carry out regular audits to monitor our compliance with BFI standards of care and report the findings.

Use these audit results and current evidence to help shape training for staff and resources for parents. Assist in the writing and implementation of guidelines and initiatives relevant to infant feeding. Support parents in the infant feeding clinic with more complex situations. Deputise in meetings at local and regional level as required.

Professional Responsibilities Promote collaborative working partnerships and effective communication between all members of the multi-disciplinary team. Ensure professional and clinical standards are maintained and developed in response to new evidence. Abide by the code of professional conduct as appropriate for nominated membership. Organisational and Management Responsibilities Effectively manage own time to ensure a balance between audit, clinical and administrative duties.

Promote and maintain a departmental culture which promotes an open and honest approach to professional decision making and problem solving. Promote and maintain organisational and professional standards. Actively participate in infant feeding meetings within the maternity services. Demonstrate and promote excellent interpersonal skills, written, verbal and nonverbal communication styles.

Influence and nurture positive attitudes and behaviours within the teams and wider multidisciplinary team. Clinical Role Undertake relevant clinical practices in accordance with the Scope of Professional Practice. Act as a source of expert clinical and professional advice on infant feeding. Undertake Clinical Audit within area of speciality.

Working with the Infant Feeding Co-ordinator, implement initiatives to improve the breastfeeding initiation and maintenance rates by supporting midwives, assistant practitioners and maternity support workers in the clinical area. Provide support and act as a resource to staff who are assisting new mothers on the postnatal wards with infant feeding ensuring compliance with the DoH and Baby Friendly Initiative. Participate in the development of relevant care pathways and guidelines within the maternity service. Take all possible action to minimise clinical risk to women and their babies, utilising all available resources.

Service development Work with the Infant Feeding Co-ordinator to deliver mandatory training package, practical skills reviews and updates. Actively contribute to change management in partnership with the Midwifery Sisters and Senior Midwifery Management Team. Have a proactive approach in effective change management. Information resources Able to input information and have a working knowledge of the hospital information systems.

Adhere to Trust information governance policies. Financial & physical resources Ensure effective use of resources within allocated budget. Ensure all equipment is in working order and undertake risk assessments as necessary; highlight adverse risks to the Maternity Governance Group for escalation and inclusion as necessary in the Directorate Risk Register. Research & development Demonstrate an ability to critically appraise research findings.

Contribute ideas and undertake monitoring with regards to quality of women-centred care.