Maternity Infant Feeding Team Support Worker

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a passionate and committed person to join the Infant Feeding team at Walsall Manor Hospital.
The post holder will be working as part of the Walsall Manor Hospital (Maternity Directorate) Infant Feeding Team, contributing to all aspects of the service, but focusing on working on Ward 25 and within the community, working closely with midwives and maternity support workers to assist in achievement of full baby Friendly Initiative Accreditation for Walsall Maternity and Neonatal Units.
The Infant Feeding Maternity Team Support Worker (IFMTSW) will work together with the members of the maternity and neonatal team to provide a high standard of care to women and their families to provide infant feeding support and information.
The role will involve both clinical work with families on the postnatal ward and within community to achieve their infant feeding goals as well as participation of Baby Friendly staff and family audits. There is an opportunity to be involved with delivering training to staff and to attend Baby Friendly Conferences.
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is an integrated Trust and the only provider of NHS acute care in Walsall, serving a population of 284,300, providing inpatient and outpatient services at the Manor Hospital as well as a wide range of services in the community. Walsall Manor houses the full range of district general hospital services under one roof. The £170 million development was completed in 2010 and the continued upgrading of existing areas ensures the Trust now has a state-of-the-art Critical Care Unit, Neonatal Unit, Obstetric Theatre, and Integrated Assessment Unit facilities.
A new Urgent Emergency Care Centre was opened in March 2023. The two-storey development has significantly improved emergency care facilities and capacity and has provided almost 5,000 square metres of additional clinical space.
Clinical Duties
These relate to all areas unless specifically stated.
1. To provide infant feeding support and information to enable parents to make informed feeding choices and to support them with their chosen method of feeding.
2. To provide a high standard and quality of care to women and babies in accordance with Trust clinical policies, procedures and guidelines.
3. To observe women/baby and report to the midwife/ nurse responsible for care, any signs of discomfort, distress or concern.
4. To provide advice and information on discharge planning in accordance with agreed procedures.
5. To take emergency action as necessary to safeguard women and babies and notify the midwife/nurse of the situation as soon as possible.
6. To bleep medical staff (and others) when requested to do so by nursing/midwifery staff. Also to answer general telephone enquiries.
7. To refer to the appropriate health professional when deviation from the normal occurs and to work in partnership with that health professional to ensure safe standards of care.
8. To provide lactation and breastfeeding support following local and national guidance.
9. Take part in the audit of the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Neonatal standards.
10. Be involved in the delivery of infant feeding training, support the organisation and delivery of practical skills reviews for relevant staff.
11. To support women who have chosen to formula feed. Provide information about the different types of formula, how to sterilise equipment and prepare feeds correctly and responsive bottle feeding.
12. To support families when their baby is transitioning from tube feeds to breastfeeding, to work with families, nurses and neonatologists to develop feeding plans appropriate to the baby’s stage.
13. Exercise compassionate counselling and information giving skills.
14. To assist in the safekeeping of the families’ property or personal belongings in accordance with hospital policies.
15. To deal with waste and soiled linen in the appropriate way and in accordance with hospital policy.
16. To maintain a clean and pleasant and safe clinical environment.
17. To communicate with women, relatives and colleagues in a courteous and helpful way.
18. To assist in the monitoring and restocking of supplies and ensure adequate levels including leaflets, in clinical areas and community.
19. To assist in the maintenance of equipment.
20. Check breast pump equipment and report any discrepancies to midwives/nurses including action taken.
21. To maintain infant feeding stocks in the clinical environment, ensuring adequate stock levels at all times.
22. To carry out any other reasonable duties as may be required, which are commensurate with the post, to meet the needs of the service. This will include cover of appropriate duties during the absences of colleagues.
23. Communicating via a range of multi-disciplinary agencies.
24. To be familiar with the P.A.S system, to assist in clerical duties including input of data following appropriate training.
25. To maintain accurate contemporaneous legible records and statistical data as requi