Infant feeding community champion

Job summary

Are you looking for a new adventure within the children's community service? Are you passionate about signposting parents to the correct support regarding infant feeding? Are you a current or recently active peer supporter?

If you answered yes, we've got the perfect role for you

This is a new post designed to enhance the information and support available to parents regarding infant feeding. It is a progression from the role of peer support volunteer to a paid role. This new role will be an ideal stepping up position for a peer support volunteer who is interested in progressing in the area of infant feeding, and will involve promoting the peer support service to parents, health professionals and the community.

Main duties of the job

Liaising with Beside You Medway team Promoting the peer support service to midwife and health visiting teams attending community events and sessions to promote the service facilitating the peer support social events on a regular basis updating posters and message boards as needed attending specialist clinic occasionally maintaining own peer support role identifying areas in which peer support may be developed in future

About us

So what else?

This is your chance to join a progressive and innovative service in a social enterprise that is patient and staff focused - you'll even have the opportunity to become an MCH shareholder. We encourage staff to get involved in exploring new ways of working and service development. We'll provide well established, in-service training, one to one supervision, and appraisals with regular support. You'll be able to develop your skills in a friendly and supportive team.

Would you like to work flexibly?In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important work life balance is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.

The small print

Informal visits can be arranged on request. We will offer you the choice of two pension schemes; the NHS Pension scheme and the scottish widows group pension scheme. MCH encourages all staff to be double COVID vaccinated to protect themselves, their colleagues, their family and their patients. Job description

Job responsibilities

Communication and relationship skills The post holder will need to be able to communicate effectively with health professionals and children and family hub staff in various venues around Medway. They will be expected to explain the peer support service and signpost clients to it, as well as provide information and resources to other professionals. Knowledge, training and experience The post holder will be a current or recently active peer supporter*, with an awareness of the range and limitations of this role, but able to provide basic information pertaining to responsive feeding, brain development in the infant and breastfeeding solutions if required. There will be ongoing supervision and further training as indicated. We will expect the post holder to continue as a volunteer peer supporter, as this new role has different and additional responsibilities. It would be ideal for the post holder to have qualifications at NVQ3 level or equivalent in the areas of health improvement procedures, database management, information technology systems and software. For example: health and social care or IT NVQ or A levels. *MCH peer supporters have received training from the National Childbirth Trust Analytical and judgement skills This role will involve planning how best to promote the service to mothers and health professionals, and assessing how information is received in order to raise awareness. Planning and organisational skills The post holder will need to plan their visits to maximise use of their time, and to liaise with other professionals as necessary; for example, attending a parent and baby group during the time it is held, or attending antenatal clinics during appointment times. Also, there will be the expectation of facilitating the social events and welcoming the parents attending. Physical skills The post holder will be expected to travel to different sites within Medway in a timely manner. They will also need to be able to carry a small amount of paperwork and attach posters etc to boards in some venues. There will be some computer/keyboard use with the potential for expanding in this area to include leaflet design etc. They will ideally have good keyboard skills to RSA level 2 or equivalent. Responsibility for patient / client care There will be some direct client contact, at the social events, and you will be responsible for ensuring you only share information that is accurate and within the scope of a peer supporter. As following a peer support session, documenting who was present will be required. No hands-on client contact is expected. Responsibility for policy and service development implementation The postholder will follow all policies relevant to the infant feeding team. There will be opportunity to share ideas with the team and discuss further development of his role and peer support service. Responsibilities for financial and physical resources There will be no responsibility for handling finances etc. There will be some transportation of leaflets, posters etc., and an expectation that stock levels will be communicated. Responsibilities for human resources (HR) The post holder will share responsibility for planning visits etc with the peer support coordinator and the Infant Feeding lead as appropriate. Appraisals are carried out after 6 months and then annually, and 121s are held every 6-8 weeks. There will be opportunities to feedback any issues as well as suggestions to the team as needed. If any training needs arise, these will be discussed and implemented as necessary. There will not be a requirement to train other staff, but may include shadowing by other peer supporters or potential peer supporters. Responsibilities for information resources You will be provided with posters, leaflets and other information to share with parents and health professionals, and responsible for removing out of date information at sites visited. There will be opportunities to suggest new or specific resources that may be beneficial. Responsibilities for research and development (R&D) You will be able to report back with any concerns or recurring trends or questions you encounter, to help provide information for development of the infant feeding service. You may be asked to carry out simple audits in different venues. Freedom to act The post holder will be working independently and can decide when and where to visit to a certain extent, but will ensure the infant feeding lead is aware of venues to be visited. They will refer to the infant feeding lead if there are any queries or concerns identified at any venue or with teams visited The post holder will need to be aware of the need for accountability to the infant feeding lead and peer support coordinator as appropriate, and how to escalate concerns. They will also need to be aware of and follow MCH policies regarding safeguarding, social media and information governance. Person Specification

Training

Essential

NCT peer support training or equivalent

Experience

Essential

current peer supporter personal experience of breastfeeding

Desirable

breastfed for 6 months minimum

Development

Essential

Keen to progress this new role Able to attend venues in a timely manner (access to transport)

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