Infant Feeding Advisor

Job summary

We are seeking a passionate, motivated and enthusiastic nurse or midwife who is dedicated to supporting infant feeding and is driven to improve the number of neonates receiving breast milk. We strongly believe in the Family Integrated Care approach in Leeds and the successful candidate will need to embody these principles. The Leeds Centre for Newborn Care comprises of a neonatal intensive care unit with a number of specialities, including general surgery, cardiac surgery, neuro and liver and renal at the Leeds General Infirmary site. A special care baby unit at St James and transitional care both sides of the city. There are approximately 1700 admissions per year.

Main duties of the job

The successful post holder will work across the two hospital sites, working closely with the MDT to promote a culture which supports families with their feeding choices and delivers outstanding care. They will need knowledge and experience of caring for sick preterm infants and understand how these experiences will influence an infants ability to feed. They will act as a clinical expert and resource for families and professionals in promoting, supporting and normalising breast feeding, safe infant feeding practices and responsive parenting. The successful post holder will lead on all aspects of infant feeding strategy and education in line with WHO/UNICEF/BFI UK standards and lead the project for achieving baby friendly status and full BFI accreditation. They will require advanced communication skills to empower families and influence colleagues. As part of the role the post holder will be expected to audit and monitor initiatives and develop policies and trust guidelines to improve quality and standards.

You will have a tailored induction, with dedicated time to spend with key colleagues and stakeholders to scope. The support package includes having monthly meetings with the matron. Support will be given to attend any further training related to the role.

About us

The Leeds Centre of Newborn Care at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust is one of the largest in the UK. The service is currently provided across two sites, Leeds General Infirmary and St James's University Hospital. We have a NICU and surgical unit at LGI, SCBU at SJUH, Transitional Care Unit and an Outreach Service. We are a friendly and compassionate team, who are committed to ensuring babies have the best outcomes and quality are seeking applications from nurses who are innovative, dynamic and authentic leaders. The post holder will need to be able to professionally challenge, hold the team to account and be driven to make sustainable improvements. It is essential the post holder acts as a role model, maintaining and upholding high standards of professional behaviour and compassionate care.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.

Job description

Job responsibilities

2. JOB PURPOSE/SUMMARY

The jobholder will have responsibility for providing a compassionate, sensitive and inclusive infant feeding service to the families within the Leeds Centre for New-born Care. They will take the lead in a highly specialised to promote, protect and sustain best practice in relation to infant feeding issues across the neonatal service. The jobholder at all times will display warmth and communicate effectively with families within the Family integrated care ethos, to deliver a high-quality infant feeding support service. The job holder will act as a role model for others, working supportively and in collaboration with allied health professionals and services across the Leeds Teaching Hospitals.

Leeds Centre for New-born Care is located across two sites; the jobholder will be expected to work across both sites. There are around 10,000 babies born in Leeds each year. Leeds Centre for New-born Care has around 1700 admissions per year.

Act as a clinical expert and resource for first line information for families and professionals in promoting, supporting and normalising breast feeding, safe infant feeding practices and responsive parenting.

Offer emotional support and practical advice to families within the Leeds Centre for New-born Care

Promote and maintain the unit the ethos of Family Integrated Care

Strive to increase breast feeding numbers in line with government targets, national specifications and locally recommended guidelines

Ensure policies and trust guidelines are upheld in order to promote and maintain a quality service

Audit and monitor initiatives to increase breast feeding numbers and standards of care within the service

Provide education and training for the multi-disciplinary team.

Work as part of the infant feeding team to continue initiatives to towards achieving an infant-friendly status.

Exhibit compassionate advanced communication skills, which enable them to understand and influence families and colleagues alike.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Registered Nurse (Level 1) RN Child/Adult or Registered Midwife Qualification in teaching/assessing SLIPS, Practice Assessor or able to demonstrable equivalent knowledge, skills and competence in practice Post registration qualification in specialty (Neonatal) Qualification/course in leadership Degree or can demonstrate that they are working at degree level

Desirable

Lactation Consultant GB Qualification or UNICEF Infant Feeding Lead Course Train the Trainer (2 days) or equivalent

Other Criteria

Essential

Able to fulfil Occupational Health requirements for the post

Skills & behaviours

Essential

Demonstrates knowledge and experience of the parent infant relationship, identification of positive interactions and management of well and sick infant feeding challenges Demonstrates knowledge of the Baby Friendly Initiative and implementation in practice Demonstrates knowledge of National Audit Programme and Bliss Charter Demonstrates a sound knowledge base of breastfeeding Understanding of safeguarding procedures Demonstrates knowledge of equality and diversity agenda Able to provide formal and informal education to staff and families Demonstrates a high level of communication and interpersonal skills Demonstrates experience of leadership Demonstrate high level of self-awareness Time management skills Ability to prioritise workload Ability to use information to inform practice and service need Analytical and problem solving skills IT/Keyboard skills and ability to use Microsoft Packages

Experience

Essential

Previous experience working in an area specialising in infant feeing Supporting preterm/sick infant feeding Demonstrate the application of research-based practice Clinical audit and standard setting Understanding of the national and local direction in Children's Services Experience of multi-agency working Experience of family integrated care

Desirable

Service developments and/or change management Experience of organising and delivering education and training Further training in breast feeding management FINE Training Embedding Neonatal Standards (BFI training)

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