Infant Feeding Support Worker

The post-holder will strive to support our families with the most complex feeding needs, and reduce the impact of the biggest risk factors for feeding related issues and readmission. The post-holder will practice throughout the maternity unit but will primarily be based on the postnatal ward and within the community, The post-holder will be eager to provide Antenatal and Postnatal education to our families in both small and large groups, virtually and face to face. Always complying with the Medway NHS Foundation Trust Infant Feeding Guidelines and policies. Key Responsibilities To ensure all women receive appropriate support and advice with their chosen method of feeding To support mothers to develop their relationship with their babies in the antenatal and postnatal period, to facilitate brain development and attachment To work in collaboration with the Infant Feeding Lead and Support Midwife and assist them to give family centred support, and referral if appropriate To help the Infant Feeding lead maintain the UNICEF standards throughout the trust Offer specialist support and guidance to facilitate mothers to initiate and sustain breastfeeding - across a multitude of settings e.g. community, hospital, group settings and over the phone Support mothers with complex breastfeeding needs e.g. multiple births, babies on NICU, pre-term babies. Identify when feeding is not going well and refer to multidisciplinary services appropriately - e.g. specialist feeding clinic, health visiting, neonatal doctors To support and/or facilitate breastfeeding support groups and provide antenatal and postnatal education Working with antenatal women and their families to promote the service and the benefits of breastfeeding Help collect data, statistics and feedback to use for audit and to improve the service To provide face to face and telephone feeding support to families, up to 6 weeks post birth, both in the hospital setting and community setting.