Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a passionate and dedicated band 6 Midwife to join the Infant Feeding Team at Epsom and St Helier!

Working cross-site, the post holder will promote and support the Trust infant feeding practices, adhering to the blended infant feeding guidelines and wider Trust guidelines related to infant feeding and responsive parenting. The primary responsibility of the post holder is to ensure the complete implementation and maintenance of the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) standards, thereby ensuring the preservation and retention of the Trust BFI Gold Award status.

The post holder will be a recognised specialised professional with advanced knowledge in infant feeding and will serve as a valuable source of information and support for colleagues and parents. The role involves the provision of education and clinical supervision to assist staff in implementing evidence-based approaches to infant feeding and relationship building. It aims to align with the government health promotion agenda and the NHS Long Term Plan vision for the
Baby Friendly Initiative and to maintain the Trust’s BFI Gold status.
Establishing and maintaining a visible presence in the clinical setting is crucial. 

Main duties of the job

·   To work closely with the IFL’S to initiate and embed new ideas, practices and approaches to direct clinical care of mothers and babies

·  To work as an autonomous midwifery practitioner and provide an effective link to the wider networks for breastfeeding support

·         To undertake clinical audit using appropriate Baby Friendly Initiative audit tools to evaluate and develop infant feeding practices with maternity services. 

·         To facilitate group sessions for families both in pregnancy and the postnatal period

·       Support women in feeding their babies using evidence-based information, in line with the Trust Infant Feeding Policy

·         Instigate & implement feeding management plans where required and review.

·         Ensure accurate record keeping is kept on the Maternity notes system 

·         Participate in and facilitate antenatal education related to infant feeding and relationship building, both in hospital and community settings, including 1-1 with parents. 

·         Provide telephone breastfeeding support for women following discharge 

·        Covering as required the Infant feeding phone calls and action as required.

·         Support the Maintaining and sustainability of the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative standards at Epsom & St Helier NHS Trust

·         To work with colleagues and enable them to undertake midwifery led assessment of mothers and babies’ needs 

Working for our organisation

St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey. Our sites include St George’s Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC). 

 After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce.