Job summary
The post holder will be a qualified midwife practicing autonomously across the antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal periods, serving as a primary care provider for mothers and their families. Working within hospital and community settings, the midwife will adhere to the NMC Midwives Rules and Standards and the Luton & Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust guidelines.

The primary focus of this role is to support the Infant Feeding Advisor in promoting, implementing, and maintaining high standards of infant feeding practice across the maternity division. This includes contributing to policy development, clinical support, staff training, and strategic initiatives such as achieving and sustaining UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) accreditation.

Main duties of the job

• Collaborate with the Band 7 Infant Feeding Advisor to review neonatal feeding-related readmissions and develop relevant guidelines.
• Support and participate in local and regional infant feeding networks, MDT meetings, and maternity governance activities (e.g., audits, PSIRF).
• Act as a clinical resource, offering expert breastfeeding support and guidance to staff and service users; escalate concerns appropriately.
• Assist in the planning, delivery, and record-keeping of BFI training for maternity staff, and conduct practical skills assessments.
• Provide guidance to peer support workers and engage with external partners (e.g., Health Visiting, BFN, MNVP, Family Hubs) to promote consistent, community-wide infant feeding practices.
• Contribute to antenatal education, support local awareness campaigns, and help design promotional and educational materials.
• Participate in community-based tongue tie clinics, including assessments and, if qualified, performing divisions.
• Disseminate up-to-date research and national guidance on infant feeding; produce staff newsletters and attend ward/safety briefings.
• Support audits covering a range of feeding experiences (breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, NNU) to ensure high-quality care delivery.
• Work closely with the Neonatal Unit Lead to progress and uphold BFI standards across the maternity service.
• Involvement in quality improvement projects involving or impacting Infant feeding across the trust.

About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology.

Our Values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Job responsibilities

• Assist the Band 7 lead in investigating neonatal readmissions under 28 days due to feeding issues and contribute to the development and review of maternity guidelines related to infant feeding.
• Actively participate in local and regional infant feeding networks, multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meetings, and maternity governance activities including audits, PSIRF, and in-phase reviews.
• Serve as a clinical resource and provide expert advice on infant feeding, including support during unit escalation and raising concerns to senior management when necessary.
• Collaborate in the delivery of BFI (Baby Friendly Initiative) training and assessments, maintain training records, and support annual updates for midwives and maternity care assistants.
• Guide and support peer support workers and link with external partners such as the Breastfeeding Network, Luton Family Hubs, and local authorities to promote community-based infant feeding initiatives.
• Assist with the planning and delivery of antenatal infant feeding classes, design promotional materials, and organize awareness events like National Breastfeeding Awareness Week.
• Support community-based tongue tie clinics through assessments and, if qualified, perform divisions.
• Work alongside the Neonatal Unit Lead and MNVP (Maternity & Neonatal Voices Partnership) to achieve and uphold BFI standards.
• Disseminate up-to-date research and guidance, produce newsletters for staff, and attend ward meetings and safety briefings to address concerns and support best practices in infant feeding.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Midwife
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

• Degree or evidence of level 3 study or diploma (or relevant experience)
• Frenulotomy/Tongue tie Qualification/Practitioner
• BFI accreditation knowledge

Experience
Essential

• Rotational midwifery experience
• Act as mentor and assessor
• Experience in taking charge of shifts

Desirable

• Infant feeding experience in a specialist capacity

Knowledge
Essential

• Has a keen interest in Infant feeding
• Has awareness of the baby friendly initiative
• Understanding of the need of confidentiality awareness at all times.
• Evidence based client centered care
• Demonstrates continual professional development
• Knowledge of child protection issues and policies
• Demonstrate awareness of public health agenda

Desirable

• Has a proven track record of the baby friendly initiative
• Awareness of resource management and budget control.
• Knowledge of research and audit and governance
• Has experience delivering Infant feeding Antenatal classes

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Luton and Dunstable Hospital, Lewsey Road, Luton, LU4 0DZ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)