Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 6 Infant Feeding Practitioner (Midwife) within the Women's and Children's Divisional Infant Feeding Team . We have a 22.5 hour post available covering a six-day service Monday-Saturday.

The postholder will support our BFI Stage 3 accredited service and provide care and advice to women with infant feeding concerns/challenges. The role will also include supporting staff training and audits and improvement work associated with BFI compliance

Main duties of the job
The post holder will practice throughout the Women's and Children's Division (maternity, neonatal unit and child and adolescent unit) providing specialist clinical feeding support for patients with complex or ongoing challenges. The role also includes clinical duties within the trust's frenulotomy service following supported training if required.

The post holder will work under direction of the Infant Feeding Lead and closely with Neonatal and Paediatric Infant Feeding Practitioners supporting the implementation and maintenance of the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative accreditation.

About us
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides comprehensive hospital and community services for East Cheshire (population 399K) and West Cheshire and Chester (population 357K). Our services include planned and unplanned/emergency care, cardiac and critical care, child health, maternity, and intermediate care across Leighton Hospital in Crewe, Victoria Infirmary in Northwich, and Elmhurst Intermediate Care Centre in Winsford. Through our community arm, Central Cheshire Integrated Care Partnership, we deliver extensive services in 26 medical centres and schools in collaboration with Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS FT and the South Cheshire and Vale Royal GP Alliance. With 500 beds and around 5,500 staff, we are one of the area's largest employers.

Since the formation of Integrated Care Systems in July 2022, the Trust has become a key partner in Cheshire East & Cheshire West and Chester and in two provider collaboratives, aligning our strategic goals with the Cheshire & Merseyside Integrated Care System. As part of the national New Hospital Programme, we're reimagining Leighton Hospital to create a new health and care neighbourhood, transforming healthcare delivery for a Healthier Future. Learn more on our Healthier Futures website.

At Mid Cheshire, our mission is to inspire hope and provide unparalleled care for the people and communities of Cheshire, helping them to enjoy life to the fullest.

Job responsibilities
The post holder will:

• Demonstrate clinical expertise and knowledge with a positive approach to infant feeding across the womens and childrens division.
• Management of feeding support for complex or ongoing concerns (antenatal and postnatal period).
• Ensure infant feeding practice/plans are evidence based and appropriate for each family.
• Participate in implementing and maintaining the UNICEF BFI UK programme (policies, guidelines, audit and training).
• Communicate with all staff groups to support their knowledge and implementation of infant feeding practices within their clinical area.
• Ensure clinical areas are supported by infant feeding support workers as required by clinical need.
• Provide antenatal education to parents and families related to infant feeding and relationship building.
• Participate in Frenulotomy Service (or be willing to train)
• At times, deputise for the Band 7 infant feeding lead
• Provide mentorship and guidance to students and preceptees
• To ensure infant feeding stock levels are adequate and appropriate.
• Attend internal and external meetings as required by the infant feeding lead.
• Maintain own professional status and ensure that the NMC requirements for registration is met.
• You may be required to support the unit clinically in times of escalation

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Midwife
• Willingness to undergo training relevant for role
• Evidence of ongoing professional development and training

Desirable

• IBCLC International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
• Advanced clinical skills in tongue tie (Ankyloglossia)
• UNICEF BFI Courses
• Teaching / Training qualification
• Practice Assessor / Mentorship

Skills
Essential

• Supporting complex infant feeding challenges
• Participation with facilitating / delivering staff education or training
• Proficient IT skills (excel, databases, PowerPoint etc)
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to negotiate and influence others in situations where there are barriers and challenges to change

Values
Essential

• A commitment to quality and safety
• Respectful, showing compassion, respect and dignity
• Act as a role model to staff and students

Experience
Essential

• Experience of conducting audits
• Experience of implementing strategy and policy
• Experience of facilitating training to groups

Desirable

• Substantive experience in infant feeding / infant feeding team
• Experience of BFI assessments
• Experience in project management
• Implementation of quality improvement projects
• Facilitating face to face / online parent education classes

Knowledge
Essential

• BFI Standards
• Complex feeding challenges

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
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address
Mid Cheshire NHS Foundation Trust, Leighton Hospital
Middlewich Road
Crewe
CW1 4QJ
United Kingdom

Employer's website
https://www.mcht.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Infant Feeding Lead
Jessica Norcup
jessica.norcup@mcht.nhs.uk
01270826652

Supporting documents
Privacy notice
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)

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