Job overview

An exciting opportunity for an experienced practitioner in Infant feeding with lactation experience, is being offered in Barking and Dagenham to support Breast Feeding. 

The Specialist Infant Feeding Practitioner (SIFP) will be providing leadership in infant feeding and specialist evidence-based support to families with more complex needs. They will lead delivery of the infant feeding remit and will be responsible for a service providing high quality infant feeding support to parents and carers, and regular training and advice to professionals.

In line with the Barking and Dagenham “Best Chance” Strategy, and the Start for Life and Family Hubs’ model, this post is crucial to establishing a supportive culture towards infant feeding; this support enables parents/carers in Barking and Dagenham to make an informed choice about feeding their baby in a way that optimises nutrition and develops a close, and loving parent-child relationship.   The SIFP post holder must provide safe, competent and evidence-based care whilst demonstrating specialised knowledge and clinical expertise in breastfeeding and human lactation.  Ideally, the post-holder is a qualified and registered Health Visitor and Lactation Consultant with clinical credibility and influence to speak as an advocate for Baby Friendly 

 It is expected that the successful applicant does not  hold a certificate from the IBLC , they will undertake the training within the 6 months of starting the role 

Main duties of the job

• Be responsible for developing and delivering family-centred patient care by providing coordination and management of care for parents; this would involve assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating lactation plans for the breastfeeding parent. 
• Provide specialist one to one support to families who have complex breastfeeding or post-partum issues
• Work with the Breastfeeding Peer Support service to provide clinical supervision to volunteers and staff, 
• Develop and deliver breastfeeding training for the wider workforce, in accordance with UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI)
• Work with the Local Authority Public Health team, Infant Feeding operational leads and other infant feeding partners to contribute to an Infant Feeding Strategy for the borough.

• Perform consultations, oversee rental of lactation equipment and supplies, support  telephone triage, and deliver prenatal education as appropriate   Educate parents and carers on the benefits of breastfeeding for mother and infant; 

• Line management responsibility for the Infant Feeding & Beyond Health Practitioner role, providing clinical oversight and development to the post-holders
• Attend and co-chair the Infant Feeding Operational Leads’ group and Infant Feeding Strategy group meetings.
• Lead by example and display a leadership style that empowers staff through development.
• Lead on designated infant feeding projects to ensure effective communication and standardisation of practice

Working for our organisation

Starting with NELFT
NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop in sessions focusing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary  period or currently a bank member of staff). 

High Cost Area Supplement - London

This post attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (minimum payment of £4,551 and a maximum payment of £5,735 per annum pro rata).

Certificates of Sponsorship

Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points based system.