Location
London Borough of Newham

Hours
21.6 hours per week (Fixed Term to September 2027)

Salary
£38,256 - £39,276 Pro Rata

About the Role
The Specialist Baby Feeding Supporter will provide vital support to parents with infant feeding questions and concerns both in person at Baby Feeding Cafes and virtually via the Newham Baby Feeding Helpline. The role requires excellent listening and communication skills using a strengths-based approach to support parents’ own learning and self-efficacy, providing evidence-based information to enable informed decision making.

The post holder will liaise with the Senior Specialist Baby Feeding Supporter, Infant Feeding Coordinator, and Health Visitors when concerns arise outside the remit of the role. Effective and professional communication with multidisciplinary team members and external agencies involved in care provision or planning is essential.

The role demands awareness of the needs of clients and families from diverse ethnic and family groups. Accurate recording of activity and data at the end of each shift is required to support information sharing with health visiting, Public Health, and Family Hubs colleagues.

The Specialist Baby Feeding Supporter will contribute to fulfilling the Family Hubs Programme’s minimum requirements, focusing on improving breastfeeding initiation, exclusivity, duration, and supporting families with wider infant feeding goals. Promoting access and engagement with the Newham Family Hub offer is a key responsibility.

Maintaining up-to-date knowledge and understanding of service guidelines, policies, and UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative standards is essential to demonstrate evidence-based practice.

Newham is a diverse and vibrant borough with a young population and a strong commitment to ensuring every child has the best start in life. The post is part of the London Borough of Newham’s integrated 0-19 health and social care service, which was rated Good in all areas by the CQC in 2021. The service holds Full UNICEF Baby Friendly Accreditation and aims to achieve Gold Accreditation by 2029.

Newham is also one of 75 local authorities piloting a new-style Family Hub, which integrates health, early years, education, parenting support, and other services to provide families with easier access to local support.

The role includes some weekend work and requires travel within Newham to workshops, Baby Feeding Cafes, and other events as needed.

Experience
- IBCL / Breastfeeding Counsellor, or Peer Supporter working towards BFC or IBCLC qualification.
- In-depth knowledge of infant feeding including lactation, breastfeeding benefits, and common issues.
- Awareness of how to support mothers to establish and maintain breastfeeding.

About You
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Team-oriented and able to work independently.
- Professional, emotionally intelligent, and able to communicate effectively in diverse situations.
- Ability to use IT and common software packages such as Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Willingness and ability to travel within Newham to attend workshops, Baby Feeding Cafes, and other events.
- Flexibility to work some weekends.

Qualifications
- Relevant breastfeeding support qualifications as above.
- Commitment to maintaining knowledge of service guidelines, policies, and UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative standards.