HealthJobsUK

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. Communication and relationship skills

• The post holder will need to be able to communicate effectively with health professionals and children and family hub staff in various venues around Medway. They will be expected to explain the peer support service and signpost clients to it, as well as provide information and resources to other professionals.

2. Knowledge, training and experience

• The post holder will be a current or recently active peer supporter*, with an awareness of the range and limitations of this role, but able to provide basic information pertaining to responsive feeding, brain development in the infant and breastfeeding solutions if required. There will be ongoing supervision and further training as indicated.  We will expect the post holder to continue as a volunteer peer supporter, as this new role has different and additional responsibilities.
• It would be ideal for the post holder to have qualifications at NVQ3 level or equivalent in the areas of health improvement procedures, database management, information technology systems and software. For example: health and social care or IT NVQ or A levels.
• *MCH peer supporters have received training from the National Childbirth Trust

3. Analytical and judgement skills

• This role will involve planning how best to promote the service to mothers and health professionals, and assessing how information is received in order to raise awareness.

4. Planning and organisational skills

• The post holder will need to plan their visits to maximise use of their time, and to liaise with other professionals as necessary; for example, attending a parent and baby group during the time it is held, or attending antenatal clinics during appointment times. Also, there will be the expectation of facilitating the social events and welcoming the parents attending.

5. Physical skills

• The post holder will be expected to travel to different sites within Medway in a timely manner. They will also need to be able to carry a small amount of paperwork and attach posters etc to boards in some venues. There will be some computer/keyboard use with the potential for expanding in this area to include leaflet design etc. They will ideally have good keyboard skills to RSA level 2 or equivalent.

6. Responsibility for patient / client care

• There will be some direct client contact, e.g. at the social events, and you will be responsible for ensuring you only share information that is accurate and within the scope of a peer supporter. As following a peer support session, documenting who was present will be required. No hands-on client contact is expected.

7. Responsibility for policy and service development implementation

• The postholder will follow all policies relevant to the infant feeding team.
• There will be opportunity to share ideas with the team and discuss further development of his role and peer support service.

8. Responsibilities for financial and physical resources

• There will be no responsibility for handling finances etc. There will be some transportation of leaflets, posters etc., and an expectation that stock levels will be communicated.

9. Responsibilities for human resources (HR)

• The post holder will share responsibility for planning visits etc with the peer support coordinator and the Infant Feeding lead as appropriate.
• Appraisals are carried out after 6 months and then annually, and 121’s are held every 6-8 weeks. There will be opportunities to feedback any issues as well as suggestions to the team as needed.
• If any training needs arise, these will be discussed and implemented as necessary. There will not be a requirement to train other staff, but may include shadowing by other peer supporters or potential peer supporters. 

10. Responsibilities for information resources 

• You will be provided with posters, leaflets and other information to share with parents and health professionals, and responsible for removing out of date information at sites visited. There will be opportunities to suggest new or specific resources that may be beneficial.

11. Responsibilities for research and development (R&D)

• You will be able to report back with any concerns or recurring trends or questions you encounter, to help provide information for development of the infant feeding service. You may be asked to carry out simple audits in different venues.

12. Freedom to act

• The post holder will be working independently and can decide when and where to visit to a certain extent, but will ensure the infant feeding lead is aware of venues to be visited. They will refer to the infant feeding lead if there are any queries or concerns identified at any venue or with teams visited
• The post holder will need to be aware of the need for accountability to the infant feeding lead and peer support coordinator as appropriate, and how to escalate concerns. They will also need to be aware of and follow MCH policies regarding safeguarding, social media and information governance.