Job summary
The post holder will provide advice and support to parents, carers, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team within a variety of settings including both hospital and community.
The post holder will use local, national and international guidance alongside up to date research to develop best practice for breast and bottle fed infants with feeding difficulties such as Gastroesophageal reflux, infantile colic and cow's milk protein allergy.
The post holder will develop and use specialist knowledge and skills in order to work with the wider multi-disciplinary teams both in hospital and in the community setting in order to influence best practice and improved outcomes for infants with feeding related problems.
The post holder will be based at Alder Hey but will work in a variety of settings in the wider community. Activities include nurse led clinics in Alder Hey Hospital and Children's Centres around Liverpool, support on inpatient wards and training.
The post holder will have an integral role in developing and promoting the service.
Main duties of the job
1. Deliver nurse led and occasional joint clinician clinics, in both hospital and community settings.
2. Assist in developing service including pathways.
3. Provide the highest standards of care to children and their families.
4. Be an effective communicator in all aspects of their duties both in direct and indirect patient care.
5. Work in collaboration with the healthcare and wider community teams.
6. Deliver support to infants admitted to the ward as appropriate.
7. Deliver training to heath care professionals in hospital and community setting
8. Take responsibility for, prioritise and manage own workload including education, training and community advice/support.
9. Work without direct supervision using experience and knowledge to ensure the clinics run smoothly.
10. Promote and maintain a safe and comfortable therapeutic environment for patients and their families.
11. Assist in the basic care required by patients in outpatient clinic areas including health promotion.
12. Assist with the education and training of health care providers within Alder Hey and in the community, new staff and students.
13. Create and maintain relationships with patients, parents/carers, offering advice and support where necessary, and signpost patients to other areas of the hospital for specialised treatment.
14. To develop networks with other professional agencies and to act as a link between service and other agencies.
15. Participate in working towards UNICEF BFI accreditation
About us
We pride ourselves on the quality of our care, going the extra mile to make Alder hey a safe and special place for children and their families.
We are committed to continually improving for the benefit of our patients.
We are open and honest and engage everyone we meet with a smile.
We show that we value every individual for who they are and their contribution.
We work across the Alder Hey community in teams that are built on friendship, dedication, care and reassurance.
Job description
Job responsibilities
We are looking to recruit to the role of Clinical Nurse Specialist to work as part of the Infant Feeding Team. The team offers support for very unsettled infants due to complex feeding issues, including gastro oesophageal reflux and suspected cow's milk protein allergy. The successful candidate will be working as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
The Alder Hey Infant Feeding Team is a unique service that is constantly evolving to meet the needs of families in Liverpool. In your role, you will be offering regular clinics, both face to face and virtually in Alder Hey Hospital as well is in the local community. The post holder will be working closely with Health Visitors, General Paediatricians and GPs, providing training and support, in order to improve outcomes for infants with feeding related problems. We follow best practice based on local, national, and international guidance. We aim to reduce the need for medicalisation including hospital attendance.
An excellent understanding of both breast feeding and formula bottle-feeding issues will underpin your practice moving forward. The successful candidate will be offered training with ongoing
opportunity to further develop your skills in this field.
If you would like any additional information about the team please contact Matron- Sara Roberts
Person Specification
1.Education and Training
Essential
16. oRegistered Children's Nurse or / Adult General Nurse / Registered Health Visitor / Registered Midwife
17. oENB 988 or equivalent - demonstrates an ability to teach and has proven experience of teaching and mentoring in the clinical / community setting.
Desirable
18. oPost Registration qualification appropriate to the area of work.
19. oAPLS
2.Experience of...
Essential
20. oExperience of working with agencies, multi-disciplinary teams.
21. oAble to evidence some experience in the infant feeding field.
Desirable
22. oExperience of working in a community / OPD setting
3.Knowledge of
Essential
23. oKnowledge of UNICEF BFI Accreditation
24. oKnowledge of key issues in relation to the provision of the service.
25. oGood organizational and problem solving skills - able to plan and prioritise work. Demonstrates an ability to act on own initiative.
26. oDemonstrates a commitment to continuous professional development. Enthusiastic / willingness to learn.
Essential
27. oDemonstrates an ability to lead staff. Effective team worker.
28. oEffective verbal and written communication skills.
29. Demonstrates ability to work independently
30. oAble to plan, implement and assess family centred care
31. oAble to provide evidence of active involvement in developing nursing practice.
Desirable
32. oAble to prescribe and administer medication according to Patient Group Directives