Infant Feeding Coordinator

Grade 5 - £32,925 - £36,045 pa - 1 year Fixed Term/Secondment Opportunity with an intention to extend beyond this for a further 2 years

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Infant Feeding Coordinator to join our Early Help Service. We are looking for someone who is passionate about working collaboratively with our partners in the NHS and community and voluntary sector to develop person-centred support for infant feeding, and promote and create positive experiences of breastfeeding for Havering families.

Why choose Havering?

• Subsidised parking at various council-owned car parks across the borough
• Generous local government pension scheme
• Access to a range of health and wellbeing activities and initiatives
• Commitment to offer 10 days of learning, including access to our very own dedicated training and development opportunities through our Social Care Academy 
• Access to accredited systemic training
• Staff forums 
• And much more

You can find out more about working for Havering Children’s Services by visiting www.havering.gov.uk/cypsjobs.

About us

Havering is a London borough like no other. Located in Zone 6, we are in close proximity to both the hustle and bustle of the city and the surrounding Essex countryside. Boasting attractive green spaces and fantastic schools, it is no wonder that we have one of the fastest growing child populations in the country, and our community is becoming increasingly diverse. We are also unique in our political makeup, with Havering Residents’ Association working in co-operation with the Labour Group to make Havering an even better place to live and work. We have a strong corporate agenda and are embedding an increasingly insight-driven culture, which we think makes this a very exciting time to join us. 

Our vision centres on supporting Havering’s children and families to lead happy, healthy lives. This means ensuring that every child has equal opportunities to thrive – accessing the highest possible levels of education and enjoying a stable, happy home. We believe firmly in empowering families to create sustainable change themselves, allowing them to find their own solutions.

Havering has an active Infant Feeding Steering Group with representation from LBH Public Health, BHRUT Maternity Services, NELFT Health Visiting Service, LBH Early Help Service, Primary Care and the voluntary sector. Local services are working collaboratively to improve infant feeding outcomes in the borough.

About the role

Our Early Help Service focuses on providing universal and targeted services to families in need of support, from a range of different perspectives and approaches

The key objectives of the role are to facilitate an improved offer of infant feeding support to parents, focusing on:

1. Achieving Children’s Centre UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative accreditation
2. Developing a breastfeeding peer support programme
3. Co-producing and delivering an antenatal breastfeeding workshop

The postholder will hold responsibility for coordinating infant feeding support across Havering’s Children’s Centres, and for working closely with multi-agency partners across LBH, the NHS and community and voluntary sector to deliver a holistic and joined-up offer of support to parents and infants.

This post is being funded via the Havering Place-Based Partnership ‘Health Inequalities Fund’ for an initial period of one year, with a possible extension beyond this.

You’ll join a team that consists of a Children’s Centre Coordinator, Senior Early Years Practitioner and Early Years Practitioners. 

Our services are diverse, and we have exciting and stimulating opportunities for everyone and various career pathways you can explore. 

You’ll join a team that consists of a Children’s Centre Coordinator, Senior Early Years Practitioner and Early Years Practitioners. 

Our services are diverse, and we have exciting and stimulating opportunities for everyone and various career pathways you can explore. 

About you

As an Infant Feeding Coordinator in our team you will work collaboratively with families, colleagues and partner organisations, ensuring an approach that aims to achieve excellent outcomes by promoting and supporting breastfeeding and contributing to our wider offer of support for families in Havering.

To be shortlisted for the position, you must clearly evidence the following skills and experience within your application:

• Ability to work effectively with colleagues, parents and health professionals from diverse backgrounds and organisational cultures
• Excellent leadership skills including the ability to motivate and support a team of volunteers
• Understanding of co-production and effective engagement of communities 
• Appreciation of the importance of monitoring and evaluation
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and ability to adapt to a variety of audiences
• Excellent project management and organisational skills - including ability to prioritise, manage time effectively and work under pressure
• Experience of supporting mothers face-to-face with breastfeeding
• Experience of delivering training and workshops to a range of audiences 
• Experience of working in a health or community setting in a paid or volunteer capacity
• Experience of staff or volunteer management 

Please view Job Profile here

The closing date for the receipt of applications is 16th June 2024 11.59pm, however, interest in this job may be high and we therefore reserve the right to close the vacancy early.

If you would like to know further information, please do not hesitate to contact Helen Anfield, Children’s Centre Coordinator, helen.anfield@havering.gov.uk 

Havering strives to be a diverse and inclusive borough, a place where we can ALL be ourselves. We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff, and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of race, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, age, religion etc. 

We want everyone to choose Havering. When you apply for a job with us, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. Our residents and service users come from all walks of life, and so do our employees. Find out what it means to Choose Havering.

The London Borough of Havering has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Additional Information

We want everyone to choose Havering. When you apply for a job with us, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. Our residents and service users come from all walks of life, and so do our employees. Find out what it means to Choose Havering.

The London Borough of Havering has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and