Infant Feeding Practitioner

Employer Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Buxton Hospital Town Buxton Salary pa, pro rata Closing 08/03/2026 23:59

The Trust is currently under‑represented in terms of individuals from BME backgrounds and welcomes applicants from these communities. DCHS is also an LGBT inclusive employer. Selection will be on a basis of merit. The Trust has achieved the status of a Disability Confident Leader and guarantees to invite to assessment applicants who meet the criteria for the job vacancy. To ensure the diversity of the workforce and understand the differing needs of our communities, the Trust is committed to the principles of Positive Action.

An opportunity has arisen for an Infant Feeding Practitioner based in Buxton and covering the surrounding area. The post is based in the High Peaks, North Dales and Glossop locality which has been awarded Gold accreditation for its work with families and communities. You will work across the locality as part of the infant feeding practitioner team. This role is part of the 0–5 Children’s Service and will involve close work with health visitors and midwives in the local area.

You will be visiting new families in the immediate post birth period to provide support for breast feeding. Contact will be both face to face and using digital technology. You will need to be confident to lead community groups to support infant feeding and have knowledge and awareness of skills around breast feeding.

You will work as part of the health visiting team to offer peer support to women who are establishing breast feeding whilst ensuring that you also engage with partners, wider family members and the community. You will provide a high standard of information about infant feeding and support to mothers, partners and their babies before and after the birth, in a range of settings, for example home, clinics, and Children’s Centres.

You will utilise a range of assessment skills and tools to identify breast feeding problems and give evidence‑based information to promote and support responsive feeding in line with national and local guidelines and public health priorities. You will work proactively using a partnership approach to promote health and contribute to tackling health inequalities within the level of competencies required for the post.

Whilst based at Buxton, there will be a requirement to travel across the locality for service delivery. Training and service meetings may take place in other parts of Derbyshire.

DCHS is a forward‑thinking, supportive Trust, a UNICEF Baby‑Friendly accredited organisation and achieved Outstanding CQC status in 2022. Working in a diverse area you will be delivering public health work around infant nutrition within the local community. Our purpose is to provide community health services to a patient population of over one million people in Derbyshire and Derby, as part of Joined Up Care Derbyshire.

We employ around 4,200 substantive staff, caring for patients in 11 community hospitals and more than 30 health centres, as well as in clinics, GP practices, schools, care homes and, in people’s own homes and via virtual consultations.

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification.

• English GCSE Grade C or equivalent
• Have personally breastfed own baby for at least 3 months and experience in weaning through to meeting the health and nutritional needs of a child.

• Awareness of adverse effects of not breastfeeding
• Understanding of causes of obesity, unhealthy eating behaviours and dental caries.
• Awareness and understanding of the local community.
• Understanding of infant feeding procedures and practices, some of which are non‑routine which require a base level of theoretical knowledge around infant feeding. Or a willingness to gain understanding through further training and on‑job experience
• Experience of volunteering as a breastfeeding peer…