BfN volunteer peer supporter
The Breastfeeding Network
We are recruiting a cohort of local parents with lived experience of breastfeeding to train as BfN volunteer peer supporters, to support families with breastfeeding on the postnatal ward at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and in the community.
We are training a cohort of Breastfeeding Network peer supporter volunteers, to support families within the Royal Borough of Greenwich as part of our commissioned Breastfeeding Peer Support Service. Following completion of the training and registration with the Breastfeeding Network, volunteers will be expected to offer at least 4 hours a month supporting at groups in the community and within the postnatal ward at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. To maintain registration with the Breastfeeding Network volunteers must attend regular supervision sessions and complete mandatory training as required.
Advice, Information & Support,Community Work,Counselling
Counselling
*Completion of BfN Helper training course, or equivalent training *Experience of breastfeeding at least one baby (Or expressing breastmilk) *Ability to work effectively as part of a team *Ability to speak and write English fluently *Excellent interpersonal and communication skills *Ability to work sensitively with people from different cultures *Ability to keep the confidentiality of the families we support *Awareness and commitment to equal opportunity
The Breastfeeding Network aims to be an independent source of information and support for breastfeeding families. At the heart of our organisation are our volunteers who give their time to support our local families. To be a registered BfN peer supporter you will need to complete our Helper course, which is entirely free and will train you with all the skills you need to become a peer supporter. You will also get BfN membership on completion of the course and ongoing support delivered by regular supervision sessions. The Helper course is also OCN accredited. We have a team of paid peer supporters working in the hospital and supporting families at home visits; as a trained BfN peer supporter you will have the opportunity to apply for further paid roles within the organisation should they become available. As a trained breastfeeding peer supporter, your skills are transferable across all breastfeeding organisations and the NHS - many of our peer supporters have gone on to work in paid roles across acute and community healthcare settings.
The BfN Helper course consists of 8 online and face-to-face sessions delivered over a 12-week period, with coursework to be completed in between sessions. Once accredited as a BfN peer supporter, we would expect volunteers to commit to a minimum of 4 hours per month.
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Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Stadium road, Woolwich SE18 4QH Charlton Family Centre, Shirley House Drive, Charlton SE7 7EL Various other locations around Greenwich borough
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