Hillingdon Breastfeeding

Peer Support Worker

Application Pack

Sending your application:

  1. You can take your application for to the Children’s Centre where you are applying to be a volunteer.
  1. If you will be volunteering at the Hillingdon Hospital can you send you application form to: Catherine Cooper, CNWL NHS Trust. Kirk House, 97-109 High Street, Yiewsley, Middx,UB7 7HJ. Or email for an application pack-

Thank you for taking the time to apply to become a Breastfeeding Support Worker. It is really important that you take time to read the information below before completing the application form. Becoming a volunteer is a commitment, but one that you can fit around you and your home life - reading the ‘Code of Conduct’ will be helpful in giving you some information about what is expected of you in the role of a volunteer.

Hillingdon Breastfeeding Peer Support - Code of Conduct

The role of the Peer Supporter is to provide polite and friendly, evidenced based information rather than advice.

As a Peer Supporter it is essential to be trustworthy and approachable, ensuring the use listening skills.

Peer supporters will have completed a Peer Supporters’ Training programme; having completed the required elements of the training and completed the CRB process prior to commencing unsupervised support. Further training will be given in safeguarding children, infection control, confidentiality and fire safety. Occupational health screening is also a requirement prior to commencing volunteer work.

All Peer Supporters will be mindful of importance of confidentiality. Confidentiality should be maintained both whist volunteering and following sessions. Peer Support workers should adhere to the THH and Children’s Centre confidentiality Policies where appropriate.

Further to confidentiality, it is important to stress to parents that in some circumstances it may be appropriate to pass relevant information to a trained professional if there are concerns which the peer supporter deems beyond their capacity. This may be appropriate for example in the case of safeguarding children and adults.

The will be an expectation for peer supporters to attend regular supervision sessions with the Infant Feeding coordinator/ Breastfeeding Coordinator/ or Children’s Centre manager. Supervision sessions will be provided as either group or individual sessions; if these sessions are not accessible other arrangements should be made to ensure supervision is achieved. Supervision is essential to continue to work with Hillingdon Breast Friends, individual circumstances will be negotiated, yet supervision is not optional.

Volunteer working hours will be negotiable as and when circumstances allow, there is an expectation that the volunteer will fulfil the hours negotiated with the service lead.

Peer Supporters should act with tact and sensitivity at all times, treating people as individuals.

Peer Supporters should be non-judgemental when meeting other mothers, ensuring that respect and dignity are maintained at all times despite difference of opinion or lifestyle.

When taking ones own children to drop-in sessions care should be taken to ensure that children are safe and under observation.

Peer Supporters should refer to appropriate professionals when in doubt or encountering situations beyond their remit of information giving. It may be appropriate to refer mothers to one of the national breastfeeding help lines for further assistance.

Documentation in the Child Health Record (red book) should be completed to ensure both continuity of information giving and maintain a record of the information given.

Personal telephone numbers should not be given to women who have received support, maintaining a professional distance is important.

Peer Supporters should communicate a positive message regarding healthcare professionals within Hillingdon (midwifery and health visiting service) despite any feelings of negativity regarding ones own personal experience.

The Peer Support drop in sessions should not be used to advertise or promote other ventures or personal enterprises that have not been authorised by HillingdonHospital or the PCT or Children’s Centres (this also applies to religion).

Difficulties, problems or complaints should be taken directly to the Infant Feeding Coordinator at THH (if appropriate) or the Children’s Centre manger.

A period of one month notice is required when leaving the role as a peer support worker, you will be very much part of a team, and your services are extremely valued.

Training to be a Breastfeeding Peer Support Worker

You will receive a local qualification as a Hillingdon Breastfeeding Support Worker having completed a 12 week programme (2.5 hours a week) which is based upon the ‘UNICEF - Baby Friendly Initiative Breastfeeding Management Course’.

In order to gain the qualification you must attend all 12 sessions.

If you have qualifications in health related professions, you may complete an accelerated 2 day breastfeeding management course which is completed by Hillingdon health professionals.

The programme will include volunteer skills and boundaries in preparation to your new role. You will be trained to understand the mechanisms of breastfeeding and problem solving, in order to work alongside health professionals and children centre staff in supporting women and their families.

As part of either the children’s centre team or the hospital team, further training is required to bring you to a safe standard that is required as a member of staff. A variety of training techniques may be used to ensure that you have the skills essential for your role. This may include e-learning (a computer based training package in safeguarding children for example). Or as a member of the hospital team, a full day induction to the hospital, which is specifically for the volunteer role.

The training venue will be in a local community based children’s centre, where crèche facilities can be negotiated. Refreshments will be available. All buildings have wheelchair access.

Please contact us if you have any questions regarding training.

Catherine Cooper, Infant Feeding Coordinator (Hillingdon Community Health)

01895 488455, Mobile:07534266063

Hillingdon Breastfeeding

Peer SupportWork

Application Form

Personal Details

Title First NameSurname

Address

TownCountyPostcode

Tel. (daytime)Email:

Date of Birth: //

How did you hear about becoming a breastfeeding support worker?

Using the box below (and section on the next page) can you give an outline as to why you would like to become a volunteer and what skills you have for this role? (Skills / Training / Previous work / Voluntary work details):

Availability

Please tick the sessions that you could be available to give time on a regular basis.

Saturday / Sunday / Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday
AM
PM
EVE

Additional comments:(you may use this space to give any extra information)

The following information will be used for our statisticsand equal opportunity monitoring purposes only

Gender: Please circle

Male Female

Which age group are you in? Please circle

Under 1515 – 1819 – 2526 – 2930 – 3435 – 39

40 – 4445 – 4950 – 5455 – 5960 – 64Over 65

What is you current employment status? Please circle

EmployedRetiredNon employedStudent

House personUnable to workUnemployed

How would you describe your ethnic background?

Any Other Background / Pakistani
Bangladeshi / White & Asian
Black African / White & Black African
Black Caribbean / White & Black Caribbean
Chinese / White British
Indian / White British English
Other Asian Background / White British Scottish
Other Mixed Background / White British Welsh
Other White Background / White British Irish

What languages do you speak?

Do you have any disabilities? Please circle

YesNo

If Yes; Please describe your disability,

------

Is your disability registered?

YesNo

Can you list the details below of two people who will be a reference for you.

This cannot be a friend of family member. They can be a current or previous employee, a health professional or a member for a voluntary agency.

Thank you for taking the time to complete the above details, please include this sheet with your completed registration form.

Office use only

Date and time of Interview______Interviewer______