Professional Officer - Neonatal

The Senior Professional Officer will support on a number of programme initiatives including assessments in all types of services, with a focus on neonatal services, together with provision of training for health and care professionals. The role is accountable to the Professional Lead. All team members are expected to cooperate with each other in liaison with the Programme Director, Deputy Programme Directors and Professional Leads. This role will provide the needed skilled professional capacity to support the programme.
The Senior Professional Officer is an ambassador for the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative and is expected to model a commitment to our shared values and behaviours (known as ) in all aspects of your work.
What we will expect you to achieve
All duties should be carried out in consultation with the Programme Director and Deputy Programme Directors.
Core duties
· To take part in assessments of neonatal healthcare facilities for Baby Friendly accreditation. This will involve you interviewing staff about their knowledge and skills and parents about their experiences of care and working with colleagues to accurately identify whether a service has implemented the Baby Friendly standards
· To take part in training of healthcare professionals, alongside colleagues, to support the development and implementation of the Baby Friendly standards
· If requested, you will represent the Baby Friendly Initiative at meetings and events
· If requested, you will be involved in the regular Baby Friendly team meetings and training days
· To undertake mandatory training, as required by the role and UNICEF UK policies and procedures
· If requested, you will develop, in collaboration with colleagues, written material (articles, blogs etc.), new services and/or products in support of the Baby Friendly Initiative, or review documentation provided by services.
Communication
· To keep up to date with relevant research and policy that relates to the Baby Friendly programme and disseminates relevant information to staff and supporters via the most appropriate means.
· To monitor and contribute to social media in liaison with the communications and resources officer and Deputy Director for the Programme.
· To contribute to web content, statements and journal articles as required.
· To maintain key relationships within UNICEF UK to ensure efficient cross department working and information sharing
· To advocate for the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative programme to senior managers, clinicians and academics within the NHS.
· To support the National Infant Feeding Network and Neonatal National Infant Feeding Network.
· Demonstrate and model a commitment to our shared values, behaviours and inclusive practices (known as Our Shared Commitment) in all aspects of your work, Is committed to children and their rights and motivated to work towards achieving a world that is fit for every child.
Communication
Presents complex and difficult messages clearly and with impact
Creating and innovating
Scans the external environment for trends, insights, ideas and best practice that could benefit UUK's work
Efficiency and effectiveness
Manage conflicting priorities to ensure that objectives are achieved and deadlines met
Results focused
Prioritises and sustains focus on work that will have the greatest impact on agreed aims Anticipates internal/external challenges that could impact Unicef UK's work and adapts approach accordingly
Positive relationships
Nurtures professional relationships with colleagues at all levels and with external contacts and partners to support the achievement of objectives

This section contains the essential behaviours, experience, knowledge and skills needed in order to be effective and successful in this role. All criteria in this section are essential.
Effective behaviours
This section contains the essential behaviours, experience, knowledge and skills needed in order to be effective and successful in this role. All criteria in this section are essential., Experience of working in a relevant field such as a neonatal unit
Experience of working in relevant training programmes, aimed at health professionals
Experience of implementing the UNICF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Standards for Neonatal Units).
Specific knowledge and skills
Ability to effectively develop and facilitate training sessions for small and / or large groups of health professionals, managers and / or policy makers.
In depth and up to date knowledge of UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative standards, national, regional and local policy, structures, funding and staffing.
Ability to critique medical and social research and disseminate findings to a variety of audiences.
Ability to engage, empathise with and motivate infant feeding teams working in UK public services

At the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK), we pull together to achieve the best possible results for children in danger around the world. We believe in an inclusive workplace and in the power of fulfilled colleagues who share the same values and goals, enjoy their work and are motivated to do their utmost for children.
Our work is guided by the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which recognise the universality of children's rights.
ABOUT THE BABY FRIENDLY INITIATIVE PROGRAMME AND TEAM
The Baby Friendly Initiative is a global programme of UNICEF and the World Health Organisation and in the UK works with public services to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding, responsive and safe bottle-feeding and to strengthen mother-baby or parent-baby and family relationships. The programme in the UK has been highly adaptive to the UK context and is informed by evidence and feedback from public health professionals and families. The Baby Friendly Initiative team is made up of the Programme Director, Deputy Programme Directors (Standards, Education and Operations), Professional Leads, Senior Professional Officers, Professional Officers and operational roles