Please read both the Nursing Assistant Job Description and the B2 Infant Feeding Support Worker Duties and Responsibilities to gain an overview of expectations of the role.
We are looking to recruit Infant Feeding Support Workers, to work as part of the Infant Feeding Team in both our North and South Manchester Offices. This is an exciting opportunity to support parents with their infant feeding experience. The role involves working within a multi-disciplinary team, with Health Visitors, Midwives and the wider community, to provide a universal offer of feeding support to all families using research-based information. The role involves supporting parents in their homes, in groups or clinic settings, face to face and virtually. An interest in optimal feeding practices and the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative standards, will underpin your practice. There will be the opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills in this area and join a team, that is constantly evolving to meet the needs of Manchester families.
The post holder will be based in either our North or South Manchester office and will be expected to travel citywide as a member of the Infant Feeding Team and will work with families who are experiencing feeding difficulties in the early postnatal weeks and months. The Infant Feeding Support Worker (IFSW) role is varied and requires sensitivity around making initial contact with families who have just had a baby. The IFSW will be able to make an offer of a home visit or video call to provide early interventions and support around infant feeding. The post holder will use effective communication skills to support clients in their homes, health centres and children’s centres and will be skilled at delivering one to one and group activities, in community clinic settings and on a virtual platform. The role involves travel across Manchester and a car is an essential requirement for the role. The post holder will work with Health Visiting teams and the wider Infant Feeding Team offering families research based information, acting as a liaison for health practitioners to ensure appropriate support for families who are experiencing any urgent, complex or ongoing challenges with infant feeding.
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) is the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester is the largest health academic campus in Europe. With 10 hospitals and a wide range of community services, we care for over 1 million people every year, and our team of over 30,000 people is at the heart of everything we do.
You’ll be working alongside colleagues from all backgrounds, supporting people from every walk of life, and learning something new every day. We believe that everyone should feel welcome, respected, and valued at work. You can bring your whole self to MFT, knowing that your unique perspective and experiences are celebrated here.
You’ll find that we’re committed to helping you grow - whether you want to develop new skills, progress in your career, or simply make a difference in your community. We offer equal opportunities for everyone, and we’ll support you with training, development, and a caring environment where your health, wellbeing, and safety matter.
Most importantly, you’ll be part of a team where working together and supporting each other is everything. You’ll make new friends, build strong relationships, and have a real voice in shaping the future of our Trust.
Please note that this is not a role that MFT will offer sponsorship for, so you will need to ensure you have your own ongoing right to work in the UK.
At MFT we’re All Here For You - every step of the way. Join us today.
IMPORTANT CANDIDATE INFORMATION
To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the ‘ Documents to download’ heading.
Explore ‘Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place’
To help you feel confident, prepared and fully informed before you apply, we invite you to explore Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place . This welcoming one‑stop hub gives you a real sense of who we are, what we stand for, how we reward and support you, and the many ways we care for you as you care for others. You’ll also find practical hints and tips for submitting a great application, along with the essential information you need to know before you apply.
To access ‘ Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place’ , simply click on the relevant PDF document under the ‘ Documents to download’ heading and once opened, you can either scan QR code or click on the link provided.
Closing vacancy listings early
We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.
To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our adverts may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early applications are therefore encouraged.
Diversity Matters
MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application
Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we’re proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU, for our patients, our communities, and each other.
As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application, especially personal statements and responses to role specific questions is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.
Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
As part of our commitment to safeguarding patients and staff, many roles at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This is a standard process across the NHS and helps us ensure a safe environment for everyone.
What is a DBS Check?
A DBS check is a background check that reveals any criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands, or warnings. The level of check required depends on the role:
Standard DBS : Checks for spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings.
Enhanced DBS : Includes the above, plus any additional information held by local police that’s considered relevant to the role.
Enhanced with Barred Lists: Includes all of the above, plus checks against the children’s and/or adults’ barred lists.
Who Needs a DBS Check
Most roles involving direct patient contact, working with children or vulnerable adults, or access to sensitive information will require a DBS check. The job advert and recruitment team will let you know if this applies to your role.
The Costs for a DBS
At Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), roles that require a DBS check are subject to a cost recovery policy. This means that the cost of submitting and processing a DBS application if you are successful and join us, will be deducted from your salary within the first three months of employment. If, however, you withdraw from a conditional offer after the DBS process has begun, you will still be liable for the cost incurred.
For more information about the cost of the various types of DBS, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dbs-fees-are-changing-in-december
DBS Update Service
Candidates are also expected to register with the DBS Update Service which must be completed within 30 days of the certificate being issued. This helps streamline future employment checks and supports safer recruitment practices. For more information, please visit the DBS Update Service.