Infant and Young Child Feeding Education (IYCF-E) Counsellor

CHILD SAFEGUARDING: 

Level 3:  the role holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work in country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

ROLE PURPOSE: 

The Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies (IYCF-E) counsellor will support the IYCF-E Project Officer and Nutrition Manager in the effective delivery of the ICYF-E program through the Mother Baby Spaces approach.

The major focus should be to ensure that key IYCF-E messages are conveyed appropriately within beneficiary communities, and that caregivers receive appropriate support and to provide promotion and support for optimal infant and young child feeding to mothers and caregivers of children under 2 in emergencies and minimise the risks of artificial feeding in the emergency context in accordance with agency policy, national policy and/or the Operational Guidance on IYCF-E.

Staff reporting to this post: NA

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Assessment:

• Conduct community surveys to identify target beneficiaries (infants and young children under two years old, pregnant and lactating women)

• Assess mothers and their children to identify specific feeding support needs (through Simple Rapid Assessment of mother-baby pair and if necessary Full Assessment)

• Assess the knowledge of the beneficiaries before and after education sessions.

Education and Counselling:

• Lead group education sessions for mothers and carers of children under two years’ old

• Deliver messages on IYCF-E practices and maternal nutrition to the targeted community/communities through group education sessions.

• Define and adapt sessions according to the needs of mothers/carers involved and the age of the child.

• Provide appropriate counselling for pregnant and lactating women, complementary feeding and maternal and child nutrition – to be tailored to the specific need.

• Provide pregnant women with preparatory counselling for breast feeding and colostrum feeding, to prevent pre-lacteal feeds and bottle feeding.

• Counsel the mothers on correct maternal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation.

• Provide tailored one-on-one counselling sessions to mothers, in line with needs discovered in initial assessments, offering practical advice and education on key IYCF-E issues.

• Ensure all mothers/caregivers are aware of the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months.

• Provide one-on-one breastfeeding counselling for mothers experiencing difficulties breastfeeding, including supporting relactation.

• Provide mothers with practical advice on correct attachment and positioning when breastfeeding and respond to any concerns or local taboos associated with breastfeeding.

• Counsel mothers on the appropriate time to introduce complementary feeding, and the benefits of continued breastfeeding and respond to any concerns or local taboos associated with complementary feeding.

• Educate the mothers on the quality, quantity and frequency of complementary feeds to promote adequate weight gain.

• Arrange food demonstration sessions (on complementary feeding) for the beneficiaries in collaboration with outreach workers, women support groups, and other key members of the community.

• Discourage and educate mothers on the dangers of feeding bottles (also may exchange used bottles for cups and/or provide a safer BMS kit).

• Provide appropriate counselling and ensure support is provided to caregivers of targeted infants who have no possibility to be breastfed.

• Provide training, demonstration, on-going guidance and support to provide artificial feeding safely for exceptional cases until the infant is at least 6 months old. Note: maybe longer according to need and protocol.

• Lead and conduct support groups for caregivers of children under 2 years old and pregnant and lactating women.

• Utilize education materials on breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices, relaying accurate, practical, and specific advice for the mother’s needs.

Capacity Building and Training:

• Identify mothers to lead Mother Support Groups and support them in successful leading groups-

• Build the capacity of and supervise volunteers to ensure consistent quality messaging and programming

• Supervise volunteers to ensure they are providing messaging consistent with program guidelines;

Referral and Coordination:

• Refer children for intensive nutritional/medical care as required.

• Ensure caregivers are aware of available services and advocate prioritization for caregivers, where necessary, in appropriate services and support.

• Refer all pregnant women to the next antenatal care services if not already informed.

Reporting and Advocacy:

• Maintain records of mothers and children attending education sessions, receiving skilled assessment and support.

• Submit monthly reporting of activities to the IYCF-E Program Officer.

• Document case studies regularly and share with team members.

• Raise awareness of the IYCF-E program and activities locally to the community and stakeholders, and provide regular feedback on the communities’ perceptions of the program to the Program Officer.

• Record and report any donations or untargeted distributions of infant formula, bottles and teats and other violations of The Code.

Additional Tasks:

• Maintain records of IYCF-E materials and resources and report stock usage.

• Participate in other IYCF-E program duties as requested.

• Ensure a comfortable, calm, environment for counselling sessions and maintain good relationships with the beneficiaries.

General:

•  Comply with Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.

COMPETENCIES FOR THIS ROLE:

1. Delivering Results

Takes personal responsibility and holds others accountable for delivering our ambitious goals for children, continually improving their own performance or that of the team/ organisation.

Level required: Accomplished

1. Problem Solving and Decision Making

Takes effective, considered and timely decisions by gathering and evaluating relevant information from within or outside the organisation.

Level required: Accomplished

1. Working Effectively with Others

Works collaboratively to achieve shared goals and thrives on diversity of people and perspectives; knows when to lead and when to follow and how to ensure effective cross-boundary working.

Level required: Accomplished

1. Communicating with Impact

Communicates clearly and confidently with others to engage and influence; promotes dialogue and ensures timely and appropriate messages, building confidence and trust.

Level Required: Accomplished/Leading Edge

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Preferably) Nurse, midwife or auxiliary midwife, lactation/breastfeeding qualification.
• Knowledge of optimal IYCF practices, able to support breastfeeding mothers, and a willingness to learn.
• Able to support BMS infants/caregivers.
• Proven capacity of leadership and teamwork.
• Excellent communication skills and a willingness to be respectful, kind, sensitive and empathize with all beneficiaries 
• Capacity to keep accurate records of activities and report in a timely manner.
• Demonstrable ability at report writing.
• Ability to make a work plan and direct work independently.
• Willingness to live and work in difficult situations
• Fluency in the local working language. (Ukrainian)

Desirable

• Has own children/experience of breastfeeding;
• ·        Knowledge of the operational area.