24th November 2011, Liverpool BT Conference Centre. Julianne Harlow, Alison Healey & Florence May Ingham

Gaining Baby Friendly accreditation for a Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting) programme

Greater Manchester

Specialist Community Public Health Nursing• Health Visiting • 52 week programme• Undergraduate and Postgraduate• 50% theory & 50% practice• Practice Teacher• Profile of students varies• Breastfeeding training traditionally provided

Drivers

• Bolling et al (2007)• Breastfeeding initiation 12% lower than national average• 17% of babies breastfeeding at 6 months

• Latest DoH figures (Apr-June 2011)• Policy & Guidance at all levels• Programme quality• Fitness for purpose & practice• Interest & Commitment

Initial challenges

• Knowledge & understanding within Higher Education Institution

• Funding

• Time

• Uncertainty

Identifying Stakeholders • Parents and their supporters• Students• Department of Health North West• NHS North West• Greater Manchester Public Health Network• Directors of Public Health• Local Trusts

– Bolton NHS Foundation Trust– Bridgewater Community Health Care NHS Trust– Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust– Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust– Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust

Steering & Operational Groups• Key professional stakeholders• Managers • Infant feeding leads• Commissioners• Practice Teachers• Terms of Reference• Met regularly• Groups eventually merged

Launch event

User and carer participation event

Stage One assessment

• Valuable process!• Curriculum document• Lesson Plans• Practice portfolio• Evidence concerning orientation of mentors to

meet the standards• Training for practice teachers & university staff

Collaboration, longevity and the wider footprint

A strategic approach was essential to ensure longevity to the provision of the programme

Collaborative Working: The Key to Success

• Operational– Clear aims around the structure and components of

training• Steering group

– Clear aims to oversee operational group and feed up to Chief Executives in Trusts, DPHs, Principal lecturers & GM Breastfeeding strategic group

– To ensure full collaboration feedback from students & service users gathered from focus groups was used to inform processes at all levels

Different challenges• Engagement• Training: Whose responsibility?• Rewards for training• Different Trusts being at different stages of their

own BFI accreditation process• Duplication of training & assessment• Ensuring consistency of university & practice

based training• Health Visitor Implementation Plan

Teaching & Assessment• Semester 1

2 days Trainers

• Semester 21 day in uni with practice teacher Observed Structured Clinical Examination

• Throughout Practice placement Practice portfolio Resources

Service user representation in teaching

Practice benefits

• Joint learning by students• Strengthened professional relationships • Collaborative working more effective • Trainers gained experience in a different

context• Potential cost saving• Contributes to practice targets and goals

The Student’s Perspective

Challenges

• Some students had already received baby friendly accredited breast feeding training in their Trust.

• Individual values were challenged which can be difficult to do.

Positives / Perspective transformation

• Listening to the experiences of other group members gave a broad overview of practice.

• The course leaders furnished the group with information required to effectively support breast feeding mothers whilst gently illustrating the weaknesses in practices of years gone by.

Stage Two assessment

Personal Development

• Prior to becoming a Student Health Visitor I felt I had a sound knowledge base relating to breast feeding.

• My experience of breast feeding was at a personal and professional level.

• Baby Friendly Training Course illustrated many gaps in my knowledge.

• I was supported by an excellent Practice Teacher and team.

Student benefits• Baby Friendly training was a gift from Bolton

University, Chris and Alison who delivered the course and from UNICEF and, as we all know, gifts are for sharing.

• This knowledge is a foundation of my daily practice.

• To empower mothers, through education and support, to make informed choices for themselves and their babies is priceless.

• Let us seize these chances to empower, support and make a difference!

Celebrations!

University benefits

• Contributed towards other university goals• Raised profile• Reputation • Added value• Fitness for purpose & practice• Contributes to healthy university

status• Opportunities for wider dissemination

The future

• The start!• Share the process and good practice with

neighbouring and other universities• Safeguard accreditation• Ensure updating of university staff• Formal evaluation• To make training available to early years

students

Thank youFor further information please contact:

Julianne HarlowJ.K.Harlow@bolton.ac.uk

Alison Healey Alison.healey@alwpct.nhs.uk

May Inghamflorence.ingham@nhs.net