WIC LACTATION CONSULTANT

Definition

Under direction supervises the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) breastfeeding peer counselor program; provides technical assistance, training, and up-to-date information regarding lactation management to support staff; manages critical lactation problems of pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers; does related work as required.

Examples of work

• Responsible for identifying lactation problems, and develops and implements intervention plans to correct feeding difficulties in consultation with the mother.
• Plans and leads discussion groups on breastfeeding and counsels individual women.
• Provides follow-up assessments, including monitoring weight and health of the baby to ensure that both mother and child are healthy.
• Documents assessments and notes case progress; when necessary refers mothers to qualified medical professionals, the WIC Competent Professional Authority, a public health program in the community, or a social service agency.
• Communicates, collaborates, and coordinates services with partner WIC programs, and other health care professionals including, but not limited to, physicians, public health nurses, midwives, and other lactation consultants.
• Supervises work operations and/or functional programs, and has responsibility for performance evaluations and for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of personnel.
• Provides technical guidance to support staff.
• Reviews client education literature for appropriate information, literacy level, and cultural sensitivity.
• Keeps client information strictly confidential.
• Develops, prepares, and conducts in-service education programs (including breastfeeding promotion and lactation management) for support staff, agency staff, and affiliated programs.
• Leads staff meetings, and meets monthly with support staff to review caseloads.
• Promotes public breastfeeding health goals.
• Oversees pump loan program and breastfeeding helpline coverage, and applies established security procedures and guidelines for breastfeeding equipment.
• Assists with ordering of breastfeeding supplies and record keeping forms.
• Attends breastfeeding workshops or seminars.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency or related units.

License

Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of current principles and evidence-based practices of breastfeeding counseling and lactation management.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices regarding benefits of breastfeeding, barriers to breastfeeding, and effective strategies for increasing breastfeeding duration rates among culturally diverse populations.
• Knowledge of common lactation problems, including medical and physical conditions that may impede breastfeeding.
• Knowledge of the nutritional needs of infants and nursing women.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of employee supervision and training.
• Ability to identify medical problems or other common barriers to successful breastfeeding.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationship with others.
• Ability to supervise, assign, review and evaluate the work of the support staff.
• Ability to train staff in breastfeeding support, effective communication skills with clients, and work assignments/procedures.
• Ability to oversee the maintenance of records.
• Ability to conduct interviews to gather needed information.
• Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

CERTIFICATION

Applicant will be required to possess a valid certification as a Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners.