Employment Status:Full Time (72-80 Hours Per Pay Period)Job Category:Administrative & ProfessionalJOB SUMMARY:Hospital Liaisons will provide an introduction to the Welcome Baby program and describe the opportunities and services to mothers during the hospital visit, if necessary.
The goal of the hospital visit is to invite mothers to participate or continue participation in the program; observe parent-infant interaction when possible; assess for social support, infant feeding, and maternal depression; and complete the Bridges for Newborn Screening Tool.EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS:Ability to function as a member of an interdisciplinary team.Ability to promote bonding and attachment between infant-mother.Experience working with families from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.Empathy, warmth, and the ability to establish trusting supportive relationships with an ethnically diverse population.Knowledgeable about local community resources and able to refer families to appropriate agencies.Knowledge of normal fetal, infant, and toddler development; prenatal and child health requirements; and early childhood education best practices.Familiarity with the effects of parental alcohol and/or other drug abuse on family health, parenting, and general functioning.Familiarity with the effects of domestic violence and parental alcohol and/or other drug abuse on family health, parenting, and general functioning.Familiarity with the effects of perinatal depression on child development, parenting, and general functioning.Skill in organizing and maintaining accurate records.Skill in writing to articulate concepts and ideas in notes and reports.Bilingual preferred, with the ability to communicate in the language(s) represented in the community to be served.EDUCATION:BA degree in child development, social work, psychology, human development, public health or related field preferred; and previous work experience in maternal and newborn health services.LICENSURES/CERTIFICATION:Certified lactation educator (CLE) or certified lactation counselor (CLC) at a minimum; or certification must be completed within six months of hire; alternately staff may be certified lactation consultant (CLC) or international board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC/RLC).DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ( These are the essential job functions for this position.
The essential functions of this job include, but may not be limited to those listed in this job description.
Employees hired for this position must be able to perform the essential function of this job without imposing significant risk of substantial harm to the health or safety of themselves or others) :Approaches prospective clients at bedside to introduce the program, verifies willingness to participate, obtains consent, and gathers referral information.Develops a file for each client recruited into the program, documenting all contacts with the family and agencies and completing data forms and program documentation.Develops trust and rapport with clients and provides support using an empathic and client centered approach.Adheres to all program guidelines, policies and protocols and actively works toward achieving the goals of the program.Conducts an interview with each client recruited into the program, observing parent-infant interaction; assessing involvement of father or other secondary caretaker, level of social support, infant feeding and maternal depression; and provides breastfeeding support and newborn health education.Effectively conducts required client assessments using standardized tools for maternal depression and a risk screening interview.Works closely with the Clinical Supervisor, Supervisor and administrative staff to provide a continuum of services.Confers with assigned nurse regarding need for any additional hospital services or referrals and assists with referral process, if needed.Collaborates and acts as liaison with other members of the healthcare team, including nurses, lactation specialists, social workers, and physician to coordinate provision of high-quality patient care.Attends and completes all trainings, including successful completion of CLE training program.Attends and participates in all home visitation staff meetings, including bi-monthly group reflective supervision.Completes all needed paperwork for each client in a timely and organized manner, including clear and well written progress notes.Completes required data entry for each client in a timely manner.
The following job accountabilities are not unique to this particular job but are common to all jobs at VPH:Complies with VPH policies and procedures on customer satisfaction and service excellence.
Demonstrates professionalism and cultural sensitivity in coordinating activities and communicating with all customers, peers, and the community at large.
Conducts self in a professional, respectful and courteous manner during all interactions.
Works effectively and collaboratively with others toward common goals.Communicates accurately, honestly, supportively and in a timely manner with department and interdepartmental team members.
Demonstrates effective business writing and oral communication skills, handwriting is clear and legible.Participates in operational aspects of the department, and maintains/participates in performance improvement activities within the department.Participates in all departmental specific training, Environment of Care (injury/illness prevention, fire/life safety, hazardous materials, emergency preparedness, utilities management, medical equipment management, safety and security management), infection control (standard precautions, TB Exposure Control Plan, Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan).Demonstrates knowledge of and follows safety practices.
Understands the importance of safety, including patient safety in the work place.
Maintains a safe environment for self and others.Actively participates in the Patient Safety Program, including event reporting.
Identifies sentinel events/near misses and responds per defined organization processes.
Participates in education activities and process implementation.
Demonstrates advocacy for the patient/customer and appropriately acknowledges patients, customers and visitors.The above statements reflect the essential functions considered necessary to describe the principle content of the job.
They are not intended to be a complete statement of all work requirements or duties that may be inherent in the job.WORK ENVIRONMENT: Primarily an inside building/office environment, well lighted and ventilated, which may consist of multiple treatment and/or work sites.
Fast and continuous work pace with variable workload.
Frequent contact with staff and public under a variety of circumstances.
Requires ability to communicate clearly (in English) verbally and in writing for effective communication with other staff members, physicians, vendors, community members, patients and patient families, employees and applicants of all socio-economic levels from a diverse cultural and ethnic population.
Subject to many interruptions from multiple calls and inquiries and potentially emotional situations involving accidents, injuries, illness and/or death.
Handles emergency/crisis situations in accordance with Hospital policy.
Answers phones or pages; may carry a beeper/pager, and/or use a two-way radio.
Occasional travel may be required.
Potential risk of exposure to hazards from chemicals (toxic and non-toxic), flammable materials, gas or electrical or radiant energy or equipment with/without moving parts.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Key for Physical DemandsContinuous66 to 100% of the timeFrequent33 to 65% of the timeOccasional0 to 32% of the time Patient Care Continuous standing/walking and occasional/intermittent sitting.
Continuous use of bilateral upper extremities in fine motor activities requiring fingering, grasping, and forward reaching between waist and shoulder level to handle/operate medical equipment/devices.
Frequent reaching above shoulder level and overhead.
Frequent forward bending, twisting, squatting and kneeling; occasional climbing.
Occasional repositioning and transferring patients weighing up to 200 pounds between bed, chair, and gurney.
Occasional lifting and carrying equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.
Occasional/intermittent pushing of gurneys, wheelchairs, bed and other medical equipment over tiled and carpeted surfaces.
Continuous use of near vision to read medical equipment such as monitoring devices and reading documents and computer screens; hearing and verbal communication to interact with patients, co-workers, and other customers.
Clerical/Administrative Patient Care Frequent sitting and standing/walking with frequent position change.
Continuous use of bilateral upper extremities in fine motor activities requiring fingering, grasping, and forward reaching between waist and chest level.
Occasional/intermittent reaching at or above shoulder level.
Occasional/intermittent bending, squatting, kneeling, pushing/pulling, twisting, and climbing.
Occasional/intermittent lifting and carrying objects/equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.
Continuous use of near vision, hearing and verbal communication skills in handling telephone calls, interacting with customers and co-workers and performing job duties.
Clerical/Administrative Non-Patient Care Frequent/continuous sitting with occasional, intermittent standing/walking.
Continuous use of bilateral upper extremities in fine motor activities requiring fingering, grasping, and forward reaching between waist and chest level.
Occasional/intermittent reaching at or above shoulder level.
Occasional/intermittent bending, squatting, kneeling, pushing/pulling, twisting and climbing.
Occasional/intermittent lifting and carrying objects/equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.
Continuous use of near vision, hearing and verbal communication skills in handling telephone calls, interacting with customers and co-workers and performing job duties.