WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor - Harrington Hospital, Southbridge Campus - 26 hours, Days

Exemption Status:

Hiring Range:

Please note that the final offer may vary within this range based on a candidate's experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity considerations.

Schedule Details:

Scheduled Hours:

Shift:

Hours:

Cost Center:

This position may have a signing bonus available a member of the Recruitment Team will confirm eligibility during the interview process.

At UMass Memorial Health, everyone is a caregiver - regardless of their title or responsibilities. Exceptional patient care, academic excellence and leading-edge research make UMass Memorial the premier health system of Central Massachusetts, and a place where we can help you build the career you deserve. We are more than 20,000 employees, working together as one health system in a relentless pursuit of healing for our patients, community and each other. And everyone, in their own unique way, plays an important part, every day.

I. Major Responsibilities:
1. Signs and follows FNS Loving Support WIC Peer Counselor scope of practice.
2. Receives a caseload of WIC mothers and makes routine periodic contacts with all mothers assigned.
3. Gives basic breastfeeding information and support to new mothers, including telling them about the benefits of breastfeeding, overcoming common barriers, and getting a good start with breastfeeding.
4. Counsels WIC pregnant and breastfeeding mothers by telephone or in person at the WIC office
5. Is available outside the WIC office and the usual 8 to 5 working schedule to new mothers who are having breastfeeding problems.
6. Respects each mother by keeping her information strictly confidential.
7. Keeps accurate records of all contacts made with WIC mothers in WIC computer system (Eos).
8. Refers mothers to appropriate services within her service area.
9. Teaches breastfeeding classes for pregnant and postpartum mothers, and leads breastfeeding support groups.
10. Attends monthly staff meetings and breastfeeding conferences/workshops as appropriate.

II. Position Qualifications:

License/Certification/Education:
Required:
1. High school diploma or GED equivalent required.

Experience/Skills:
Required:
1. Candidate must attend a series of breastfeeding trainings.
2. Candidate will be required to read assigned education materials regarding breastfeeding.
3. Candidate will be required to complete Safe Sleep Online Training Module.

Preferred:
1. The ideal candidate has experience breastfeeding and either is a current or previous WIC participant (preferably a participant who is enthusiastic about breastfeeding education).
2. Ideal candidate must have good customer service skills and must be able to relate to diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Unless certification, licensure or registration is required, an equivalent combination of education and experience which provides proficiency in the areas of responsibility listed in this description may be substituted for the above requirements.

Department-specific competencies and their measurements will be developed and maintained in the individual departments. The competencies will be maintained and attached to the departmental job description. Responsible managers will review competencies with position incumbents.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

We're striving to make respect a part of everything we do at UMass Memorial Health - for our patients, our community and each other. Our six Standards of Respect are: Acknowledge, Listen, Communicate, Be Responsive, Be a Team Player and Be Kind. If you share these Standards of Respect, we hope you will join our team and help us make respect our standard for everyone, every day.

As an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, UMass Memorial Health recognizes the power of a diverse community and encourages applications from individuals with varied experiences, perspectives and backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity and expression, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

If you are unable to submit an application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at talentacquisition@umassmemorial.org. We will make every effort to respond to your request for disability assistance as soon as possible.