The service is expected to support the local health economy towards delivery of the overarching objectives of:

Providing an antenatal support programme to ensure that all pregnant women are given information and support, enabling them to make an informed choice and empowerment to breastfeed successfully.

— increasing the number of mothers initiating breastfeeding at birth; and,

— the numbers of mothers sustaining breastfeeding, as currently measured by breastfeeding status at 6-8 weeks.

The objectives expected of the Breastfeeding support service are to deliver the locally identified markers of good practice, namely:

To support the PCT and local health economy organisations in the promotion of breastfeeding and the benefits it provides;

To provide free access to evidence based appropriate antenatal and postnatal information and support;

To provide breastfeeding peer support during the antenatal and postnatal period either at home or in a variety of settings e.g children’s centres, primary care settings and well being centres.

To provide appropriate support to both mothers and staff within hospital delivery and other wards;

To provide free and easy access to support on a one-to-one basis for all breastfeeding mothers and their families;

All peer supporters should: have attended an external accredited peer support training programme, be able to consult a health professional for support, contact mothers within 48 hrs of their transfer home, in addition to existing health professionals visits and offer ongoing support according to the mothers individual needs: either face to face, via telephone or through groups.

To provide evidence based appropriate community group support to a wide range of people including but not limited to mothers and family members.

To provide access to appropriate 24 hour telephone support.

To work in accordance with Unicef standards and work with local PCT services towards baby friendly accreditation level 3.

The support service will also be required to:

Be effective and efficient.

Be responsive to the needs of women and their babies.

Provide support and care based on best practice.

Deliver the required capacity to support benchmarked numbers of mothers.

Be integrated with other elements of care for women requiring support for breastfeeding.

Be family-centred and provide equitable access.

Breast feeding support workers will promote the psychological welfare of mothers, babies and their families.