County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Under general supervision, the Lactation Specialist supervises, trains, mentors and monitors the Health Services Trainees and Nutritionist Assistants in the Alameda County Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Breastfeeding Program; manages critical lactation problems of pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers; coordinates support services at assigned hospitals; and provides technical assistance and up-to-date information regarding lactation management to support staff, agency staff of the Woman, Infants, and Children Program and to do related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

This position is located in the Health Care Services Agency, Community Health Service Division, WIC program. This position provides training, and technical guidance to staff, and direct services to pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. The Lactation Specialist is a board certified health care professional who provides comprehensive hands on lactation management services to pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. This class is distinguished from the Nutrition Assistant series, where the former is assigned supervision and training responsibilities over breastfeeding program staff, and provides comprehensive hands on lactation management services to pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers where as the Nutrition Assistant series conducts assessments, consultation and follow up services to clients who are at "low risk" for nutritionally related health problems.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

1. Develops, prepares and conducts in-service education programs (including breastfeeding promotion and lactation management) for support staff, agency staff, and affiliated programs.

2. Supervises, evaluates and provides technical guidance to support staff (including direct services to participant, phone consults, hospital rounds, and home visits). Is on standby during evening hours, and weekends for phone consultation.

3. Plans and implements breastfeeding rounds at assigned hospital, oversees duties, schedules of support staff, record keeping, referrals for follow-up.

4. Provides comprehensive hands on maternal, infant and feeding assessments related to lactation and breastfeeding.

5. Develops and implements intervention plans to correct feeding difficulties in consultation with the mother.

6. Provides follow-up assessments, including monitoring weight and health of the baby to ensure that both mother and child are healthy.

7. Documents assessments and notes case progress, when necessary refers mothers to qualified medical professionals, provides written case summaries

8. Plans and conducts monthly breastfeeding team meetings, including breastfeeding practice updates and in-services.

9. Provides lactation consultation and technical assistance to agency staff, and partner programs

10. Provides training and technical assistance to affiliated staff at hospitals, community clinics and private doctors' offices.

11. Attends Alameda County Breastfeeding Coalition Meetings, WIC staff Meetings, and other related meetings as assigned.

12. 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.

13. Monitors reporting, and collects data from support staff. May document services in state WIC case management software program.

14. Oversees pump loan program and breastfeeding helpline coverage.

15. Reviews client education literature for appropriate information, literacy level, and cultural sensitivity.

16. Assists with ordering of breastfeeding supplies and record keeping forms.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Experience:

The equivalent of three years full-time experience performing lactation support services, including at least one year overseeing lactation support services.

Certificate:

Current Lactation Consultant Certification by International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners is required.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the "Examples of Duties" section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• Current principles and evidence-based practices of breastfeeding counseling and lactation management.
• Principles and practices regarding benefits of breastfeeding, barriers to breastfeeding, and effective strategies for increasing breastfeeding duration rates among culturally diverse populations.
• Nutritional needs of infants and nursing women.
• Common lactation problems, including medical and physical conditions that may impede breastfeeding.
• Lactation best practices and practices of multiple cultural/ethnic groups.
• Principles and practices of interviewing, clients interactions, professional and hospital staff, training and mentoring.
• Community resources.
• Computer applications related to the work.
• Office administrative practices and procedures, including records management and the operation of standard office equipment.
• Principles and practices of employee supervision and training.

Ability to:

• Plan and organize workload.
• Identify medical problems or other common barriers to successful breastfeeding.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Provide leadership and mentoring to support staff and WIC staff.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationship with others.
• Supervise, assign, review and evaluate the work of the support staff.
• Train staff in the knowledge of breastfeeding support, effective communication skills with clients, and work assignments/procedures.

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

SG:po 8/24/09
Newspecs: 5801.doc
CSC Date: 10/7/2009

BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.