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Posted on 15 Jul 2024

We are proud to announce that the specialist infant feeding leads, and our Healthy Family Teams have been reaccredited and retain their Unicef GOLD Baby Friendly Award, which was first achieved in 2020. This award is an internationally recognised award which provides a roadmap for delivering the unicef standards in an effective and sustainable way. It also reflects that these standards are embedded into service delivery and ensure that families receive a high level of care however they choose to feed their babies.

The GOLD assessment focuses on the leadership team and how effective this is, how we monitor and evaluate what we do, how we consider and influence the culture around breastfeeding both amongst staff and also when supporting families, and finally how we ensure that the service continues to progress and develop.

The Trust was Highly Commended for the quality of the evidence submitted and the thorough way in which the necessary processes to embed and further develop care related to the Baby Friendly standards has been planned and implemented, and the BFI assessor felt that the pride, enthusiasm, and commitment to drive improvements, increase quality and innovation was apparent from all those involved.

“We’re so proud to have maintained this award, it reflects the hard work and dedication not only of our specialist infant feeding team, but also of the wider Healthy Family Team, who see many more mums and are offering support and information on a daily basis. We are the only community trust in the East Midlands where health visiting services have achieved Gold standards and are also one of only 25 trusts across England to achieve it.” - Alison, Jo and Theresa, Infant Feeding Leads

Hayley Darn, Associate Director of Nursing, Quality & Patient Experience

Community Health Services and Baby Friendly Breastfeeding Guardian said:

“I am delighted that we have retained our Gold accreditation for our Baby Friendly standards. A lot of hard work to develop, drive forward and maintain exemplary standards of practice has been undertaken, led with care and passion by our Infant Feeding team. The care delivered by our Healthy Family Teams contributes hugely to mothers being supported to breastfeed, and the approach taken is hugely impressive to try and reduce health inequality in a truly inclusive and family centred way.  My thanks and admiration to all involved”