Milk Handler

Role Summary

• The Milk Handler is responsible for the management of all activities related to the Ncelisa Human Milk Bank and donor extracted breast milk. The incumbent will further assist with administrative work in the ward as and when required.

Key Work Output and Accountabilities

Consistency of Care

• Ensure all stock is well controlled, managed and charged appropriately.
• Answer all Milk Bank related enquiries received telephonically or by email
• Ensure accurate completion of documentation and records regarding donor extracted breast milk.
• Maintain a well organised record keeping system as required by the SOP’s
• Assist with ward administrative tasks as requested by the UM

General

• Maintain cooperation and coordination with all departments and between the various hospitals served by the Milk Bank
• Screen, collect, select, sort and process donor human milk and prepare, pasteurize, distribute and track donor extracted breast milk.
• Formalise storage and distribution of milk in a hygienic way in line with SOP requirements.

Quality patient care

• Promote and maintain good public relations with patients and families.
• Provide education and information to both prospective donors and mothers of recipients
• Provide assistance to pregnant women, postpartum women, infants and lactating women on breastfeeding practices
• Ensure continuous support to establish breastfeeding with recipient infant’s mothers to avoid reliance on donor milk.
• Counsel and re-assure mothers whose babies will receive donated human breast milk.
• Maintain confidentiality of all donors and recipients at all times
• Perform other duties as reasonably requested by the Unit Manager or senior member of staff.

Safety awareness and risk management

• Contribute to effective risk prevention and management.
• Maintain a therapeutic, clean and safe environment that is free from medico-legal hazards.
• Adhere to Netcare medical waste management principles and all other waste management principles.
• Report and act upon potential/actual risks identified.
• Ensure adherence to quality assurance, health and safety standards and hygiene standards at all times including universal regular hand washing procedures.
• Responsible for ensuring correct use, cleaning, storage and maintenance of equipment
• Ensure compliance to the Human Milk Bank regulations and legislation.
• Maintain professional conduct and standards at all times in accordance with hospital policies and procedures.

Transformation of Our Society

Building stakeholder relations

• Act as an Ambassador with the doctors and dieticians to gain their support to encourage human breast milk donations
• Build and maintain effective relationships with nursing staff and unit managers at milk bank collection posts
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with the other milk handlers and the National Milk Bank Coordinator

Staff allocation and training

• Complete all training related to Ncelisa Milk Bank as required
• Conduct training, mentoring and supervision of staff at milk bank collection posts
• Arrange optimal staff complement for the unit as requested by the UM

Skills Profile

Education

• Essential: Matric
• Preferred: Care Worker Certificate

Work Experience

• Essential: Basic Computer literacy.

Physical Requirements

In the event of any physical or psychological limitation that may impair the employee’s ability to perform the required job function, the employee must consult the employer for reasonable accommodation.

Working Conditions

• Will interact with internal and external customers through several different means.
• Shift work, rotational ward allocation, weekend duties and emergency relief
• Willingness to work overtime when required

Netcare Values and Behaviours

Netcare Values

• At Netcare, our core value is care.
• We care about the dignity of our patients and all members of the Netcare family.
• We care about the participation of our people and our healthcare partners in everything that we do.
• We care about the truth in all our actions.
• We listen with empathy and respond with acts of compassion in all interactions with our patients and their families.

The Netcare Way

• Respect - I always greet everyone to show my respect.
• Identity - I always wear my name badge to show my identity.
• Dignity - I always treat others with consideration and humility to uphold dignity
• Care - I always act in the best interest of Netcare and others to show I care
• Compassion - I always listen with empathy and respond with kind action to show my compassion
• Appreciation - I always say thank you to show my appreciation.
• Diversity - I always embrace diversity to strengthen inclusivity and belonging.

Join the team committed to providing the best and safest health and care.