Hi, my name is Hayley and I work in the Neonatal Units in Ysbyty Gwynedd, Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and Ysbyty Wrexham Maelor - Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
Hayley
What does my job role as an AHP involve?
I work with babies and their families in the neonatal units.
The majority of babies I see have been born early; some of them weeks and weeks before their due date. They are often very small and need breathing support. I will also see babies who have neurological, genetic, heart or craniofacial conditions, as well as those who just need help learning to feed.
Our aim is to provide babies with an environment that is as close to being in the womb as possible and to ensure parents are the primary caregivers.
Who do you work with?
I work with parents to help them understand their baby’s behaviours and to know how to best support their baby in times of stress. I also help them to observe feeding cues in baby, such as baby turning their head and opening their mouth to find milk. This shows that baby is getting ready to move from tube feeding via a nasogastric or orogastric tube to oral suck feeds. I will support a mother to begin putting her baby to the breast, as well as coach those parents who choose to bottle feed on safe feeding practices for preterm babies. Sometimes, babies might have swallowing difficulties that I need to assess by watching them feed and by listening to their suck-swallow-breathe cycle with a stethoscope. I may need to write specific feeding plans for some babies to make sure their oral feeds are safe and enjoyable. At times, I need to draw on my counselling skills when talking to parents; it can be a very upsetting time when your child is unwell. I also share information with families about the benefits of skin-to-skin care, talking, reading and singing to their baby. My role involves some non-clinical work where I work on projects to drive our service forward and discuss best practice at a national level.
Do you work with other health professionals?
Yes, I work closely with Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Dietetics colleagues, as well as the medical and nursing team.
What do you enjoy about your job?
I feel very lucky to work with such tiny babies and help protect their growing brains. I love watching them become stronger week by week until they are ready to go home. And I love problem-solving with parents and the multidisciplinary team!
What are your career ambitions?
I would like to further my knowledge and skills in supporting mothers of preterm babies to breastfeed. I would also like to complete competencies to carry out paediatric videofluoroscopy; this is a video x-ray carried out to assess someone’s swallow.
How did you get into your role?
I did GCSEs and A-levels, then a 3-year BSc (Hons) in Speech and Language Therapy. I worked as a Speech and Language Therapist with children for 10 years before attending a course on paediatric dysphagia (eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties). The coursework took 11 months to complete. I then got my current job and attended several courses specific to feeding difficulties in babies.
What kind of person does your job suit?
- Enjoys working with people and can be compassionate towards their needs.
- Enjoys problem-solving and fast-paced work and can be flexible.
- Enjoys working as part of a larger team with a range of other professionals.