Jennifer Fowler

Healthworks is a charity commited to tackling health inequalities in Newcastle. In my role on the Best Start team I provide holistic support to families during the antenatal and breastfeeding period, although support is open to all, we target women under 25 and those from areas of multiple deprivation.

I take referrals from midwifery for vulnerable pregnant women, and work with them to recognise their strengths and address any concerns to help them feel empowered and ready for the birth of their child. I also work closely with other health, community and statutory services to ensure families receive co-ordinated support to address broader needs. These regularly include safeguarding, mental health and financial difficulties.

I manage a case load of families to which I provide telephone support, and one to one support where appropriate. I also run two breastfeeding support groups each week in the community in which I offer emotional and practical guidance to women, and help them to build strong peer to peer relationships. I also deliver NHS antenatal education sessions in which I focus on guiding families to build a strong and loving relationship with their baby.

Recently I fully coordinated an independent large scale antenatal session; 'New Borns, New Norms' and organised colleagues and volunteers to deliver a very successful one off event. The session has now been adopted in to our service commission and will be replicated quarterly.

In addition to this I manage my service's social media channels and am regularly involved in promotional and outreach activities. I am currently working collaboratively with Newcastle City Council and Action for Children on a public health campaign which aims to improve breastfeeding rates in younger women across the city.

In my previous role as a consumer relations coach for our client, Proctor & Gamble, I led a team of 5 graduates on the Pampers brand.

I worked with them to develop an empathetic brand voice in which the consumer felt supported and acknowledged. I mentored and monitored my team to ensure that their responses were sensitive and effective.

This role helped build my leadership skills, and developed my ability to support others in a compassionate yet professional manner- a skill which I have later built upon in my current role with Healthworks.