IYCF Counsellor-Nutritionist

Job Description

Title: IYCF Counsellor-Nutritionist

Company Name: Friendship

Vacancy: 10

Age: Na

Job Location: Anywhere in Bangladesh

Salary: Negotiable

Experience:

Published: 2025-04-03

Application Deadline: 2025-04-05

Education:

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in nutrition and food science from any reported university.

• At least 2 years of working experience.

Desired Skills:

• At least one to two years IYCF counselling work experiences.
• Experience in community-based nutrition intervention preferably in Community management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) will be value added.
• Skill in facilitation on job training for CNVs and staffs.
• Excellent communication skills and a willingness to be respectful, kind, sensitive and empathize with all beneficiaries and their cares.
• Capacity to keep accurate records of activities and report in a timely manner.
• Capacity to work under pressure and to meet tight deadlines.
• Able to support NBF infants/caregivers 

Responsibilities: 

• The IYCF Counsellor will be responsible for IYCF and C-MAMI counselling of pregnant mothers and caregivers of children 0-23 months following assessment as per standard protocol in the project areas. She will extend the technical support on the prevention of malnutrition by focusing the promotion of breastfeeding and complementary feeding and improved maternal nutrition with a strong community engagement component. She will be responsible for age and case specific counselling and referral for the targeted area focusing on children in the first 1000 days which impact on the lives and results in lasting positive change. She will play a vital role to bring change in the care practices in terms of IYCF/E and MAMI. She will also play key role in management of Non-Breastfed Child and ensure an organized referral pathway among clinical assessment point of INF, SC and health post. Overall facility base essential nutrition service delivery will be increased.  

Tasks:

Under the technical supervision and in close collaboration with the Nutrition Supervisor, each IYCF Counsellor will undertake the following tasks:

• Assess the IYCF needs of infants, young children under the age of 2 years, and lactating women/ caregivers;
• Provide nutritional counselling to mothers of young children, focusing on children in the first 1000 days of life;
• Provide one-on-one breastfeeding counselling for mothers experiencing difficulties breastfeeding including supporting re-lactation;
• Provide tailored messages one-on-one counselling sessions to mothers, in line with needs assessed in initial assessments, offering practical advice and education on key IYCF issues;
• Provide mothers with practical advice on correct attachment and positioning when breastfeeding and respond to any concerns or local taboos associated with breastfeeding;
• Counsel mothers on the appropriate time to introduce complementary feeding, and the benefits of continued breastfeeding and respond to any concerns or local taboos associated with complementary feeding;
• Educate the mothers on the quality, quantity and frequency of complementary feeds to promote adequate weight gain (Age specific);
• Contribute to the development of contextually appropriate IEC materials for local IYCF assessments;
• Utilize education materials and tools on breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices, relaying accurate, practical, and specific advice for the mother’s needs;
• Refer mother if requiring MHPSS support to Community health Team.
• Refer at risk children of 0-6 moth to inpatient centre and health facility if needed.
• Non breastfeed child management.
• Assessment of at-risk mother and infant (rapid and full).
• Enrolment based on need counselling and ensure follow up.
• Refer for MHPSS services, inpatient and health post.
• Enrol and discharge infants and the lactating woman according to IYCF/C-MAMI discharge criteria.
• Liaise with the Community Nutrition Supervisor to ensure active case finding for both C-MAMI and IYCF counselling and follow up C-MAMI defaulters and non-responders with home visits.