‘It’s an amazing job’ – Jo Dunckley, Neonatal Support Worker, Rainbow Trust

At Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity I am one of two Neonatal Support Workers in the charity’s West London Care Team, and I support many families on neonatal units.

Throughout my career I have always worked with families and children. I started at 16 years old, becoming a nanny and after having three children of my own, I retrained as a lactation specialist working for the NHS.

When this role came to an end I had an interest in working for a charity and, as I had already worked on post-natal, antenatal and neonatal units, the role with Rainbow Trust seemed a good fit.

As a Rainbow Trust Neonatal Support Work each week can be different depending on the needs of the families on my caseload. Once I have received a referral from an individual or hospital, the first thing I do is meet the family to assess their situation. This can be done at their home or on the neonatal unit. I really enjoy meeting the families for the first time as they are not always aware of how Rainbow Trust can help, and they are often amazed with the support we are able to offer.

My initial assessment helps me get to know the family and understand their individual needs. Often families require transport to and from the hospital – I think one of the most challenging parts of my job is battling the London traffic. These journeys can be vital to help reduce the stress for parents getting to hospital and enabling them to open up to me about their fears and concerns about having a seriously ill baby.  Sometimes a family already has a good routine and appear to be coping well, so the offer of being taken for a cup of tea away from their baby’s bedside can be just as beneficial and exactly what they need at that time.

If there are brothers or sisters I can go and support a sibling at home or take them on a trip to have some fun out of the hospital while parents visit their baby. We run sibling arts and craft groups which the children enjoy.  Other things I can do are very practical, such as shopping or popping out to get a parent something to eat and drink. In my experience, parents can find the days on the neonatal unit long, tiring and lonely, so they may just want me to sit with them for a while. I can also be there for them during difficult conversations with the hospital medical team and help explain anything they may not understand.

It can be hard for parents to see an end to their time on the unit as their babies can be very premature and fragile and their health can change on a day-to-day basis. I have heard many parents say it is like being on a rollercoaster or that its one step forward and two steps back. I can be there for them as their needs change.

Once families are discharged from hospital, some parents no longer require support from Rainbow Trust and others request a transition period at home which I’m very happy to provide. It can be daunting for parents to suddenly be left to care for their baby at home after they have been used to having a team of medical staff around them. After being discharged, if a baby has a diagnosis with a life-threatening or terminal illness then I continue to support the family at home for as long as it is needed.

For anyone wanting to get into a similar job role, I would say you need be empathetic, a good listener and have a flexible approach.  Sometimes you have to anticipate parents’ needs and make new suggestions or tailor the support for the whole family as their needs change.

Being a Rainbow Trust Neonatal Support Worker is an amazing job, it is always a privilege to share a family’s journey and witness so many parents become capable and confident at caring for their very sick or premature babies.

To find out more about Rainbow Trust or make a donation, visit www.rainbowtrust.org.uk