Professional/Short course Return to Midwifery Practice

Content

The course syllabus typically includes:

Contemporary issues

• Developments in reproductive technology and ante-natal diagnosis.
• Use of complementary therapies.
• The influence of pressure groups/support groups.
• Multidisciplinary and inter-agency working.
• Impact of information technology on practice.

Current issues in practice

• Research in clinical practice and implementing evidence-based practice.
• Professional
• Extended and specialist roles of midwives, changing sphere of practice.
• Related ethical issues.
• Empowerment and the midwife as an advocate.

Management issues

• Government policies and legislation, midwives code of conduct.
• Organisation of midwifery care, changing childbirth initiatives.
• Changes in educational provision as they affect clinical practice e.g. mentorship, preceptorship, the new midwifery registration programmes.
• Quality assurance measures (standard setting, auditing etc.) skill mix.
• You will be encouraged to consider your particular learning needs and chose content from the pre-registration syllabus and study days applicable to your particular needs.

Learning and Teaching

A learning contract will be negotiated with you to ensure you are able to meet your individual learning needs to support your return to midwifery practice.

A variety of approaches will be used which may include:

• Scheduled learning includes; lectures, seminars, tutorials, demonstration, practical classes and workshops, external study days, work based learning, TEL.
  
• Independent learning includes; hours engaged with essential reading, assignment preparation and completion. These sessions constitute an average time per level as indicated in the table below. A learning contract is used to support learning activity.
  
• Placement learning: 450 hours will be undertaken to meet the NMC and HESW requirements. Appropriate supervised clinical practice in local NHS Trust will be organised.

The theoretical aspect of the programme is run alongside a practice placement where you will complete practice competencies that meet the NMC outcomes that are required to be eligible to return to practice, these are:-

• An understanding of the influence of health and social policy to the practice of nursing and midwifery.
• An understanding of the requirements of legislation, guidelines, codes of practice and polices relevant to the practice of nursing and midwifery.
• An understanding of the current structure and organisation of care, nationally and locally.
• An understanding of current issues in nursing and midwifery education and practice.
• The use of relevant literature and research to inform the practice of nursing and midwifery.
• The ability to identify and assess need, design and plan interventions and evaluate outcome in all relevant areas of practice, including the effective delivery of appropriate emergency care.
• The ability to use appropriate communications, teaching and learning skills
• The ability to function effectively in a team and participate in a multi-professional approach to people's care.
• The ability to identify strengths and weaknesses, acknowledgement limitation of competence and recognising the importance of maintaining and developing professional competence.

Study time

The HESW guidelines for Return to Practice midwives (HESW 2012) stipulate that you undertake a minimum of 450 hours clinical practice and five theory days.

You will meet with the module leader and form a learning contract regarding your learning needs. You will have access to the theory timetable of the pre-registration modules in order to select relevant sessions to meet your learning requirements. You will be allocated an academic personal tutor for the duration of the module.

You are required to attend five days of theory content selected from the pre-registration midwifery curriculum. This is either taught face to face or eLearning contact.

Everyone will be allocated a clinical mentor whilst in practice and have the opportunity to experience the range of midwifery services within the 450 practice hours.

Assessment

A 2,000 word report to allow you to explore a topic related to a recent development within clinical practice.

You are also required to have completed 450 hours practice hours and to have attained all the practice competencies in the practice document signed off (by your sign-off mentor).