Midwives magazine: August 2010
In response to the safety and quality agenda within maternity, NHS East of England have taken a proactive and innovative approach to address the shortage of midwives within the region, while at the same time impacting positively on the quality, innovation, productivity and prevention (QIPP) agenda. This initiative forms part of a significant workforce development programme that includes the ongoing recruitment and retention of midwives and the implementation of a unique, responsive leadership programme.
A cross-regional skill-mix review concluded that the introduction of additional, specifically educated and trained midwifery support workers (MSWs) into the maternity workforce would have the short- to mid-term impact of improving quality of care, and the long-term impact of reducing the required growth in staff numbers. This would ensure our midwifery resource is appropriately and effectively utilised to deliver safe, high-quality care, supporting maternity units to deliver one-to-one care in established labour and meeting local, regional and national targets.
The decision was taken to develop MSWs using an apprenticeship programme, as it offered a flexible way for existing staff to progress in their career (including access to midwifery training). It is work based, recognises qualifications held by staff and attracts funding.
Other routes were considered – for example, the foundation degree – but as there is little regional requirement for band 4 MSWs, this was deemed not to fulfil our requirements. We were also seeking a training and development programme that would deliver the required skill mix by November 2011. The strategic health authority was also cognisant of the government’s agenda in promoting apprenticeships, which suggested that the initiative was sustainable.
The development of bespoke apprenticeships for MSWs has been offered to each of the 17 midwifery units. Two combined to start a cohort of 14 in June with the same training provider, and seven other sites are following. Each of the six counties in NHS East of England has a county workforce group holding the budget for training staff in bands 1 to 4. MSW apprenticeships are a priority within this devolved budget until 31 March 2011.
The process of apprenticeship development involves meeting with local midwifery staff and the training provider to map the job description of the MSW across to national vocational qualification (NVQ) units available within the advanced (level three) apprenticeship in health (maternity support) or (obstetric theatre support) pathway. The certificate in health (City & Guilds) or the BTEC (Edexcel) is also focused on local needs, as are the key skills.
In many cases, the teaching and assessing of the components of the apprenticeship are a collaboration between the training provider and the NHS Trust. Some Trusts who have an in-house NVQ assessment centre are providing the NVQ, others have midwives who hold an ‘assessment’ qualification and are working with the training providers to assist in the delivery of this qualification, and some are developing midwives to undertake this role.
Further information
For further information, please contact Sally Ashton-May via email at:
sally.ashton-may@eoe.nhs.uk Information on apprenticeships can also be found on the RCM website at:
www.rcm.org.uk/college/msws/msw-apprenticeships
