Midwife (Integrated Degree) Apprenticeship - Level 6

This occupation is found in a range of healthcare settings offering different models of care. Most midwives are employed by the NHS while others work in the private sector, social enterprise or independently.

A midwife may work in the community such as in a woman’s home, community hubs, GP surgeries, clinics, midwife-led units and birth centres or in hospital maternity units. This means that they usually work shifts including evenings, weekends and nights and may be on-call to provide 24-hour care.

The broad purpose of the occupation is to be the first and main contact for a woman, her partner and family. Recognised as a responsible and accountable professional, the midwife acts as an advocate for the woman, working in partnership with her and giving the necessary support, care and advice during pregnancy, labour and the postnatal period.

Midwives are lead co-ordinators of care as well as the first point of contact for a woman, her baby and family. They offer support, care and advice and are responsible for facilitating births and providing care for the newborn. Midwives are experts in normal physiological birth and in supporting the woman through all birth outcomes.

What will I achieve?

Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, you will achieve:

BMid (Hons) Midwifery
Midwife Degree Apprenticeship

You may be eligible to become a registered Midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

Location: Centre for Health Innovation Stafford
Duration: 3 years
Start date(s): September

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Course content

In your first year, your focus will be on mastering the essentials of safe and effective midwifery practices. You'll undergo placements covering all aspects of antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal care, serving women, their families, and communities across Staffordshire, Cheshire, Shropshire, the West Midlands, and Derbyshire. These placements will take place in our Centres of Excellence in Healthcare Education, providing you with a solid foundation in midwifery skills.

Moving into the second year, you'll deepen your understanding and skills, particularly in coordinating complex care scenarios. Building upon the knowledge gained in your first year, you'll be able to identify deviations from normal anatomy and physiology during pregnancy. This year will expose you to various placements while receiving guidance from visiting professionals through lectures. Additionally, you'll continue engaging in interprofessional education events, enriching your learning experience.

In the third and final year, the emphasis will be on further skill development through research, leadership, management, and critical thinking. You'll be encouraged to critically assess existing maternity care provisions, seeking opportunities to enhance the care provided to women and their broader support networks. This year will consolidate your expertise, preparing you for a successful career in midwifery.

Modules

Year 1

Holistic health across the reproductive lifespan
Introduction to the safe and effective midwife 1
Introduction to the safe and effective midwife 2
Introduction to the safe and effective midwife 3
Professional legal and ethical considerations
Public health in midwifery practice

Year 2

Altered health in maternity care
Developing the safe and effective midwife 4
Developing the safe and effective midwife 5
Developing the safe and effective midwife 6
Optimising neonatal health
Promoting reproductive health

Year 3

Midwife as colleague, scholar and leader
The evidence base for practice
The midwife as a skilled practitioner Module 7
The midwife as a skilled practitioner Module 8
The midwife as a skilled practitioner Module 9

Entry requirements

To be eligible, apprentices will need to evidence the following:

Achievement of Level 2 Maths and English (GCSE, functional skills or equivalent) OR be demonstrating that you are functioning at Level 2 in both Maths and English, this would be determined by an initial assessment conducted by University of Staffordshire.

Fees

For levy-paying organisations the cost is paid from their digital account at a rate of £26,000 per apprentice.

For non-levy paying organisations there may be a financial contribution on 5% which equates to £1,300 per apprentice.

Delivery and assessment

Delivery

Study time is divided between 50% theory and 50% in practice placements. Students have a range of placements which provide experience of the diversity and variety of midwifery. Placements are arranged between University of Staffordshire and our NHS Trust partner organisations. Placement learning periods will include both acute and community-based experiences; are not all on one site and will involve some travel. During the three years, students are required to experience care across the 24-hour span of duty which will include weekends, nights and bank holidays. Students will spend two days per week on campus:

Year 1 - Mondays and Tuesdays

Year 2 - Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Year 3 - Wednesdays and Thursdays

Assessment

A variety of assessment methods are used throughout the course:

Assignments/Reflection: these are usually in essay format of varying length. Assignments must be presented in an appropriate scholarly format which develops academic writing skills.
Seminar/Presentation: the research, planning and presentation of findings to a small audience.
Examinations: either multiple-choice or oral (viva voce) examinations.
Drug Calculations: accurate calculation of drug dosages and preparation of medications will be assessed via the on-line package Safe Medicate. A drug calculations assessment is undertaken in each of the three years where the expectation is that 100% is achieved in year three.
Work-based Assessment demonstrates fitness to practice as an Registered Nurse as a requirement for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. The apprentice is assessed against profession-specific competences by a team of practice-based registered professionals in a range of clinical settings.
As part of the apprenticeship and once you have completed your academic qualification, you will undertake an end point assessment (EPA). This will include 2 professional discussions with an external assessor and must be completed within 3months of completing your academic studies.

Learning support

In addition to the excellent support you will receive from your course teaching team, our central Academic Skills team provides group and one-to-one help to support your learning in a number of areas. These include study skills (including reading, note-taking and presentation skills); written English (including punctuation and grammatical accuracy); academic writing (including how to reference); research skills; critical thinking and understanding arguments; and revision, assessment and examination skills (including time management).

Additional support

Our AccessAbility Services support students with additional needs such as sensory impairment or learning difficulties. You will also have full access to our support services such as Student Guidance.

Feedback

Examination feedback may take a variety of formats. However, as a minimum, generic feedback will be made available to all students who take written examinations.

Responsibilities

Employer must not ask the apprentice to contribute financially to the direct cost of learning.
Ensure apprentice spends at least 20% of their time in off-the-job training.
Enter into a contract with University of Staffordshire.
Participate in reviews with the Apprentice and university, providing evidence and feedback on progress at work and success in meeting apprenticeship milestones.
Provide a safe, healthy and supportive environment, which meets the needs of the apprentice.
Provide apprentices with a contract of employment for the duration of the apprenticeship on the first day of their apprenticeship and be paid at least a wage consistent with the law for both the time they are in work and in off-the-job learning.
Provide the apprentice with paid time to attend off-the-job training, including additional support for English and Maths, or support accessed for learning difficulties and/or disabilities.
Recognise that the apprentice must complete the apprenticeship within their working hours.
Support the apprentice to gain new skills.

A citizen of a country within the European Economic Area (EEA**) or have the right of abode in the UK and have been ordinarily resident in the EEA for at least the previous three years on the first day of learning.
Able to complete the apprenticeship in contracted working hours.
Be an employee (have a contract of employment for the duration of the apprenticeship) on the first day of their apprenticeship and be paid at least a wage consistent with the law for both the time they are in work and in off-the-job learning.
Be in a new job role (nine months or less), or in an existing job role, where significant new knowledge and skills are needed – employer statement of justification needed (relevant to the apprenticeship)
Be in full-time employment for at least 30 hours a week.
Has the right to work in England.
Maintain a safe, healthy and supportive environment, which meets your needs.
Not be enrolled on another apprenticeship at the same time.
Participate in reviews with the employer and university, providing evidence and feedback on progress at work and success in meeting apprenticeship milestones.

Administer the funding and running of the Apprenticeship Standard to an acceptable standard of quality and in compliance with the ESFA’s requirements.
Agree jointly between the University, the Employer and Apprentice, an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) ensuring that satisfactory progress is achieved and to ensure that the contents of the ILP fulfil the requirements of the Apprenticeship Standard
Provide a safe, healthy, and supportive learning environment, which meets the needs of the Apprentice.
Provide off-the-job learning and assessment and oversee the on-the-job skills development as detailed in the ILP.
Provide support on selection of the endpoint assessor, if applicable. The endpoint assessment will be completed by the learning provider for all integrated degrees.

Careers

You will have access to Career Connect, our dedicated careers team who support you with professional branding, career mapping and realising your potential.

Facilities

Midwifery Skills Lab

These state-of-the-art labs allow a number of clinical procedures to be simulated on mannequins, enabling students to reach a level of confidence and proficiency before carrying out procedures on real patients. Read more

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Lifelike Living Space (Stafford)

The lifelike living space lets you practice your skills in a variety of non-clinical settings, including our configurable house environment.

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Immersive Suites

Our immersive suites can simulate almost any environment from hospital to office and house to roadside. The suite allows 360 projection with realistic sounds from that environment.

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Enquire

To join a higher degree apprenticeship programme or recruit an apprentice for your business, enquire with us today.

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