Introduction

Objectives

• To work with midwives in practice and Supervisors of Midwives to ensure appropriate and safe levels of practice skills, competence and confidence for students and midwife teachers
• To use evidence from childbearing women in the identification of attributes for the selection and education of student midwives
• Continue to promote the part-time secondment opportunities for midwives from practice to the Division and for midwife teachers to work in practice and as Supervisors of Midwives
• Further contribute to national developments in midwifery proficiency, competence and health profession regulation and opportunities to participate in safe motherhood initiatives internationally
• Make a contribution to improving midwifery practice and development and the use of best available evidence.

The secondment of midwives from practice to work in the Division as lecturer/practitioners (L/Ps) for two days per week for 6-12 months has made more Trust midwives aware of the curriculum requirements. As these L/Ps continue to work in practice they are well placed to understand the demands for midwife practitioners in balancing care of mother and baby with teaching and assessing students. They have been given the responsibility of maintaining the ‘live’ register of assessors. To do this they provide curriculum updating sessions for mentors in the university or in the clinical areas as most convenient locally. They are also involved in assisting students to learn new clinical skills early on in the course.