Midwifery

Awards

Target Award

Award Description:Bachelor of Science with Honours - BSH

Accreditation

Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

Programme Offerings

Full-Time

F2F-JMU-SEP

Educational Aims of the Course

The programme aims to provide a professional education which takes account of all the relevant professional and academic benchmarks and produces a Registered Midwife who is autonomous, compassionate, competent, and confident, whilst enabling them to be able to deliver care in a range of settings throughout the childbirth continuum. They will be able to practice safely and effectively. This will occur through an education that will: - ensure that students can demonstrate they have the required proficiencies for registration - provide students with the underpinning knowledge and skills so that they become fully accountable as the lead professional for the care and support of women and newborn infants, and partners and families - enable the student to become proficient in optimising normal physiological processes - enable the student to support safe physical, psychological, social, cultural and spiritual situations - ensure the student anticipates and recognises complications and additional care needs, and appropriately and skilfully respond, manage and escalate these by collaborating with and referring to interdisciplinary and multiagency colleagues - ensure that students demonstrate respectful, empowering, and equitable care irrespective of social context and setting and that is respectful of human rights - equip students with the skills to take responsibility for their own actions, critically think, problem solve, demonstrate positive role modelling, and exhibit leadership qualities

Learning Outcomes

Practice in accordance with ‘The Code: Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and nursing associates’ (NMC).

Enable and advocate for the views, preferences, and decisions of women, partners and families.

Work across the whole continuum of care and in all settings.

Show understanding of the woman’s and newborn infant’s whole maternity journey.

Demonstrate competency in the provision of continuity of care and carer.

Optimise the normal processes of reproduction and early life.

Anticipate, prevent, and respond to complications and additional care needs.

Protect, promote and support breastfeeding, demonstrating an understanding of the social and cultural context of breastfeeding.

Demonstrate a fundamental understanding of pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics as applied to a range of conditions.

10.

Accurately undertake the calculation of medicines, their safe handling, and administration and documentation within the recognised sphere of responsibility, including alternative therapies relevant to midwifery practice.

11.

Critically examine the impact of pregnancy, labour and birth, postpartum, infant feeding, and the early weeks of life on longer-term health and well-being.

12.

Critically examine legal, ethical, cultural, professional and political issues underpinning health needs and midwifery practice.

13.

Demonstrate effective communication through written and verbal methods in a coherent manner.

14.

Demonstrate appropriate decision making, leadership, communication, support and direction to team members in delivering efficient quality care.

15.

Contribute appropriately and skilfully to Interdisciplinary and multiagency working.

16.

Critically appraise one’s own leadership skills and their application within the contemporary health and social care context.

17.

Demonstrate an understanding of the concept of human factors and its application to the role of the student midwife in safety and quality care.

18.

Identify and appraise learning, teaching and assessment strategies as applied to a variety of contexts.

19.

Interpret data required for safe and accountable practice.

20.

Effectively utilise literacy, numeracy and information technology skills.

21.

Display a systematic and in-depth knowledge of midwifery statute and the influence of government health and social policies, professional bodies in the delivery of midwifery care.

22.

Evaluate risk management strategies that promote a safe and therapeutic environment.

23.

Demonstrate and apply knowledge of public health, health promotion, and health protection.

24.

Employ the skills of critical reflection (personal and peer) in order to inform best practice.

25.

Understand the responsibilities of the midwife including, moral, legal and ethical dimensions of care provision.

26.

Identify the parameters of practice and work within own sphere of competence.

27.

Demonstrate personal resilience and use strategies to assist with personal wellbeing.

28.

Demonstrate the ability to identify ones own learning needs and utilise a personal development plan (PDP) to meet individual goals.

29.

Understand and work to mitigate health and social inequalities.

30.

Provide up to date and evidence-based care.

31.

Critically analyse research which would improve health care practice and contribute to and interpret data relevant to research, clinical audit, risk management and clinical governance.

32.

Display a critical understanding of the knowledge and theories which underpin healthcare practice, considering the wider aspects of health and well-being.

33.

Demonstrate competency in communication and relationship building, working in partnership with women, ensuring that women, partners and families have all the information needed to fully inform their decisions.

34.

Enable and advocate for the human rights of women and children.

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

A wide range of teaching methods will be utilised in modules, to provide a diversity of teaching methods in order to accommodate different learning styles of students and to facilitate a programme that is designed to cater for a wide range of abilities and interests. This will enable students to reach their full potential and facilitate integration of theory and practice and exploration of the learning outcomes. The learner is encouraged to undertake independent study both to supplement and consolidate their learning, and to broaden their knowledge and understanding of the subject. Students will have opportunities through a range of methods for concrete experience, reflective observation, conceptualisation and evaluation. Student contact will involve one or more combinations of lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops, simulated practice, clinical practice, on-line learning, group-work, reflective practice discussions, self-directed and directed study. The needs of the woman and family are at the centre of maternity care and the midwifery modular programme has a spiral learning and teaching structure. Foundation subjects are taught at Level 4 with the initial focus being on universal midwifery care. The focus of Level 5 is based on increasing knowledge of management of complications and additional care needs. The focus of Level 6 builds upon Level 4 and Level 5 promoting excellence and giving the student skills to become a skilled practitioner, leading the student to reflect on the leadership and management of midwifery care, with the focus being on the women and their families and the midwives role within the interdisciplinary team. This forms the basis of a more critical and analytical approach. Thus on successful completion of the programme students will be able to provide woman and family centred midwifery care. The programme learning outcomes will facilitate development from being almost an observer, progressing through stages and leading to students who can use analytical and observational and problem solving skills, and then to the optimum level of students equipped with the skills of self-directed study and the motivation for life-long self-development. Cognitive skills are developed through a variety of teaching and learning strategies. All modules in the programme emphasise student -centred learning, involving students in a variety of learning activities strengthened by discussion, feedback and a wider application of the concepts. Skills are developed and enhanced through analysis and evaluation of theoretical knowledge and application to clinical practice. Application of knowledge to clinical practice provides the opportunity for students to absorb, test and reflect on what is learned in taught sessions. Clinical decision making encourages critical thinking skills. A diverse range of methods is used to assess progress, which reflect the programme aims and objectives. Assessment tasks take account of students with particular needs and alternative assessments may be provided following discussions with tutors. Knowledge skills and understanding will be formatively and summatively assessed in the programme modules. Both formative and summative assessment methods are employed in order to facilitate students learning styles. These include both seen and unseen examinations, written assignments, seminar presentations, poster presentations, reflective portfolios, case studies, OSCEs and VIVAs. Intellectual skills are assessed throughout the programme with assessment activities such as: essays, vivas, presentations, literature reviews, reports, portfolios, simulated practice, clinical practice assessment, critical analysis of case studies, personal reflection, wikis and blogs, analysis of research evidence and critical theoretical assignments. Dementia teaching is included in the midwifery programme in the form of seven on-line modules. Students will gain an underpinning knowledge of dementia and be able to transfer this know

Opportunities for work related learning

Placements Opportunities for Work Based Learning Work based learning accounts for 50% of the learning on this programme which totals 2300 hours. Students will have the opportunity to work on practical placements across a wide range of settings both inside and outside hospitals and in both the NHS and Independent Sector. There are competencies associated with the programme and achievement of these will be supported by a nationally agreed Midwifery Ongoing Record of Achievement (MORA), Practice Assessors and Practice Supervisors, and the Programme Leader and the Lead Midwife for Education. To support students during a placement experience a named Practice Supervisor and Practice Assessor will be allocated. A Supervisor/Assessor is a suitably prepared professional trained to support students in practice that meets NMC requirements (NMC, 2019). Students may be assessed by a suitably prepared Supervisor/Assessor such as a Registered Midwife or other registered professional. All placements are subject to annual audits and are overseen by the Placement Learning Support Unit. The Academic Assessor will work in conjunction with the named Practice Assessor and Supervisors. There may be opportunities for international visits as part of the programme, through formative placements. Every placement area has a named academic link. This is recorded on the software package InPlace, and is visible to students and placement staff. There is an LJMU role descriptor for academic staff who undertake this role.

Programme Structure

Programme Structure Description

Validated alternative exit awards are: 120 credits at level 4 Certificate of Higher Education in Healthcare Studies, learning outcomes 1-10. 120 credits at level 4 and 120 credits at level 5 Diploma of Higher Education in Healthcare Studies, learning outcomes 1-20. Students must achieve 2300 hours theory and 2300 hours practice by the end of the programme, this cannot be achieved any earlier than a minimum of 3 years. Completion of Programme Students on the programme will be deemed to have completed the programme when they have achieved 120 credits at Level 4 and 120 credits at Level 5 and 120 credits at Level 6, and completed the required number of theory and practice hours. Students must complete a declaration at four points in the programme, which are: at the start of Level 4, Level 5, Level 6 and at the end of the programme. LJMU will then complete confirmation of eligibility for the NMC Register and students are then able to enter the register. Students will also gain a BSc (Hons) Midwifery degree. In line with the professional requirements for the pre-registration midwifery education (NMC, 2019),and the LJMU Academic Framework Regulations for Undergraduate Programmes (LJMU, 2019) students must complete an academic level before commencing the next. Students may be permitted to trail credits into the next level. In order to progress from one level to the next a full time undergraduate student must: (i) have 120 credits at the level under consideration; or (ii) be granted an Exceptional Second Referral in no more than 20 credits or (iii) be granted a module deferral(s) in no more than 20 credits or (iv) be required to undertake referral with attendance in no more than 20 credits in the following year Students who have not achieved at least 100 credits will not be allowed to progress to the next level. Such students will be counselled by the Programme Leader or the Lead Midwife for Education, or nominated deputy, as to the options available to them, which may require a leave of absence from the programme. On successful completion of each practice progression point the practice and academic assessors confirm the student's level of competency; there are three practice progression points in midwifery, at the end of Level 4 (progression point 1),Level 5 (progression point 2) and Level 6 (entry onto the register). There are three practice modules across the programme, one at each level, 4100MW, 5100MW and 6100MW. Students cannot be given a third attempt (either an Exceptional Second Referral or Final Module Attempt) at the practice component (MORA Practice Document) in 4100MW, 5100MW or 6100MW. Students awarded a fail grade for both first and referral attempts at the practice component in these modules will not be allowed to continue on the programme. However, in 4100MW and 6100MW where there is a summative competency component (Safe Medicate Practice),students can be considered for a third attempt at this competency component. Where students are given a Final Module Attempt in 4100MW or 6100MW but have previously successfully completed the practice component (MORA Practice Document),this component will be carried forward and will not be required to be attempted again as part of the final module attempt. Upon successful completion of the programme students should register the award with the NMC within 5 years. Students in the 09/19 cohort who transfer from BA (Hons) Midwifery 30692 to Level 5 of BSc (Hons) Midwifery 36483 in September 2020 will have studied the following modules during 2019-20: 4000MW Communication in Midwifery, 4001MW Introduction to Midwifery Clinical Skills for Practice, 4002MW Life Sciences Applied to Midwifery Care, 4003MW Research and Study Skills, 4004MW Introduction to the Public Health Role of the Midwife, and 5004MW The Vulnerable Family from Level 5. During 2020-21 they will study 4005MW Midwifery Practice instead of the Level 5 module 5105MW Public Health & the Vulnerable Family. This adjustment

Structure

Level 4

Level 4 Core

Level 5

Level 5 Core

Level 6

Approved variance from Academic Framework Regulations

A variance to the Academic Framework Regulations was approved by the Education Committee in April 2020 for the following to comply with the PSRB requirements – Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC): 1. There are 2 x 26 Week semesters per year 2. Exemption from the requirement to offer 60c or 120c 'study abroad' 3. 4100MW, 5100MW, 6100MW and 6101MW are approved for year-long delivery 4. No Exceptional Second Referral (ESR) or Final Module Attempts (FMAs) are allowed in the following modules 4100MW, 5100MW and 6100MW. 5. 4104MW, 6100MW and 6101MW are component marked. For these modules, all assessments need to be passed at 40%, or pass where only pass/fail grading. The exception to this is the CareerSmart component in 4104MW which does not have to be passed at 40% to pass the module. 6. A pass mark of 100% is required for the numeracy assessments in modules 4100MW and 6100MW. 7. Students are required to demonstrate appropriate conduct to reach the next level of study or to complete the programme 8. Students cannot be given a third attempt (either an Exceptional Second Referral or Final Module Attempt) at the practice component (MORA Practice Document) in 4100MW. Students awarded a fail grade for both first and referral attempts at the practice component in 4100MW will not be allowed to continue on the programme. However, students can be considered for a third attempt at the competency component (Safe Medicate Practice) in 4100MW. Where students are given a Final Module Attempt in 4100MW but have previously successfully completed the practice component (MORA Practice Document), this component will be carried forward and will not be required to be attempted again as part of the final module attempt (June 2021 approved)

Students cannot be awarded compensation for any module on the programme. (approved 20/03/24)

Entry Requirements

A levels

Minimum number of A Levels required: 3 - if you gain more than three A Levels, we will only count the top three grades towards the required UCAS points (including the subject specific requirements identified below)
Subject specific requirements: One of the A Levels (or equivalent) must be science related and must be Grade C or above. Subjects we will accept in this area are Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Human Biology, Physiology, Health and Social Care, Combined Science, Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology.
Is general studies acceptable? Yes
Average A Level offer: ABB
Are AS level awards acceptable? Not acceptable

Access awards

Alternative qualifications considered

Applicants with a Degree or Diploma that are not health or science related must have an A Level Science at grade C or above.

We will accept the new Cache Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care grade A or above, or in combination with other relevant qualifications. Applicants must have studied in the last 3 years.

Accepted as an alternative to IELTS is Occupational English Test (OET):

We'll accept an OET examination certificate that confirms you achieved:

at least a grade C+ in the writing section
at least a grade B in the reading, listening and speaking sections

Due to the volume of applications, amendments will not be accepted once an application has been submitted, therefore applicants are advised to make sure each section is completed correctly prior to submission.

BTECs

National Certificate (RQF): No
National Extended Certificate: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
National Diploma (RQF): Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
National Diploma subjects / grades required: Health or Science related subject area
National Extended Diploma (RQF): Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
National Extended Diploma subjects / grades required: DDM if studied on its own in a Health or Science related subject area or to the total of 128 UCAS points when combined with other qualifications

GCSEs and equivalents

Prior to application applicants must have obtained grade 4 or grade C or above in English Language and Mathematics GCSE or Welsh GCSE in Maths / The Welsh GCSE in Maths Numeracy. We will also accept the following alternative qualifications:

Irish Leaving Certificate English and maths grade 04 to 01 (ordinary level)
Level 2 English and maths completed as part of an Access course
The Faculty of Health will accept Edge Hill University's equivalence tests in English and mathematics as an alternative to the GCSE requirements. For further information, please go to Edgehill Equivalency Tests or email edgehilltests@edgehill.ac.uk . These must be passed prior to applying to the University

IELTS

International Baccalaureate

Interview required

Irish awards

NVQ

OCR Cambridge Technical

Technical Certificate: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
Technical Diploma: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
Technical Extended Diploma: Acceptable on its own in a relevant subject area
Technical Foundation Diploma: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
Technical Introductory Diploma: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
Technical Subsidiary Diploma: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications

Reduced offer scheme

As part of LJMU’s commitment to widening access we offer eligible students entry to their chosen course at a reduced threshold between 8 and 16 UCAS points. This applies if you are a student who has experience of living in local authority care or if you have participated in one of LJMU’s sustained outreach programmes such as a summer university. Please contact course enquiries for further details.