Six pilot sites will trial new models of midwifery supervision, NHS England has announced.
The sites will pilot new approaches to supervision ahead of the legislative changes due in 2017. The sites are Airedale NHS Foundation Trust; Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust; University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust; Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust; Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust; and Whittington Health.
‘These pilot sites will play a significant role in shaping the new model of supervision, and I am looking forward to working with them closely,’ said Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, head of maternity, children and young people's services for NHS England.
The new models will look at how midwives can be supported across all aspects of their role. This includes improvements to the work experience, job satisfaction, reductions to sickness, and better staff development.
‘The new model will be instrumental in providing midwives with a continuous improvement process that builds personal and professional resilience to enhance our quality of care for women and babies,’ added Ms Dunkley-Bent. ‘It will also support preparedness for appraisal and professional revalidation.’
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) announced that it would no longer include midwifery supervision in its regulation. The regular called for these changes after a number of incidents revealed that the current arrangement was 'not appropriate for public protection'.
NHS England will also run a series of webinars to inform midwives of the upcoming changes to supervision.