Plymouth University
Faculty of Health, Education and Society
School of Nursing and Midwifery
Programme Specification
BSc (Hons) Pre Registration Midwifery
BSc (Hons) Pre Registration Midwifery 1
Programme Specification 2012/13
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Midwifery Degree Program: Year One Curriculum and Learning Objectives, Study notes of Communication
The first-year curriculum for a Midwifery degree program, including modules such as Foundations of Biology, Communication and Psychosocial Issues in Midwifery, and Health Promotion and Public Health in Midwifery Practice. Students are expected to gain essential skills in communication, psychosocial concepts, health promotion, and data interpretation, among others. They must also demonstrate self-awareness, ethical and legal understanding, and the ability to work in a multi-professional team.
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Plymouth University
Faculty of Health, Education and Society
School of Nursing and Midwifery
Programme Specification
BSc (Hons) Pre Registration Midwifery
BSc (Hons) Pre Registration Midwifery 1
- BSc (Hons) Pre Registration Midwifery
students to begin to develop a professional persona from an early stage, and facilitate application of clinicial experience to theory in subsequent modules. Placement learning will take place across the South West peninsula in the well-established maternity services in Plymouth, Exeter, Barnstaple and Torbay in Devon, Taunton and Yeovil in Somerset and Cornwall. Students will experience the full range of maternity care in these providers, including community and acute settings and free-standing or alongside birth units in many of the areas. The South West has an exceptionally high homebirth/ out of hospital birth rate, and students therefore gain a solid grounding in normality. Students in this locality are particularly fortunate to be exposed to the variety of models of care reflected in these Trusts, including traditional, integrated and caseloading practice. Peer swaps are encouraged if students wish to gain a wider range of experiences in other Trusts during their elective period. In addition to the midwifery experiences which form the majority of their placements, students will gain a broader understanding of the identification and management of more complex needs in selected non-maternity allocations, whilst developing skills in multi-professional working. These include gynaecology, neonatal units, intensive care, accident and emergency, medical and mental health specialities. Evaluation of these placements has shown them to result in a wide range of learning for the students, and clinicians who have graduated from other universities have frequently commented favourably on this approach, expressing regret that they had not had similar opportunities. In their third year students will caseload a small group of women, preparing them for autonomous practice in their future careers. The programme team has recently refined the process and a study into the service-user perspective is shortly to be undertaken. At all times throughout the programme students will work in a supernumerary capacity, although their participation as functional members of the team will be essential.
Clinical skills will be assessed using a blended practice portfolio which incorporates the competencies for midwifery and the NMC Midwifery Essential Skills Clusters which are explicitly embedded within the Ongoing Achievement Record. The electronic component of the practice portfolio enables students to demonstrate learning and personal and professional development, and has been used as an exemplar of good practice within the university, nationally and internationally, having been disseminated through a number of conference presentations and publications. Sign-off mentors are very well supported in practice, with mentor updates, tripartites and informal visits by link lecturers providing regular opportunities for them to develop their skills and address any issues. The programme team is currently undertaking a peer-shadowing exercise of tripartites to enhance inter-assessor reliability and ensure parity of moderation. External examiners regularly comment on the robustness of the practice assessment processes in the programme in ensuring professional body requirements are achieved, and have described the electronic portfolio as an excellent assessment tool, evidencing the students’ learning.
A variety of approaches will be used for programme delivery including lectures, simulated clinical skills sessions, team-based learning, seminar groups, independent study and web based learning. The team increasingly uses blended learning within the curriculum, which is of benefit to the students in view of their wide dispersal throughout the peninsula. The variety of assessment modes facilitate development of key graduate skills, reflected in the favourable comments from external examiners to date. The recent National Student Survey indicated high levels of satisfaction with assessment and feedback which contrasts with the national picture. The programme team has an ethos of resarch-informed teaching, evaluating any new innovations and refining processes as well as providing opportunities for wider dissemination. Several
BSc (Hons) Pre Registration Midwifery 4
members of the team have also been involved in research projects in the previous Centre for Excellence in Professional Placement Learning (CEPPL) as well as a more recent NMC commissioned study into midwifery teaching (the MINT study), and findings from these activities have fed directly into the curriculum. The team has recently been successful in achieving a certificate of commitment to the Baby Friendly Initiative, and incorporation of these principles in the curriculum should result in full University accreditation in the near future.
The majority of the modules will be midwifery-specific, enabling the students to develop a strong professional identity and facilitating direct application of theory to practice. Inter-professional learning is, however, an important concept for future practice and has been incorporated into the new curriculum through a more selective and focused approach. In years two and three, students will share evidence-based practice modules with Nursing students. It is also proposed that students from other relevant professional groups will be invited to participate in selected taught sessions and themed days in other modules, such as Paramedics, Dietetics and Medicine. The third year includes two innovative modules which comprise the theoretical preparation for the extended roles of examination of the newborn and sign-off mentorship. The former has the potential to be shared by post-registration professionals including Midwives, Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioners, General Practitioners and Health Visitors, enhancing the students’ experience of inter-professional learning. Clear preceptorship/ post-registration pathways will enable students to gain the required practice experiences to fulfil these roles post-qualification. Development of these modules has been in direct response to local service demand and the changing national political and economic picture. Only two other universities are known to currently be in the early stages of offering pre registration examination of the newborn preparation, and Plymouth University is alone in providing the opportunity for pre registration Midwifery students to undertake both this and mentorship theory. This will therefore significantly enhance employability of our students nationwide, as it will ensure they are fit for purpose in contemporary practice whilst reducing costs for post-registration education.
With its strong focus on the student experience, the programme delivered to date has been characterised by the high levels of support in both academic and placement areas and explicit links throughout the curriculum between theory and practice. This has been highly valued in the National Student Survey and is reflected in internal and external quality monitoring activities. Both academic and peer support are of high importance, and the strategies already in place with respect to the latter will be further formalised in the new ‘Facilitating Learning in Midwifery Practice’ module. Close collaboration between the academic and practice teams enables students with specific needs or undergoing challenging circumstances to remain on the programme as far as possible, with risk assessments and reasonable adjustments being made to ensure that the students are fit to practise and safety of women and babies is maintained. This compassionate approach to individuals on the programme is further reflected in teaching, in which the needs of others are emphasised, and this will be developed further in the new curriculum. Students are supported by link lecturers who actively engage in practice in a variety of ways, ensuring they remain contemporary with service developments. The high level of support offered by Midwifery link lecturers to both students and mentors was specifically noted in the Programme Monitoring Report by Mott MacDonald on behalf of the NMC in 2011. The five Supervisors of Midwives are very visible in their practice areas and the majority carry supervisory caseloads. The academic team also supports the clinical areas when midwives are undergoing supervised practice programmes. The programme team has a close working
BSc (Hons) Pre Registration Midwifery 5
general version) with a score of at least 7.0 in the listening and reading sections, at least 7.0 in the writing and speaking sections and an overall average score of 7.0 will be accepted.
Students will be shortlisted against set programme criteria. These are:
- Academic qualifications (as above)
- Recent study (evidence of academic study within the past five years is required)
- A high level of knowledge of the profession
- Related work experience
- Communication skills
- Ability to empathise with others
- Problem solving and use of initiative
- Ability to study/work independently and in groups
- Extra curricula/outside interest
- Willingness to learn
- Quality of written work from personal statement
- Supportive references
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a selection day. This will comprise a numeracy and literacy test as well as individual interviews. Panels will include academic and clinical staff and recently qualified students. All panellists will have undertaken on-line interview training through Plymouth University or their NHS Trust. Interview questions will be reviewed annually, in collaboration with service-users. A scoring system will be used for all stages of the application process. Offers of a place will be based on commissioned student numbers and clinical capacity. Successful candidates will be offered a place on the programme and one of their three preferred choices of placement, which is non-negotiable following acceptance of the offer.
Age of Entry There is no longer a minimum age requirement, although the following guidance from the Standards for pre registration midwifery education (NMC 2009, p9) remains relevant:
- Completion of at least the first 10 years of general school education
- Health and Safty at Work Act 2004, restricting the manner in which young people may be deployed. ‘Young person’ in this context is defined as ‘any person who has not attained the age of 18 years’.
Applicants with a Disability and Long-Term Conditions Throughout the process, applicants are required to disclose any disability without prejudice, so that appropriate adjustments can be made for learning support and practice. A rigorous process for admitting disabled students is in place and this involves the University’s Disability Assist Service, the University Admissions Team and the Midwifery Admissions Tutor to ensure that all applicants are treated equitably in accordance with the Equality Act (2012). Risk assessments and reasonable adjustments are made in collaboration between the University, clinical area and student.
Occupational Health and Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks
BSc (Hons) Pre Registration Midwifery 7
A detailed Occupational Health screening will be undertaken prior to an applicant beginning the course, in line with Department of Health guidelines for health care workers. Individualised packages of support and risk assessments may be undertaken in collaboration between the University, clinical area and student to enable reasonable adjustments to be made while ensuring the protection of women and babies.
All offers will be subject to a satisfactory disclosure from an Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check. All positive responses to the CRB check are screened through the Faculty Professional Issues Committee for consideration.
Equal Opportunities All student applications will be subject to the Plymouth University Equal Opportunity Policy.
Stepping On and Stepping Off the Programme The guidance in the Standards for pre-registration midwifery education (NMC 2009) will be adhered to in relation to interruptions from the programme. Students will be required to undertake Occupational Health and Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau checks prior to return to the programme and will need to complete the programme within five years.
Accreditation of Prior Experiental Learning (APEL) The regulatory body states that there will be no APEL in relation to pre registration midwifery programmes.
If a vacancy exists on the programme, transfers from Midwifery programmes at other Higher Educational Institutions may be considered for entry at the beginning of the second year if their programme is comparable and they would be able to achieve the outstanding part of the programme within the time frame set by the NMC. Candidates would need to submit their previous curriculum details and evidence of their achievement and be interviewed by the Lead Midwife for Education or Programme Lead. Offers would be subject to satisfactory Occupational Health and Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau checks and supportive references. If successful, suitable learning opportunities and support will be provided to enable the student to make the necessary transition to the programme and meet its outcomes.
Please note that the criteria for admission to the programme and the recruitment process may be subject to change in response to quality assurance measures and service/ commissioning changes.
BSc (Hons) Pre Registration Midwifery 8
- the ability to be an autonomous practitioner and lead carer to women experiencing normal childbirth and is able to support women throughout their pregnancy, labour, birth and postnatal period, in all settings including midwife- led units, birthing centres and the home
- the ability to undertake critical decision-making to support appropriate referral of either the woman or baby to other health professionals or agencies when there is recognition of normal processes being adversely affected and compromised.
In addition, the programme aims to promote development of a safe, competent, confident and responsible midwife who:
- is reflective and critical thinking, using research to inform their practice
- is independent in study and committed to the concept of life long learning, fostering both continuing personal and professional development
- provides holistic and high quality care which is compassionate, empowering and respectful of individual needs, working in partnership with women, their partners and families and the wider multi-professional team
- is opposed to discrimination in all its forms
- accepts responsibility for their own choices and decisions, taking into account ethical, legal and professional factors
- is responsive to local and national initiatives and changes, working in partnership with key stakeholders to meet these.
BSc (Hons) Pre Registration Midwifery 10
Strategies to support achievement of the intended programme aims and learning outcomes and development of key graduate attributes and skills Knowledge/ Understanding
On completion, graduates should have developed a systematic understanding of Midwifery; an ability to deploy established techniques of enquiry; an appreciation of uncertainty, ambiguity and the limits of knowledge; and skills to apply the methods and techniques they have learned to review, consolidate, extend and apply their knowledge and understanding and to initiate and carry out projects.
See Appendix 2 which maps assessed module learning outcomes at Levels 4, 5 and 6 to achieve the intended programme aims and learning outcomes.
Teaching and learning methods and strategies:
A wide range of student centred approaches are used to develop knowledge and understanding. These include lectures, seminars, discussions, practical skills simulation, workshops, team-based learning, web based learning, guided and independent study. Discussions including critical incident analysis, reflection on practice and case studies are used to facilitate theory- practice links. Group and individual tutorials and project supervision are used to provide different perspectives on learning and practice. Work-based learning in clinical placements provides the opportunity for students to apply theory to practice.
Assessment A variety of methods are used to assess knowledge and understanding and emphasise theory-practice links throughout the programme. These include: tests and unseen examinations, essays including case studies and reflection, portfolios, Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) including both oral and practical skills assessment, presentations and project outputs. Theory is summatively assessed against criteria that measure academic and professional levels of performance. Practice is assessed through a blended portfolio.
Cognitive/ Intellectual Skills
On completion, graduates should have developed conceptual understanding that enables them to devise and sustain arguments and/ or solve problems; to describe and comment upon particular aspects of current research or equivalent advanced scholarship in Midwifery;
Teaching and learning methods and strategies:
A wide range of student centred approaches are used to develop cognitive and intellectual skills. These include lectures, seminars, discussions, practical skills simulation, workshops, team-based learning, web based learning, guided and independent study.
BSc (Hons) Pre Registration Midwifery 11
Assessment A variety of assessment methods are used throughout the programme that incorporate assessment of transferable skills. These include: unseen examinations, tests undertaken in team- based learning, essays including case studies and reflection, portfolios, Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) including both oral and practical skills assessment, presentations and project outputs. Theory is summatively assessed against criteria that measure academic and professional levels of performance. Practice is assessed through a blended portfolio.
Practical Skills (subject specific)
On completion, graduates should have developed the practical skills required to practise safely and competently as a registered midwife.
See Appendix 2 which maps assessed module learning outcomes at Levels 4, 5 and 6 to achieve the intended programme aims and learning outcomes.
Teaching and learning methods and strategies:
Practical skills will be taught in simulated settings and developed further in clinical practice. In addition to the theoretical element, 55 percent of the programme will be spent in the practice setting in placements chosen to facilitate achievement of the learning outcomes for specific modules. Students will work alongside midwives and other qualified practitioners, whilst also working in the wider support team. Students will also experience inter-professional learning in selected modules which will further enhance their multi-professional skills. Teaching and learning methods will include lectures, seminars, discussions, practical skills simulation, workshops, team-based learning, web based learning, guided and independent study as well as group and individual tutorials.
Assessment Detailed schedules identifying the required learning outcomes for practice are used for each stage of the programme. Practice is summatively assessed and graded by qualified sign-off mentors against criteria that measure competence and safety, reflecting the Midwifery Essential Skills Clusters, and BSc (Hons) Pre Registration Midwifery 13
evidence is incorporated in a blended practice portfolio. A variety of assessment methods are used in the theoretical elements of the programme including unseen examinations, tests undertaken in team-based learning, essays including case studies and reflection, portfolios, Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) including both oral and practical skills assessment, presentations and project outputs.
Employment-related Skills
On completion, graduates should have developed qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring the exercise of initiative and personal responsibility; decision making in complex and unpredictable contexts and the learning ability needed to undertake appropriate further training of a professional or equivalent nature.
See Appendix 2 which maps assessed module learning outcomes at Levels 4, 5 and 6 to achieve the intended programme aims and learning outcomes.
Teaching and learning methods and strategies:
In addition to the theoretical element, 55 percent of the programme will be spent in the practice setting in placements chosen to facilitate achievement of the learning outcomes for specific modules. Students will work alongside midwives and other qualified practitioners, whilst also working in the wider support team. This will enable them to develop employment related skills in a natural environment.
Assessment : Detailed schedules identifying the required learning outcomes for practice are used for each stage of the programme. A range of approaches will be used to undertake academic assessments. Practice is summatively assessed and graded by qualified sign-off mentors against criteria that measure competence and safety, reflecting the Midwifery Essential Skills Clusters, and evidence is incorporated in a blended practice portfolio.
BSc (Hons) Pre Registration Midwifery 14
Exceptions/ special academic regulations
This degree may not be awarded unless all the requirements for the Award are met.
The normal University Regulations in respect of progression and assessment will be followed, with specific exemptions due to the structure and professional nature of the programme, as noted below:
- The maximum duration of the programme will be five years full time and seven years part time in line with the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s requirement as set out in the Standards for pre-registration midwifery education (NMC 2009)
- The programme is exempted from the automatic compensation rule
- Practice assessments may only be undertaken twice
- Successful completion of a module is defined as the achievement of a pass in both theory and practice
- Modules and module elements must be achieved at 40%
- The Nursing and Midwifery Council requires that all outcomes within a progression point period (for example an academic year) are achieved and confirmed within 12 weeks of entering the next academic level. All assessments must be completed and have been passed prior to the successful completion of the programme. The opportunity to complete referrals is therefore only available within a specified timescale. Further module failure that requires the re-sit to move more than 12 weeks into the next academic year will result in students having to stop their studies and repeat the failed module(s) with attendance. This relates to both theory and practice elements of the module.
Final award title BSc (Hons) Pre Registration Midwifery
Level 6
Intermediate award title(s) Certificate of Higher Education
Diploma of Higher Education
Level Level Four
Level Five
Awarding institution University of Plymouth
Faculty of Health, Education and Society
Teaching institution The Midwifery programme will be taught in
Plymouth
Accrediting body Nursing and Midwifery Council
Appropriate benchmark(s) Midwifery
UCAS code B
JACS code B
BSc (Hons) Pre Registration Midwifery MAPPING DOCUMENTS
Appendix 1
Page 18-19 NMC Audit Trail of Assessment of Programme Approval Requirements
Appendix 2 Page 20-35 Mapping to Programme Aims and Learning Outcomes
Appendix 3 Page 36-41 QAA Benchmark Statements
Appendix 4
Page 42-43 Southern England Consortium for Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SEEC) Level Descriptors
Appendix 5
Page 44-48 Nursing and Midwifery Council Standard 17: Competencies required to achieve the NMC Standards for pre-registration midwifery education (NMC 2009) against Definitive Module Records and Ongoing Achievement Records Criteria Statements
Appendix 6 Page 49-51 NMC 2009 Essential Skills Clusters
Appendix 7 Page 52-57 NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework
STANDARD EVIDENCE
Lead Midwife for Education
Re-approval Document page 8, 11, 13-15, 19, 21-28, 38, 42
St. 12 Balance between clinical practice and theory
Programme Specification page 3
Re-approval Document page 6, 39-42, Appx 9
St. 13 Supernumerary status
Programme Specification page 4
Re-approval Document page 7
St. 14 Assessment strategy
Programme Specification page 4, 9-15, Appx 2
Re-approval Document page 32-38, Appx 8 & 9
Achieving Standards for Competence
St. 15 Standards of education to achieve the NMC standards for competence:-
Programme Specification Page 9-10, Mapping Appx 5 & 6, page 46-
Re-approval Document page 6-8, 11-12, 25, 32-38, 43, 44, Appx 9 Section 14 Definitive Module Records page 47 onwards
PLEASE NOTE THAT EVIDENCE IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN THE ACCOMPANYING PROGRAMME
HANDBOOK AND ONGOING ACHIEVEMENT RECORD
Appendix 2 BSc (Hons) Pre Registration Midwifery Mapping to Programme Aims and Learning Outcomes (Certificate level)
Programme Learning Outcomes Map Certificate Level (Level 4)
1 Graduate Attributes and Skills (^2) 3 4 Core Programme Intended Learning Outcomes
Aim Subject Benchmark
Related Core Modules Knowledge/ Understanding By the end of year one, students should have gained knowledge of the underlying concepts and principles associated with their area(s) of study, and an ability to evaluate and interpret these within the context of that area of study principles of their area(s) of study:
- Demonstrate understanding of the theoretical principles underpinning normal midwifery clinical skills
- Define the basic structure, function and physiological control of the major human body systems
- Explain the concept of homeostasis, its link to human physiological processes and health
- Identify the structure and function of the fetal skull, placenta, breasts and female and male reproductive systems
- Describe the physiological processes during pregnancy, intrapartum and postpartum periods for the woman and fetus/neonate
- Apply underpinning communication theory to midwifery practice
To develop a safe, competent, confident and responsible practitioner who demonstrates:
- sound, evidence- based knowledge of facilitating the physiology of childbirth and the newborn, and is competent in applying this in practice
- a knowledge of psychological, social, emotional and spiritual factors that may positively or adversely influence normal physiology, and is competent in applying this in practice
- appropriate interpersonal skills (as identified in the Essential Skills Cluster – Communication) to support women and their families
Midwifery
B C1 – 2