Duties of a Midwife
To be eligible to practice as a midwife, a person must hold a relevant qualification, be registered as a Midwife with the NMC, and meet the NMC standards for updating their practice.
1. It is your responsibility to complete, sign and return your Intention to Practice (ITP) to your named Supervisor of Midwives (SoM) as soon as possible after you receive it from the NMC each year and by the date published by the LSA each year.
2. You should notify your ITP to each LSA before commencement of practice as a Midwife- this includes caring for friends or relatives in other LSA areas (whether you are paid or not).
3. You are responsible for maintaining your own practice.
4. You must be prepared to allow your SoM, LSA and NMC access to your records, equipment and place of work.
5. You should communicate with your SoM about practice issues, dilemmas, concerns and untoward incidents.
6. You should attend an annual supervisory review with your SoM at which you will discuss updating and education needs, reflect on practice issues and audit record keeping.
7. If you change your name, correspondence address or main place of work you must notify the NMC and your Supervisor.
8. If you are concerned about a colleagues ability to practise safely you must notify a SoM.
9. You cannot arrange for anyone to act as a substitute for you (other than another practising Midwife or registered medical practitioner).
10. Except in an emergency, you should not provide any care or treatment which you have not been trained to give.
11. The needs of the woman or baby must be the primary focus of your care and you should work in partnership with the woman and her family, empowering the woman to make decisions about her care, based on her individual needs through discussions.
12. You should respect the woman's right to refuse any advice given.
NOTIFICATION OF INTENTION TO PRACTICE
The Midwife receives form from NMC.
Completes - checking all details carefully.
Give ITP to named SoM by the notified date each year normally the last week of February - for signature, copy to be returned to midwife.
The Supervisor enters the ITP onto the LSA database to enable access to the LSA and uploads to the NMC.
To LSAMO by the last working day of February each year.
Notification from Midwives moving into the LSA or changing Trusts during the year should follow the same route and should be notified prior to commencing work as a Midwife.
UNTOWARD INCIDENTS
If a serious untoward incident occurs the Midwife should notify their SoM who will inform the LSAMO.
Submit SUI form through the Trust Risk Management scheme to East Midlands SHA or PCT as appropriate.
If appropriate a supervisory investigation should be undertaken and the LSA notified.
Detailed guidance about the above process can be found in Guideline L.
The Role of a SoM
The NMC Midwives' Rules and Standards August 2004 states; "The role of a Supervisor of Midwives is to protect the public by empowering midwives and midwifery students to practise safely and effectively (rule 11)".
The SoM is appointed to:
1. Ensure that each Midwife has a named SoM.
2. Ensure that all practising Midwives have 24 hour access to a SoM.
3. At least once a year meet with each Midwife to whom they are the named SoM to review their practise and to identify training needs.
4. Maintain records of their supervisory activity, including any meetings.
5. Ensure Midwives are eligible to notify their intention to practice.
6. Be responsible for countersigning the Midwive's ITP form each year for onward transmission to the LSA / NMC.
7. Monitor standards of practice and levels of competence for all Midwives.
8. Be responsible for investigating serious untoward incidents and reporting these and any unsafe practice to the LSA.
9. Assist in the formulation of local policies and procedures to ensure evidence based practice.
10. Assist Midwives with the ordering, supply, storage, administration and destruction (when necessary) of controlled drugs.
11. Offer guidance and support to women accessing the maternity services.
The Role of the LSA is to;
1. Publish the name and address of its LSAMO for submission of ITP forms.
2. Publish the date for submission of ITP forms.
3. Be responsible for communicating issues to the NMC and implementing the NMC's rules and standards.
4. Publish local procedures for the retention and storage of records relating to statutory supervision.
5. Promote local systems to ensure SoMs maintain records of supervisory activity which are kept for at least 7 years, whilst those relating to an investigation of a clinical incident are to be kept for a minimum of 25 years.
6. Provide guidance about transfer and storage of records relating to Midwives who are self-employed.
7. Provide guidance for the appointment of new SoMs.
8. Maintain a current list of SoMs.
9. Demonstrate a commitment to provide continuing professional development and updating for all SoMs within the LSA
10. Publish the local mechanism for confirming any midwife's eligibility to practise.
11. Ensure that the SoMs ratio reflects local need and circumstances (NMC ratio Supervisors:Midwives - 1:15).
12. Enable student Midwives to be supported by the supervisory framework.
13. Ensure that systems are set up to facilitate communications between LSA's.
14. Provide a direct communication link between each SoM and the LSAMO with timely distribution to all SoMs.
15. Ensure regular meetings occur with SoMs
16. Monitor the provision of protected time and administrative support for SoMs.
17. Promote women centred, evidence based midwifery practice.
18. Set standards for SOMs in order to meet the requirements set by NMC (Rule 12).
19. Use NMC core criteria / person specification when appointing an LSAMO.
20. Discuss any concerns about competence of LSAMO with the NMC.
21. Develop mechanisms with NHS Authorities and Private Sector employees to ensure notification of all incidents of serious concerns and publish the investigative procedures.
22. Liaise with key stakeholders to enhance clinical governance systems.
23. Publish the process for notification and management of complaints against the LSAMO.
24. Publish the process for removing the LSAMO and process for appeal, in consultation with the NMC.
25. Publish an annual report that is also made available to the public and NMC by 30th September each year, meeting the requirements as set by the NMC.
The Role of the LSAMO is to;
1. Set standards for SoM practice.
2. Liaise with the statutory body, i.e. NMC and the Department of Health.
3. Support SoMs within the LSA, ensuring good communication is maintained and there are administrative systems in place.
4. Participate in the appointment, education and update of SoMs.
5. Assist with investigations of serious untoward incidents
6. Suspend a Midwife from practice if necessary to protect the public and refer the case to the NMC.
7. Actively promote SoM practice and the role of the SoMs within the LSA and Trusts.
8. Conduct monitoring visits to each Trust to audit standards of practice and supervision.
The LSAMO for the East Midlands Strategic Health Authority is:
Shirley Smith
LSA Midwifery Officer
NHS East Midlands
Octavia House
Intrerchange Business Park
Bostock's LAne
Sandicare
Nottingham
NG10 5QG
Tel. 0115 9684557
Mob: 07951806579
Please contact Shirley Smith for further information, or with any complaints or concerns about a supervisor or standards of practice.
Adopted with kind permission from the South West England Guidelines
