About the course

Midwives provide care and support to women, birthing people and their families throughout pregnancy, labour, and during the postnatal period. Often the role is thought to be one of assisting women as they give birth, and whilst this is a vital part of the role, the scope of the role of the midwife is much broader than this.

Midwives are responsible for providing care and support to women, birthing people and their families, to enable them to make informed choices about their care. The midwife’s role is so varied, it can include; public health, clinical examinations and care, health education, parenting support, safeguarding, research and specialist education and support for women, birthing people and their families to ensure individual and whole families’ needs are met. They work in partnership with a wide variety of health and social care professionals, but usually remain the lead health professional for the woman, birthing person and their family, providing evidence-based information and supporting informed decision making about the options and services available throughout their pregnancy. Midwives can work in community settings such as family homes, GP surgeries, outpatient clinics, midwife-led units and birth centres or in hospital maternity units. This means that they usually work shifts including evenings, weekends and nights and may be on-call to provide 24-hour care.

Midwifery apprentices are provided with a high-quality learning environment in practice settings where they learn, with and through peers, lecturers, women, birthing people and their families, and practitioners within a multi-cultural and multi-professional learning community.

Overall the apprenticeship lays the foundations for lifelong learning through the development of research, scholarship, entrepreneurialism, and professional practice developing the ability to lead, innovate, evaluate, implement and enhance the care of women, birthing people and their families.

At the University of Bedfordshire we are able to offer two different midwifery apprenticeship routes.

1. A 3 year degree apprenticeship (BSc) for applicants who are not already registered nurses
2. A 2 year degree apprenticeship (MSc) for applicants who are registered adult nurses and hold a current live registration with the NMC

Midwifery apprentices will gain knowledge and skills to allow them to become competent within the six domains of the NMC Standards of proficiency for midwives (2019). On successful completion, the apprentice will be eligible to register with the NMC as a Registered Midwife.

Qualifications

BSc (Hons) Midwifery or MSc Midwifery

Entry requirements

Level 6 Degree apprenticeship (3 years)

• Five GCSEs at grade 4 (grade C if taken before 2016) or above (or equivalent), including English language, and mathematics,

plus one of the following:

• 112 points with at least 96 points from 3 A ‘level’s or BTEC level 3 QCF qualifications and other qualifications in the UCAS tariff. (AS levels and general studies A level do not count towards his score.)
• Access to HE diploma-a QAA recognised access to HE courses in health studies, health science, nursing or another science- based course. 15 credits at level 2 and 45 credits at level 3 of which at least 12 credits should be graded at distinction level and at least 12 credits at merit.
• Diploma in higher education or BSc degree.
• Equivalent qualifications such as an Irish leaving certificate, Scottish advance Highers, or international baccalaureate.
• IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with a minimum score of 6 in any area, where English is a second language (unless already registered with the NMC as a nurse or nursing associate).

*The NMC requires those enrolled on pre-registration midwifery programmes are appropriately compliant with Article 40(2) of Directive 2005/36/EC regarding general education length and/or nursing qualification. This requires that an applicant to this course must be in possession of evidence of formal qualifications from completion of at least 12 years of general school education or possession of a certificate attesting success in an examination, of an equivalent level (NMC 2019 Part 3: Standards for pre- registration midwifery programmes – page 14).

Level 7 Degree apprenticeship (2 years)

• Be registered with the NMC on the first level Adult Nurse part of the professional register.
  The NMC requires those enrolled on pre-registration midwifery programmes are appropriately compliant with Article 40(2) of Directive 2005/36/EC regarding general education length and/or nursing qualification. This requires that an applicant to this course must be in possession of evidence of formal qualifications as a nurse responsible for general care (as evidenced by their statement of registration as a registered General Nurse in Part 1 or Part 12 of the NMC register). (NMC 2019 Part 3: Standards for pre-registration midwifery programmes – page 14).
• Hold a 2:2 or above honours degree in Nursing, or equivalent.
• Proficiency in English Language, and capability in numeracy, literacy and digital and technological literacy (NMC 2019 Standards for pre-registration midwifery programmes page 8).
• Applicants to the postgraduate programme are required to provide their PIN and evidence of registration on the NMC register at the application stage. These are reviewed against the NMC register to ensure registration is live and there are no concerns relating to their registration.

Additional entry requirements:

• Applicants will currently, or on enrolment, be employed in a maternity healthcare role.
• Successful interview with a local provider and employment as an apprentice for the duration of the course for a minimum of 37.5 hrs a week.
• Applicants need to demonstrate the appropriate values and attitudes for the programme as part of the application process.
• Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance check by the employer prior to University of Bedfordshire registration.
• Occupational health screening by the employer to assess their fitness to join the apprenticeship course.
• Recognition of prior learning is currently not permitted for our midwifery apprenticeship courses.

Fee - Levy-paying organisations will pay £26,000 from apprenticeship levy.