Interested in a simple Skills Scan and Learning Progress Tracker tool for the Midwife (degree) standard?
Knowledge
K1: The national and professional standards, guidelines and current legislation that applies to midwives in the UK, local policies and procedures
K2: The limits of your competence, experience and training
K3: The importance of confidentiality and appropriate situations in which to disclose information
K4: The importance of safeguarding, governance, ethical issues, a duty of care and a duty of candour
K5: The importance of ongoing continuing professional development and being a reflective practitioner
K6: The importance of building personal resilience within your professional life
K7: Ways to promote a healthy, safe and secure environment
K8: A range of communication methods and media, including verbal and non-verbal, written, electronic, listening skills, common barriers to communication, aides and services available to assist with communication
K9: Ways to enable the woman to think through their feelings, building trust by responding to their concerns
K10: The importance of acting in the best interest of the woman and her baby, maintaining their rights, understanding their preferences, gaining valid informed consent and assessing their capacity for decision making
K11: The processes and procedures for dealing with and managing complaints
K12: Ways to confirm pregnancy including recognising the indicators of the stage of progression
K13: the information and techniques needed to diagnose a woman’s needs such as: taking a history, observation, physical examination, biophysical tests and social, cultural or emotional assessments
K14: Anatomy and physiology relevant to midwifery including the physical, psychological, social, emotional, cultural and spiritual factors that may positively or adversely influence normal physiology
K15: The importance of practising in a way that respects, promotes and supports individuals’ rights, interests, preferences, beliefs and culture
K16: How to use best evidence and clinical judgment to determine and provide programmes of care
K17: The importance of compassionate and woman-centred care
K18: The importance of respecting a woman’s right to accept or refuse care and treatment
K19: How to critically appraise knowledge, research and practice to improve the quality of care you offer
K20: Midwifery care within the context of public health policies such as being aware of a range of programmes to improve sexual and reproductive health or reduce maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality
K21: Ways to involve users and local communities in service development and improvement
K22: How to effectively analyse and share data that has been collected including the importance of seeking feedback from the woman, her partner and family
K23: Ways to identify and target care for groups with particular health and maternity needs
K24: Your role in relation to audit and multi-professional standard-setting
K25: Ways to support parents and babies with additional or complex needs
K26: A range of advice and guidance such as the fetus and baby’s development, lifestyle, holistic health and wellbeing, pregnancy, labour care, care of the newborn and mental wellbeing
K27: What to do when physiological and psychological assessments are outside of expected parameters
K28: A range of screening tests such as sickle cell disease, thalassaemia, infectious diseases or anomalies
K29: A range of services and support available for a woman experiencing pregnancy loss, bereavement or complex pregnancies including recognising the ways that culture, context and preferences may affect a woman’s decisions
K30: The importance of a timely referral and the risks of not doing so
K31: A range of services and other professionals that have skills and experience to support the woman in your care such as health, social, financial, psychological, safeguarding or legal
K32: Evidence based ways to facilitate all types of labour and childbirth and care for the fetus and newborn during a labour and birth
K33: Ways to recognise and respond appropriately to a woman who is anxious, in pain or distress
K34: The importance of an active labour, ways to respect a woman’s choices and maintain a safe and calm environment
K35: Way to check signs of normal and deteriorating physical or mental health including risk indicators
K36: Signs and symptoms that indicate a potential emergency
K37: Ways to recognise that an emergency needs further support or additional assistance
K38: A range of emergency procedures including management until further assistance is available
K39: Risk assessment and management processes including the importance of ensuring your own safety as well as that of those in your care
K40: Physiology of the postnatal period
K41: A range of signs and symptoms relating to a woman’s health, physical, mental and emotional wellbeing following birth
K42: A range of signs and symptoms relating to a woman’s health, physical, mental and emotional wellbeing following birth
K43: A range of issues that may affect a woman when considering resuming sexual intercourse following the birth of a baby and how to manage them, taking into account the woman’s rights, preferences, beliefs and culture
K44: Ways to manage the different stages of bereavement or grief, ways to care for a woman whose baby has been removed due to safeguarding intervention or who relinquish their baby for adoption and a range of services or support groups available
K45: The physical and behavioural assessments that need to be carried out on a newborn baby
K46: A range of screening methods and how to recognise and refer when results are outside of normal parameters
K47: Common congenital disorders and abnormalities
K48: Ways to care for preterm babies and babies requiring monitoring and invasive procedures
K49: Safeguarding babies and children as identified as suffering or likely to suffer harm, abuse or neglect including how to report and act upon your concerns
K50: The principles of the safe management of medicines in midwifery including medications that are under midwives exemption or prescribed
K51: A range of methods to administer medication, including oral, intravenous, intramuscular, topical and inhalation
K52: The importance of completing written and electronic records accurately and in a timely manner, protecting data and maintaining confidentiality, and adhering to legal and local requirements for recording, storage and retention
K53: Ways to inform and develop the practice of self and others using best available evidence and reflection techniques
K54: How to provide honest, accurate and constructive feedback, respecting the view of others and behaving professionally at all times
K55: The importance of only delegating tasks and duties that are within the other person’s scope of competence and that they fully understand what they are required to do
K56: Understand the roles and remit of the multi-disciplinary team, the wider healthcare team and other agencies, identifying who is best placed and able to provide particular interventions to the woman and baby
K57: How to raise and report concerns with service delivery including working across team or organisational boundaries
Skills
S1: Practise in accordance with legislation, standards and code of conduct to support the woman, her partner and family through the pregnancy, labour, birth and postnatal period
S2: Act as an advocate for the woman
S3: Consult with and refer to colleagues when care requires expertise beyond own competence or when the woman or baby’s needs falls outside the scope of midwifery practice
S4: Identify, respond to and report any unsafe practice
S5: Take responsibility and accountability for own practice as a midwife, reviewing, developing and enhancing knowledge, skills and maintaining your fitness to practice
S6: Manage and prioritise competing demands
S7: Create and maintain a healthy and safe environment, preventing and controlling infection and promoting health and wellbeing
S8: Communicate in ways that are sensitive and appropriate, taking into account emotional, psychological, cognitive, language, social and other circumstances, checking you have been understood
S9: Use interpersonal skills to build rapport with the woman, her partner and family
S10: Facilitate informed decision making
S11: Handle issues or complaints in line with national and local process and procedure
S12: Undertake the initial consultation with the woman
S13: Use a range of techniques to assess the physical, social and psychological needs of the woman
S14: Give information surrounding options for screening and overall health and wellbeing
S15: Work in partnership with woman to develop plans that are appropriate to the needs, contexts, culture and choices of the woman, her baby and family
S16: Enable and empower the woman to consider plans for pre-pregnancy, pregnancy care, birth, place of birth, plans for feeding babies, needs for postnatal support and preparation for parenthood
S17: Enable and empower the woman to think about their own health and that of their baby, partner and family and how this can be improved
S18: Consider best available evidence and modify programmes of care to improve outcomes for the woman and her baby
S19: Contribute to enhancing the health and social wellbeing of individuals and their communities
S20: Contribute to audit in order to optimise the care of the woman, her baby and family as required
S21: Act as lead carer in normal pregnancies supporting the woman
S22: Carry out physiological measurement, psychological assessment and screening tests and refer the woman as appropriate
S23: Contribute to providing support to the woman when her pregnancy is complex or if she has suffered pregnancy loss
S24: Make critical decisions in partnership with the woman, her partner and family to support the appropriate referral of a woman or baby to other health professionals or agencies when required
S25: Discuss and negotiate with other professionals about further interventions as appropriate
S26: Use appropriate clinical and technical means to monitor the condition of the woman and the fetus to optimise birth outcomes
S27: Facilitate the comfort of the woman during labour and birth
S28: Promote trust with the mother and birthing partner to facilitate a positive birth experience
S29: Care for the woman and the baby once she has given birth including assessing for risk indicators
S30: Undertake appropriate emergency procedures to meet the health needs of the woman, fetus or baby
S31: Raise concerns immediately in the event of an emergency
S32: Prepare for and manage risks
S33: Care for a woman in the postnatal period, facilitating her to manage her physical and psychological wellbeing and transition to motherhood
S34: Care for a woman who is recovering following birth including post-operative care for those who have caesarean or assisted births
S35: Support and advise the woman on parenting, relationship building, feeding and caring for her baby
S36: Facilitate discussions about resuming intercourse and future reproductive choices
S37: Care for a woman, her partner and family who are bereaved following pregnancy loss or death of a baby
S38: Examine and care for babies immediately following birth, confirming vital signs and carrying out an assessment and physical examination
S39: Screen babies and refer as required
S40: Undertake continuing assessments and care for babies
S41: Escalate and report safeguarding issues as required
S42: Administer and manage medication and pain relief to the woman and baby safely, calculating accurately and in line with legislation and the limits of your competence and role
S43: Complete, store and retain accurate and contemporaneous records, in line with legislation and best practice
S44: Act as a role model for the profession to colleagues, enabling them to reflect on and develop their practice
S45: Delegate tasks and duties appropriately
S46: Work across professional boundaries, developing professional networks
S47: Supervise or monitor the work of other members of the team
Behaviours
B1: Treat people with dignity and respect
B2: Be caring and compassionate
B3: Have the courage to speak up and challenge
B4: Be competent, reliable and committe
B5: Display leadership qualities
Duty 1
DUTY: Practise in accordance with the NMC standards and within the limits of own competence, knowledge and sphere of professional practice, in line with legislation and local policy and procedures
CRITERIA FOR MEASURING PERFORMANCE: Works in line with legislation, standards, codes of conduct, national and local policies andprocedures relevant to practice as a midwifeDelivers clear, concise and evidence-based information or advice to the woman, her partner and familyMakes valid and reliable judgementsDelivers appropriate, effective and consistent care to the womanMakes appropriate and timely referralsDelivers appropriate, effective and consistent care to the newbornAdministers medication safelyMaintain clear and accurate recordsWorks in partnership with the woman, her partner, family and members of the multi-disciplinaryteam
K1
K2
K3
K4
K5
K6
K7
S1
S2
S3
S4
S5
S6
S7
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
Duty 2
DUTY: Communicate clearly and effectively with women, their partner and families
CRITERIA FOR MEASURING PERFORMANCE: Works in line with legislation, standards, codes of conduct, national and local policies and procedures relevant to practice as a midwifeDelivers clear, concise and evidence-based information or advice to the
K8
K9
K10
K11
S8
S9
S10
S11
B1
B2
Duty 3
DUTY: Confirm pregnancy, assess and monitor women holistically using a range of assessment methods to reach valid, reliable and comprehensive conclusions
CRITERIA FOR MEASURING PERFORMANCE: Works in line with legislation, standards, codes of conduct, national and local policies and procedures relevant to practice as a midwifeMakes valid and reliable judgements
K12
K13
K14
S12
S13
S14
B1
B2
B4
Duty 4
DUTY: Determine and provide programmes of care and support for women
CRITERIA FOR MEASURING PERFORMANCE: Works in line with legislation, standards, codes of conduct, national and local policies and procedures relevant to practice as a midwifeDelivers appropriate, effective and consistent care to the woman
K15
K16
K17
K18
K19
K20
K21
K22
K23
K24
K25
S15
S16
S17
S18
S19
S20
B1
B2
B5
Duty 5
DUTY: Provide seamless care and, where appropriate, interventions, in partnership with women, their partner, families and other care providers during the antenatal period
CRITERIA FOR MEASURING PERFORMANCE: Works in line with legislation, standards, codes of conduct, national and local policies and procedures relevant to practice as a midwifeDelivers clear, concise and evidence-based information or advice to the woman, her partner and familyDelivers appropriate, effective and consistent care to the woman Makes appropriate and timely referralsWorks in partnership with the woman, her partner, family and members of the multi-disciplinaryteam
K26
K27
K28
K29
S21
S22
S23
B1
B2
B4
Duty 6
DUTY: Refer women and babies in need of further care
CRITERIA FOR MEASURING PERFORMANCE: Works in line with legislation, standards, codes of conduct, national and local policies and procedures relevant to practice as a midwifeMakes valid and reliable judgementsMakes appropriate and timely referralsWorks in partnership with the woman, her partner, family and members of the multi-disciplinaryteam
K30
K31
S24
S25
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
Duty 7
DUTY: Care for, monitor and support women during labour and birth, monitoring the condition of the fetus and providing immediate care of the newborn after birth
CRITERIA FOR MEASURING PERFORMANCE: Performance CriteriaWorks in line with legislation, standards, codes of conduct, national and local policies and procedures relevant to practice as a midwifeDelivers appropriate, effective and consistent care to the womanDelivers appropriate, effective and consistent care to the newborn
K32
K33
K34
K35
S26
S27
S28
S29
B1
B2
B4
B5
Duty 8
DUTY: Prepare for and manage emergencies
CRITERIA FOR MEASURING PERFORMANCE: Works in line with legislation, standards, codes of conduct, national and local policies and procedures relevant to practice as a midwifeMakes valid and reliable judgementsWorks in partnership with thewoman, her partner, family and members of the multi-disciplinary team
K36
K37
K38
K39
S30
S31
S32
B1
B2
B4
B5
Duty 9
DUTY: Work in partnership with women and other care providers during the postnatal period to provide seamless care and interventions
CRITERIA FOR MEASURING PERFORMANCE: Works in line with legislation, standards, codes of conduct, national and local policies and procedures relevant to practice as amidwifeDelivers appropriate, effective and consistent care to the womanMakes appropriate and timelyreferrals
K40
K41
K42
K43
K44
S33
S34
S35
S36
S37
B1
B2
B4
Duty 10
DUTY: Examine and care for babies
CRITERIA FOR MEASURING PERFORMANCE: Works in line with legislation, standards, codes of conduct, national and local policies and procedures relevant to practice as a midwifeMakes valid and reliable judgementsDelivers appropriate, effective and consistent care to the newborn
K45
K46
K47
K48
K49
S38
S39
S40
S41
B1
B2
B3
B4
Duty 11
DUTY: Advise on, supply and administer a range of permitted medications safely
CRITERIA FOR MEASURING PERFORMANCE: Works in line with legislation, standards, codes of conduct, national and local policies and procedures relevant to practice as a midwifeAdministers medication safely
K50
K51
S42
B1
B2
B3
B4
Duty 12
DUTY: Complete, store and retain records
CRITERIA FOR MEASURING PERFORMANCE: Works in line with legislation, standards, codes of conduct, national and local policies and procedures relevant to practice as a midwifeMaintain clear and accurate records
K51
K52
S43
B3
B4
Duty 13
DUTY: Work as part of the wider health and social care team
CRITERIA FOR MEASURING PERFORMANCE: Works in line with legislation, standards, codes of conduct, national and local policies and procedures relevant to practice as a midwifeWorks in partnership with the woman, her partner, family and members of the multi-disciplinaryteam
