Support for parents and midwives - Bradford Teaching Hospitals ...
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10060801 - maternity pop-up:Maternity Pop-Up 2/2/11 14:05 Page 1<br />
<strong>Support</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>parents</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>midwives</strong><br />
The Brad<strong>for</strong>d Supervisors<br />
of Midwives can help you<br />
Am<strong>and</strong>a Hardaker Deb Hughes Tina Mori Sarah Crook<br />
Sheila Nolan Ann Marie Orr Susie Weekes Gwendolen Bradshaw<br />
Alex Horsfall Alison Powell Julie Walker Lorraine Towler<br />
Helen Hall Lynn Greenwood Rae Nesbi Alison Brown<br />
What is the role of a Supervisor of Midwives?<br />
Supervisors of Midwives develop <strong>and</strong> maintain safe practice to ensure protection<br />
of women <strong>and</strong> babies. They support, guide <strong>and</strong> empower <strong>midwives</strong> to deliver the<br />
highest st<strong>and</strong>ard of care. The team meet regularly to discuss midwifery practice<br />
<strong>and</strong> meet with <strong>midwives</strong> whom they supervise.<br />
Who are Supervisors of Midwives?<br />
Supervisors of Midwives are experienced practitioners who have undertaken<br />
additional education <strong>and</strong> training <strong>for</strong> this role.<br />
How can Supervisors of Midwives help you?<br />
We work in partnership with <strong>midwives</strong> <strong>and</strong> women to explore options in<br />
maternity care. We will listen to concerns <strong>and</strong> offer an unbiased <strong>and</strong> impartial<br />
view to enable you to make decisions.<br />
How can you contact a Supervisor of Midwives?<br />
Telephone: (01274) 364500, Mon - Fri 9.00am - 17.00pm<br />
OR discuss your concerns with your midwife who will contact a Supervisor of<br />
Midwives on your behalf.<br />
You can also get the Nursing <strong>and</strong> Midwifery Council <strong>Support</strong> <strong>for</strong> Parents leaflet<br />
'How supervision <strong>and</strong> supervisors of <strong>midwives</strong> can help you' from the<br />
www.midwife.org.uk website.<br />
Brad<strong>for</strong>d <strong>Teaching</strong> <strong>Hospitals</strong><br />
NHS Foundation Trust
Nursing & Midwifery<br />
Council<br />
<strong>Support</strong><br />
<strong>for</strong> <strong>parents</strong><br />
How supervision<br />
<strong>and</strong> supervisors<br />
of <strong>midwives</strong> can<br />
help you<br />
This leaflet in<strong>for</strong>ms you<br />
how the supervision of<br />
<strong>midwives</strong> <strong>and</strong> a supervisor<br />
of <strong>midwives</strong> can directly<br />
support both you <strong>and</strong> the<br />
midwife giving you care.
Who are supervisors<br />
of <strong>midwives</strong>?<br />
Supervisors of <strong>midwives</strong> are experienced<br />
practising <strong>midwives</strong> who have<br />
undertaken additional education <strong>and</strong><br />
training to support, guide <strong>and</strong> supervise<br />
<strong>midwives</strong>. Every midwife must have a<br />
named supervisor of <strong>midwives</strong>.<br />
What is the role<br />
of a supervisor<br />
of <strong>midwives</strong>?<br />
Supervisors of <strong>midwives</strong> develop <strong>and</strong><br />
maintain safe practice to ensure<br />
protection of you, your baby <strong>and</strong> family.<br />
They meet regularly with <strong>midwives</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />
ensure a high st<strong>and</strong>ard of care is provided.<br />
The supervisors are independent of<br />
the employer <strong>and</strong> often work in a<br />
team. Their role is different from the<br />
midwifery manager who is responsible<br />
to the employer to make sure that<br />
maternity services run effectively. The<br />
supervisor of <strong>midwives</strong> is accountable<br />
to the local supervising authority (LSA)<br />
<strong>and</strong> is supported in their role by the<br />
local supervising authority midwifery<br />
officer (LSAMO).
Who is the local<br />
supervising authority<br />
midwifery officer<br />
(LSAMO)?<br />
The LSA midwifery officer (LSAMO) is<br />
an experienced practising midwife with<br />
a leadership role. They are able to give<br />
advice on the supervision of <strong>midwives</strong><br />
as well as on midwifery practice <strong>and</strong><br />
maternity services in general. They<br />
appoint the supervisors of <strong>midwives</strong>.<br />
What do supervisors<br />
of <strong>midwives</strong> do?<br />
Supervisors of <strong>midwives</strong> give guidance<br />
<strong>and</strong> support to both <strong>midwives</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />
you. They support the practice of<br />
<strong>midwives</strong> <strong>and</strong> ensure that the care<br />
offered is right <strong>for</strong> you, is given in the<br />
right place, by the right person <strong>and</strong><br />
that it will benefit you <strong>and</strong> your baby.<br />
They act as positive role models <strong>for</strong><br />
<strong>midwives</strong>, guiding <strong>and</strong> supporting them<br />
in developing skills <strong>and</strong> expertise. If a<br />
midwife requires additional education,<br />
training <strong>and</strong> support in practice, a<br />
supervisor can recommend a <strong>for</strong>mal<br />
programme of supervised practice.<br />
How can supervisors<br />
of <strong>midwives</strong> help you?<br />
Whilst the supervisor will support the<br />
midwife in the care she gives you, the<br />
supervisor can additionally help you by:<br />
• Listening <strong>and</strong> advocating on concerns<br />
about the care you have received<br />
from your midwife. Supervisors<br />
will talk to your midwife if you are<br />
concerned or unhappy.<br />
• <strong>Support</strong>ing <strong>and</strong> advising you <strong>and</strong> your<br />
midwife in your care choices,<br />
<strong>for</strong> example place of birth.<br />
• Creating an environment that<br />
facilitates effective communication<br />
between you <strong>and</strong> your midwife about<br />
your care.
• Discussing <strong>and</strong> debriefing with you<br />
if you are unhappy with your birth<br />
outcome or treatment. If you have<br />
had a difficult or traumatic birth, a<br />
supervisor can go through your notes<br />
<strong>and</strong> discuss your experiences with you<br />
if you feel you are unable to do this<br />
with your midwife.<br />
• Protecting the public by promoting<br />
safe practice <strong>and</strong> investigating<br />
concerns of health, competence,<br />
behaviour or misconduct of <strong>midwives</strong>.<br />
Supervisors can implement remedial<br />
action through supervised practice<br />
or referral to the local supervising<br />
authority (LSA) <strong>and</strong> the <strong>midwives</strong>’<br />
regulatory body, the Nursing &<br />
Midwifery Council (NMC).<br />
• Responding to your complaints or<br />
concerns which may include assisting<br />
with issues such as staff attitudes,<br />
behaviour <strong>and</strong> care received.<br />
Discussing your concerns with a<br />
supervisor does not prevent you from<br />
undertaking a <strong>for</strong>mal complaints<br />
procedure with your maternity care<br />
provider or with the NMC.<br />
How do I contact<br />
a supervisor of<br />
<strong>midwives</strong>?<br />
A supervisor of <strong>midwives</strong> should be<br />
available 24 hours a day <strong>and</strong> can be<br />
contacted by telephoning your local<br />
maternity unit. If you have any problems<br />
contacting a supervisor ask the<br />
maternity unit to in<strong>for</strong>m the LSA office<br />
<strong>and</strong> ask them to call you. Alternatively<br />
you can access contact details of LSA<br />
midwifery officers (LSAMO) in the<br />
United Kingdom on the NMC website<br />
at www.nmc-uk.org. The LSAMO will<br />
be able to provide you with further<br />
in<strong>for</strong>mation on how to contact a<br />
supervisor of <strong>midwives</strong> in your area.
What is the role of the<br />
Nursing & Midwifery<br />
Council (NMC)?<br />
The Nursing & Midwifery Council exists<br />
to safeguard the health <strong>and</strong> wellbeing of<br />
the public.<br />
• We register all nurses <strong>and</strong> <strong>midwives</strong><br />
<strong>and</strong> ensure that they are properly<br />
qualified <strong>and</strong> competent to work in<br />
the UK.<br />
• We set the st<strong>and</strong>ards of education,<br />
training <strong>and</strong> conduct that nurses <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>midwives</strong> need to deliver high quality<br />
healthcare consistently throughout<br />
their careers.<br />
• We ensure that nurses <strong>and</strong> <strong>midwives</strong><br />
keep their skills <strong>and</strong> knowledge up<br />
to date <strong>and</strong> uphold the st<strong>and</strong>ards of<br />
their professional code.<br />
• We ensure that <strong>midwives</strong> are safe<br />
to practise by setting rules <strong>for</strong> their<br />
practice <strong>and</strong> supervision.<br />
• We have fair processes to investigate<br />
allegations made against nurses <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>midwives</strong> who may not have followed<br />
the code.<br />
Midwives must be registered with the<br />
NMC in order to practice in the UK<br />
<strong>and</strong> are accountable to the NMC. The<br />
NMC works closely with supervisors of<br />
<strong>midwives</strong>, the LSA midwifery officers <strong>and</strong><br />
the LSA to ensure a safe st<strong>and</strong>ard of<br />
midwifery practice.<br />
This edition of <strong>Support</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>parents</strong>: How supervision <strong>and</strong> supervisors of <strong>midwives</strong> can help you was published in June 2009.
Please contact us if you<br />
need this leaflet in large<br />
print or another <strong>for</strong>mat.<br />
“Supervisors of <strong>midwives</strong> give<br />
guidance <strong>and</strong> support to both<br />
<strong>midwives</strong> <strong>and</strong> you to ensure that<br />
the care offered is right <strong>for</strong> you,<br />
is given in the right place, by<br />
the right person <strong>and</strong> that it will<br />
benefit you <strong>and</strong> your baby.”<br />
PB-SPVM-A5-0609<br />
Nursing & Midwifery<br />
Council<br />
020 7333 9333 advice@nmc-uk.org www.nmc-uk.org<br />
23 Portl<strong>and</strong> Place, London W1B 1PZ