The Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors (Midwives Training) Amendment Rules Approval Order 1990

Amendment of the principal Rules

2.—(1) The principal Rules shall be amended in accordance with the following paragraphs of this Rule.

(2) In Rule 2(1) of the principal Rules —

(a) the definition of “approved educational institution” shall be amended to add “or a programme of education or both” after “course of preparation”;

(b) the definition of “approved training institution” shall be amended by deleting “10 and”;

(c) before the definition of “Registrar” there shall be inserted the following definition:—

““programme of education” means a theoretical and clinical programme which meets the requirements of the Council as to its content and standard, the successful completion of which enables an application to be made for admission to Part 10 of the register;”.

(3) There shall be substituted in the heading for Section A of the principal Rules in place of “Training Rules” the words “Education Rules”.

(4) For Rule 28 of the principal Rules there shall be substituted the following:—

“Midwifery Education leading to a registration in Part 10 of the Register

28.   The conditions of a person being admitted to training and the kind and standard of the programme of education shall be in accordance with this section of these Rules.”.

(5) Rule 29 of the principal Rules shall be amended by:—

(a) deleting the words “training at an approved institution” and substituting the words “a programme of education at an approved educational institution”;

(b) deleting the word “course” in both instances where it occurs and substituting “programme of education”.

(6) In Rule 30 of the principal Rules:—

(a) paragraph (1) shall be amended by deleting “training” and substituting “a programme of education”;

(b) paragraph (2) shall be amended by inserting “or Part 12” after “Part 1”.

(7) For Rules 31, 32 and 33 of the principal Rules there shall be substituted the following Rules:—

“Programmes of education

31.— (1) A programme of education shall:—

(a) unless sub-paragraph (b) below applies, be not less than 3 years in length, and each year shall contain 45 programmed weeks; or

(b) where the student is already registered in Part 1 or Part 12 of the register, be not less than 18 months in length.

(2) A student undertaking a programme of education shall be directed throughout the programme of education by the approved educational institution.

(3) The content of a programme of education shall include one or more periods of practical experience of midwifery of such duration as the Council may from time to time require in relation to any particular approved educational institution.

(4) A student undertaking a programme of education of the length set out in sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (1) of this Rule shall have supernumerary status.

(5) In this Rule “supernumerary status” means, in relation to a student, that she shall not as part of her programme of education be employed by any person or body under a contract of service to provide midwifery care.

Interruption in programmes of education

32.— (1) Student midwives having an interruption in a programme of education of:

(a) less than three years, should complete the outstanding period of the programme of education;

(b) three years or more, should complete the outstanding period of the programme of education and such additional education as the appropriate National Board may determine.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1) of this Rule “interruption” means any absence from a programme of education other than annual leave, statutory and public holidays.

(3) A student midwife may transfer to another approved educational institution subject to any condition that the relevant Board may require, and where the intended transfer is to an approved educational institution which is subject to the approval of another Board, the transfer must be acceptable to the receiving Board and shall be subject to any conditions that that Board may require.

Outcomes of programmes of education leading to admission to Part 10 of the register

33.— (1) The content of programmes of education shall be such as the Council may from time to time require.

(2) Programmes of education shall be designed to prepare the student to assume on registration the responsibilities and accountability for her practice as a midwife.

(3) Such programmes of education shall:—

(a) meet the requirements of the Midwives' Directive; and

(b) be provided at an approved educational institution; and

(c) enable the student midwife to accept responsibility for her personal professional development and to apply her knowledge and skills in meeting the needs of individuals and of groups throughout the antenatal, intranatal and postnatal periods and shall include enabling the student to achieve the following outcomes:—

(i) the appreciation of the influence of social, political and cultural factors in relation to health care and advising on the promotion of health;

(ii) the recognition of common factors which contribute to, and those which adversely affect, the physical, emotional and social well-being of the mother and baby, and the taking of appropriate action;

(iii) the ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate care within the sphere of practice of a midwife to meet the physical, emotional, social, spiritual and educational needs of the mother and baby and the family;

(iv) the ability to take action on her own responsibility, including the initiation of the action of other disciplines, and to seek assistance when required;

(v) the ability to interpret and undertake care prescribed by a registered medical practitioner;

(vi) the use of appropriate and effective communication skills with mothers and their families, with colleagues and with those in other disciplines;

(vii) the use of relevant literature and research to inform the practice of midwifery;

(viii) the ability to function effectively in a multi-professional team with an understanding of the role of all members of the team;

(ix) an understanding of the requirements of legislation relevant to the practice of midwifery;

(x) an understanding of the ethical issues relating to midwifery practice and the responsibilities which these impose on the midwife’s professional practice;

(xi) the assignment by the midwife of appropriate duties to others and the supervision and monitoring of such assigned duties.”.

(8) In Rule 34 of the principal Rules:—

(a) paragraph (1) shall be amended by deleting the words “training at an approved training institution” and substituting “a programme of education at an approved educational institution”;

(b) paragraph (2) shall be amended by substituting the words “educational institution” for the words “training institution” in both instances where they occur, and by substituting the words “programme of education” for the word “training”.

(9) In Rule 35 of the principal Rules:—

(a) “(1)” shall be deleted after “35”;

(b) the words “programme of education” shall be substituted for the word “training” in both instances where it occurs in sub-paragraphs (b) and (c);

(c) sub-paragraph (c) shall be amended by substituting the word “outcomes” for the word “competencies”;

(d) paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) shall be deleted.