A midwife in a Sure Start Children's Centre

The work and job satisfaction of a midwife working in a Sure Start Children's Centre are described and compared with working in a hospital setting. Sure Start Children's Centres have been set up in England by the Government to improve outcomes for children, especially those in disadvantaged areas, and offer a range of health and social care services. The midwife runs a weekly clinic and gets to know many of the mothers who drop in to use the services. She is able to offer continuity of care which she believes is important in gaining the trust of families. Working at the centre means she is readily accessible to the mothers who use the centre. Many of her clients are from ethnic minorities or disadvantaged socio-economic groups. The author previously attended a Sure Start Children's Centre as a mother, and explains how her experiences there helped both her and her child and encouraged her to become a midwife.