Developing a career and education framework for advanced clinical practice in midwifery

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Professions
• Midwifery Practice
• Clinical Development

Background:

• The study addresses the need for a defined career framework for Advanced Clinical Practice in Midwifery (ACPiM) within the National Health Service (NHS) in England.
• Stakeholder analysis was conducted as part of a national project to develop this framework.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the nature of Advanced Clinical Practice in Midwifery (ACPiM).
• To report on a stakeholder analysis to inform the development of a national career framework for advanced practice in midwifery.

Main Methods:

• 31 advanced practice midwives were recruited from NHS settings in England between June and July 2022.
• Data were collected through focus groups and one-to-one interviews with convenience sampling.
• A reflexive thematic approach was used to analyze the transcribed stakeholder data.

Main Results:

• Three key themes emerged: Midwifery autonomy, Desire for progression, and Avenues of support.
• Midwives expressed a desire to utilize specialist skills for holistic care.
• Progression requires diverse pathways, organizational vision, multidisciplinary support, and strong midwifery leadership.

Conclusions:

• While the ACPiM role is recognized, clarity on achieving the position and its service transformation potential is lacking for both midwives and employers.
• Organizational support is crucial for midwives to attain ACPiM status, leading to a stronger workforce and enhanced patient experience.