Towards an integrated model of competence in midwifery

Currently in the UK, there is no consensus as to what constitutes an adequate definition of a competent midwife. Yet, given the rapidly changing midwifery needs of childbearing women and society, such clarification has never been more important. In this paper some concepts of competence taken from a review of midwifery, nursing, educational and industrial literature are reviewed, and it is hoped that discussion leading to conceptualisation of an integrated model of competence in midwifery will be stimulated. Questions raised include--What is it that makes midwives competent? Can competence be inferred from performance? How can capability be recognised? Can competence be broken into elements for assessment without losing meaning?