Accreditations and partners

Accredited by Baby Friendly.

Requirements

Requirements for apprentices

The entry requirements are as follows:

1. Eligibility (encompassing residency), Job Role and Sponsorship

You must:

provide evidence you meet the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) rules.
be employed in a health or social care organisation as a healthcare assistant or equivalent and be working full-time (minimum of 30hrs per week).
have a sponsoring manager and support from your employing organisation to ensure commitment (including release to attend off-the-job training). Your employer will also need to commit to your supernumerary status when undertaking practice placement blocks.

All apprenticeships starting from 1 August 2021:

Eligibility is subject to Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) Apprenticeship Funding Rules. Over the duration of the apprenticeship, you must meet the eligibility requirements in place at the time, including:

Have the right to work and study in England
Spend at least 50% of your working time in England; and
Are a UK citizen and have been ordinarily resident for the last three years in the UK or meet one of the following immigration statuses:

UK and Irish Nationals: have been ordinarily resident in the UK or EEA for the three years before the first day of the start of the apprenticeship.

EEA nationals: have either pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme; and have been ordinarily resident in the EEA, Gibraltar, or the UK for at least the previous three years before the first day of the start of the apprenticeship.

*Non-EEA nationals: you are eligible if you have permission from the UK government to live in the UK, (not for educational purposes) and have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least the previous three years before the first day of the start of the apprenticeship.

* You must meet the UK government’s eligibility criteria for apprenticeship funding:

Where an applicant for an apprenticeship does not hold a UK passport as a British citizen, these requirements state that you must have an immigration permission in the UK that allows you to study and will cover the length of the whole apprenticeship in full without you needing to extend your visa or immigration permission during the apprenticeship.

Please check the guidance for further clarification, particularly for information on:

Family members of UK and EEA nationals
Individuals with certain types of immigration status and their family members
Asylum seekers
Other immigration status.

You can also contact the Student Admissions Team admissions@uwl.ac.uk if you require further clarification.

2. Age

If you are under 18 years of age at the point of application, Admissions will check you will reach 18 years of age when you commence your first practice placement in year 1 of the apprenticeship (Level 4). Where you do not meet this requirement, you will be offered the opportunity to defer your application to the next available intake.

3. Academic requirements

120 UCAS points are required from level 3 qualifications.

These can include A levels (3 x Bs required as a minimum) or other level-3 qualifications including an accredited science-based Access to HE Diploma qualification with 60 credits overall and at least 45 at level three - i.e If you are studying an access course then you need a minimum of 24 distinctions - in the following subjects:

Health and Social Care
Nursing
Midwifery
a similar subject area.

You also need 5 GCSEs including English, Maths and a science subject (grade 9 – 4 / A* - C) or Level 2 ESFA-compliant equivalents. If you are completing an Access Course you will only need GCSEs or the Level 2 ESFA-compliant equivalents in Maths and English.

English and maths only

If you do not have evidence of maths and English qualifications that meet the Education and Skill Funding Agency requirements, you must achieve these before starting the apprenticeship.

For applicants living in London*, we have free courses: open the door to new career possibilities with our free courses in Maths and English

*You must be able to meet the eligibility criteria.

If you have an overseas qualification, we will check this for its UK equivalency during your application and let you know what you may need to do to meet the requirement.

Other academic requirement pathways:

BTEC - alternatively, you could complete a BTEC L3 extended diploma preferably a Health-related topic (minimum D, D, M)
Senior Support Worker Apprenticeship - you could also have completed a Level 3 Senior Support worker apprenticeship, followed by a Level 3 bridging course to meet the requirement of 120 UCAS points (Higher Development Award pathway).

If your educational qualifications do not meet the above criteria this can be discussed with the academic team on an individual basis.

Please note, it is recommended that you have undertaken study within the last 5 years.

If you have a disability or a specific learning difficulty and require reasonable adjustments, please let us know ahead of time. We can ensure appropriate support is in place. Please contact the Wellbeing Team at wellbeing.team@uwl.ac.uk or 0208 231 2739 to discuss your support requirements.

4. Evidence of character and health

All offers are subject to:

A satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check*
Occupational health clearance*
A minimum of 1 satisfactory character reference from a suitable referee (i.e. line manager)*

*To be undertaken and funded by the employer. We will require confirmation that the required checks have been completed.

Course detail & modules

The midwifery apprenticeship has been developed with input from apprentices, service users and our NHS partners to provide you with the academic and professional qualifications you need to be eligible to register with the NMC as a midwife.

Course structure

The duration of the course is three years plus one extra month for the End Point Assessment and consists of 50% theory and 50% practice. The theory sessions of the course will need to be attended in person at the UWL campus in West London or Reading. The majority of your practice placement takes place in the trust you are employed. However during the course, you will need to gain experience of leadership and teamworking with different maternity providers, this is to ensure you meet all of the required NMC standards for pre-registration midwifery programmes.

General details

Throughout your studies, there is a strong emphasis on childbirth as a normal physiological process and you will gain a sound understanding of the role of the midwife and the foundations of midwifery care.

As you progress, you will develop and apply your knowledge to a variety of contexts and learn how to:

recognise and manage a range of complex and emergency situations
engage with current research and apply evidence to your practice
work as a professional, both on your own and as part of the interdisciplinary team
be a kind, caring and compassionate midwife who can take the lead in providing women with the best care possible in a safe, supportive environment.

You will be encouraged to work independently, as well as with peers and colleagues, to develop team-working, negotiation, communication and organisational skills. You will spend an equal amount of time in blocks of theory and in the hospital as well as the community to learn about different aspects of midwifery.

The theoretical element of the course is delivered through an exciting range of teaching and learning approaches; including group tutorials, one-to-one learning opportunities, classroom activities, practical skills, simulation-based learning, guided independent study, and occasional online lectures.

The University's learning platform, UWLFlex, has been developed to provide you with a personalised and supported learning experience. You will also keep an online portfolio to record and track your progress throughout the course.

Student support

Student support is very important to us and we will ensure the right conditions are in place to meet your learning needs, including access to high-quality learning materials and resources, and opportunities for group and one-to-one support from modules teachers.

Supernumerary Practice Placements

The NMC requires all students to have a minimum of 2,300 hours of practice experience over the 3 years to be eligible to register as a midwife. At UWL, you will have 21 planned practice placement weeks each year to meet this requirement. You will undertake the majority of your supernumerary practice placements in the maternity unit in which you are employed but also gain experience with a different maternity provider during the course. Whilst on placement, you will be fully supported by link lecturers from the university and clinical placement facilitators at the maternity unit you are placed in. You will follow the shift patterns of the midwives you work with.

End Point Assessment (EPA)

The End Point Assessment (up to 1 month), consists of the UWL Awards Board and following this, UWL putting forward eligible apprentices to the NMC.

Year 1
Year 2
Year 3

Compulsory modules

Personal Health and Wellbeing for the Student Midwife

The aim of this module enables you to identify and develop strategies for self-care and resilience and to recognise signs of vulnerability in yourself and your colleagues. In the context of exploring personal health and well-being, you will gain an understanding of how this might impact the midwife’s ability to provide professional maternity care.
Fundamentals of Midwifery Care

At the end of this module, you will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the aims and principles of the continuum of care including the underpinning anatomy and physiology.
2. Explore the role of the midwife in supporting women and their families through the continuum of care.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the evidence base underpinning basic midwifery skills.
Public Health and the Midwife

The aim of this module is to introduce you to the key concepts of public health and health promotion on a local, national and global level and the role this plays within current midwifery practice. It will introduce skills and knowledge about health and well-being for the individual, the family and the population.
Accountability and Professional Midwifery Practice

The aim of this module is to develop an understanding of the midwife's accountability and professional responsibility and raise awareness of the key midwifery policies that underpin these themes.
Foundations of Evidence for Midwifery Practice

Midwives require knowledge and skill in research in order to evaluate and apply evidence to practice. This module will introduce you to the essential concepts and skills required which will be developed in the subsequent years of the course.
Midwifery Practice 1

The aim of this module is to ensure you are able to meet the level 5 requirements within the Midwifery Ongoing Record of Achievement (MORA) for progression into the next year of the course.
You will be assessed in a range of placements as part of a continuous assessment process; these should not be viewed as separate elements but reflect the continuum of care provided in partnership with women and their families including the concept of continuity of carer.
This will be achieved by experience in a range of clinical practice placements, where you will participate in care under direct supervision and direction and be assessed by appropriately qualified and prepared clinical staff.

Compulsory modules

Developing Self as a Midwife

This module enables you to broaden strategies for self-care and resilience to enhance self-efficacy and personal effectiveness to support your midwifery practice.
Safe Care for Childbearing Women and Newborn Infants with Complications

The aim of this module is to enable you to develop your knowledge and understanding of pre-existing, current and emerging complications that affect women.
You will gain the knowledge and critical understanding of the complications of pregnancy to enable you to give safe effective care to childbearing women, newborn infants and their families.
This care will be based on a sound understanding of both the physiology/ pathophysiology and any pharmacological interventions that are required.
Holistic Care for Women and Families

This module is designed to expand your knowledge around women-centred and evidence-informed midwifery practice, particularly in relation to promoting health in women and their families where there are additional needs.
It will build your knowledge of public health and enable you to develop your skills and confidence to support women with additional needs, particularly around different psychological, social, cultural and spiritual situations.
Applying Evidence to Midwifery Practice

This module aims to build upon previous knowledge and skills providing students with a greater understanding of the different types of evidence that inform and underpin midwifery practice.
This module aims to develop your skills of research critique to enable you to critically discuss research findings and lessons from data and reports. This will enable you to develop the skills and confidence to promote and inform best midwifery practice and to advocate and support women when making informed decisions.
Leading and Managing Childbirth Emergencies

The aim of the module is to develop the knowledge, skills and understanding required to manage emergencies around childbirth with an emphasis on team working and effective leadership. The elements of this module enable you to develop current knowledge and understanding, whilst building on learning from other modules and clinical experience.
Midwifery Practice 2

The aim of this module is to ensure you are able to meet the level 6 requirements within the Midwifery Ongoing Record of Achievement (MORA) for progression into the next year of your course. You will be assessed in a range of placements as part of a continuous assessment process; these should not be viewed as separate elements but reflect the continuum of care provided in partnership with women and their families including the concept of continuity of carer. This will be achieved by experience in a range of clinical practice placements, where you will contribute to care with decreasing supervision and direction and be assessed by appropriately qualified and prepared clinical staff.

Compulsory modules

Midwifery Assessment and Response to Deteriorating Health

The aim of this module is to extend your knowledge and application to clinical practice of complex pregnancies with a focus on comprehensive and systematic assessment, initial responses to and appropriate referral of the woman who becomes acutely unwell. Assessment of fetal/newborn wellbeing is integral to the care given to the mother and will be included in this module.
Individualised Care for Women and Newborn Infants with Complex Needs

The aim of this module is to prepare you to act as coordinator of care and provide ongoing person-centred holistic care as part of the interdisciplinary and multiagency teams for women and infants with complex needs, using an evidence-based and best practice approach. This will incorporate the role of continuity of carer.
From Student to Midwife

The aim of this module is to enable you to competently make the transition from student to the registered midwife. It will enable you to practice and equip you with the skills and professional knowledge to practice within the guidance of the NMC Code and in a variety of maternity settings.
Evaluating Quality in Maternity Care

This module aims to build upon the knowledge and skills acquired from the previous research experience. You will build upon your searching, retrieval and appraisal skills as you develop as a discerning practitioner and consolidate your knowledge and understanding of the various types of evidence available to inform practice.
You will refine your appraisal skills to enable you to critically evaluate the evidence and make recommendations for practice whilst developing your skills in leadership, change management and quality improvement (QI). This will assist you with the proposal of innovation, improvement or evaluation in practice as part of the QI agenda.
Autonomous Midwife

You will transition from being a student midwife to being ready for your own autonomous midwifery practice once registered with the NMC. You will have worked through authentic clinical scenarios and be able to show your decision-making as a practitioner within a multi-disciplinary team whilst remaining cognisant of your professional values.
Midwifery Practice 3

The aim of this module is to ensure you are able to meet the level 7 requirements within the Midwifery Ongoing Record of Achievement (MORA). This will be assessed in a range of clinical practice placements, where you will be able to demonstrate proficiency in the care of women and their families under appropriate supervision. You will be assessed by appropriately qualified and prepared clinical staff and at the point of midwifery registration, you are required to demonstrate that you meet both the requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the European Directive recognition of professional qualifications.

Teaching & learning

Student nurses surround practice midwifery skills on a dummy

As an apprentice at UWL, you will be using the fantastic simulation facilities at either our West London (Brentford) or Berkshire Institute of Health (Reading) campus.

Simulation is integrated with both the theory and practice components of your apprenticeship. It is led by academic staff and may include practice partners and service users/carers. The use of simulation techniques will help to accelerate the development of your clinical skills and offers you the opportunity to contextualise and apply your learning.

The Midwifery Degree Apprenticeship (NMC 2019) is designed to:

prepare you for registration with the NMC as a midwife, support you to achieve a degree-level qualification and meet the requirements of the MIDWIFE (2019 NMC STANDARDS) (INTEGRATED DEGREE) apprenticeship.
enable you to manage and lead in contemporary health and social care systems and have the decision-making skills required to make high-level judgements and demonstrate the ability to be robust, flexible and innovative in the provision of high-quality care and contribute to health care innovation.
help you develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours to be competent and job-ready to meet and sustain the needs of the healthcare economy both locally, nationally and internationally.

A mixed group of nursing students on the ward dressed in blue uniforms

This will be achieved through different styles of learning both within the University and through work-based learning in practice. You will take responsibility for your own learning through a structured and guided approach to personal and professional development (via CampusPress).

The teaching and learning methods employed will include:

blended learning (learning in the classroom; learning in practice and learning online)
learning in simulation and practice
learning from service users and carers
interprofessional learning.

Delivery of the apprenticeship will be in the form of full-time block release for three years, as such you will be largely not available to the employer for work (see below).

Employer blocks – 8 weeks per academic year. You will take your AL during this time, as per your contractual entitlement. For any remaining weeks, you will be rostered as a member of staff.
Theory blocks – attending study days at the university, which encompass scheduled personal tutor/assessment support time
Practice blocks – the time spent in a practice placement. You will be supernumerary during this time.

The UWL BMidwifery (Hons) Midwife Apprenticeship component will consist of 18 compulsory modules focusing on theory and practice. You will be required to complete a minimum of 2,300 hours of theoretical learning and 2,362 hours of learning in practice.

Practice learning will take place in a variety of settings at the trust where you are employed. You will be expected to work alongside your practice supervisor/assessor and work both days, weekends, nights and bank holidays, reflecting the shift patterns in the practice setting. This means you will experience care as it is provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

A&E nurse in a blue uniform talking to a patient in a consulting room

Study mode

The BMidwifery (Hons) Midwife Apprenticeship component will be delivered over three years, plus up to one month for the apprenticeship End Point Assessment (EPA).

How you will be assessed

Assessment and feedback are a fundamental part of your learning experience. Our assessment strategy has been designed to support and enhance your learning, capabilities, skills and confidence.

Assessments used may include:

reflective essays
a personal and professional development portfolio
presentations
Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs)
essays
Midwifery Ongoing Record of Achievement (MORA) – assessment in practice
unseen examinations (multiple-choice and short answer)
case studies
literature reviews
simulated scenarios
peer assessment
service innovation projects.

We work closely with our practice partners to utilise authentic practice-based scenarios, which promote meaningful integration of theory and practice.

End Point Assessment (EPA)

The End Point Assessment (up to 1 month), consists of the UWL Awards Board and following this, UWL putting forward eligible apprentices to the NMC.

Costs & fees

Costs for apprentices

Although there are no tuition fees payable by you as an apprentice, additional costs may be incurred which are outside of the apprenticeship levy funding. Please discuss additional costs directly with your employer.

It is important you consider any potential financial implications of commencing an apprenticeship course, prior to making an application. I.e. it may impact your ability to work as many unsociable hours as you would usually do/undertake bank work. Your employer will be able to provide more information regarding this, enabling you to make an informed decision.

Costs for employers

For employers, the costs of training your apprentice will usually be covered by the apprenticeship levy. Find out more about how apprenticeship funding works.

Please note, an apprentice must be paid for all their off-the-job learning i.e. study days and supernumerary practice learning hours.

Teaching staff

Study & career progression

On successful completion of this apprenticeship degree course, you will be eligible to apply to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for registration as a Midwife.

Additionally, you may wish to consider higher levels of post-registration study at the postgraduate or doctoral level.

Next steps

Next steps for apprentices

Apprenticeships are open to both existing and new employees.

If you would like to start an apprenticeship in your current working role, you will need to register interest with your employer.

Why not send the appropriate person at your organisation a link to our information for employers?

How to apply

To apply for this apprenticeship, you will need to find a position with an employer who is offering it. We cannot accept applications directly.

We advertise any apprenticeship vacancies from employers we are working with on our Vacancies page, and we recommend checking the National Apprenticeship Service website for vacancies across the country.

Next steps for employers

If you are interested in offering this apprenticeship, either by hiring a new apprentice or training a current employee, contact Janet Rowson, Director of Apprenticeships:

Email: janet.rowson@uwl.ac.uk

Contact us

Midwife

Overview

Accreditations and partners

Requirements

Requirements for apprentices

1. Eligibility (encompassing residency), Job Role and Sponsorship

2. Age

3. Academic requirements

4. Evidence of character and health

Course detail & modules

Compulsory modules

Personal Health and Wellbeing for the Student Midwife

Fundamentals of Midwifery Care

Public Health and the Midwife

Accountability and Professional Midwifery Practice

Foundations of Evidence for Midwifery Practice

Midwifery Practice 1

Compulsory modules

Developing Self as a Midwife

Safe Care for Childbearing Women and Newborn Infants with Complications

Holistic Care for Women and Families

Applying Evidence to Midwifery Practice

Leading and Managing Childbirth Emergencies

Midwifery Practice 2

Compulsory modules

Midwifery Assessment and Response to Deteriorating Health

Individualised Care for Women and Newborn Infants with Complex Needs

From Student to Midwife

Evaluating Quality in Maternity Care

Autonomous Midwife

Midwifery Practice 3

Teaching & learning

Study mode

How you will be assessed

End Point Assessment (EPA)

Costs & fees

Costs for apprentices

Costs for employers

Teaching staff

Reina Fisher-van Werkhoven

Study & career progression

Next steps

Next steps for apprentices

How to apply

Next steps for employers

Contact us

Janet Rowson, Director of Apprenticeships

More information