BSc (Hons) Midwifery with Foundation Year

This module introduces you to the professional, legal, and ethical foundations of midwifery practice. It supports your development of professional identity and prepares you for safe, accountable practice within regulated frameworks. As a student on a professionally registered course, you will develop your understanding of professional, legal and ethical principles which underpin your role. This will be contextualised through the public health responsibilities which midwives hold. Indicative content: History and Philosophy of Midwifery: Origins and evolution of midwifery in the UK Philosophical models of care and woman-centred practice (what is universal and additional care) Regulatory and Legal Frameworks: The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC): Role, Code, and Revalidation for Lifelong Learning Scope of practice and professional accountability Legal responsibilities including consent, capacity and negligence Introduction to Human Rights and Equality Acts Ethical Principles in Practice: Autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice Ethical dilemmas in maternity care Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: Cultural safety and competence Anti-discriminatory practice and unconscious bias Inclusive communication and care delivery Communication and interpersonal skills: Effective verbal, non-verbal and written communication Active listening and empathy in clinical interactions Visual communication and poster design Audio narration and presentation skills Introduction to medicines management: Basic drug classifications relevant to midwifery practice Routes of administration and safety principles Legal and professional responsibilities in medicine management (storage) Public health: Screening during pregnancy Marketing of Milk Immunisation Vitamin d and folic acid Healthy eating, exercise, smoking cessation, contraception, sexual health etc. Parent Education

This extended induction module supports your transition into university life and introduces you to clinical practice as a midwife in training. It will help you to build your confidence, develop a strong academic and professional identity, and understand the expectations of the first year of your programme. You will explore key academic practices and as a student on a professionally registered course, you will develop your understanding of your professional responsibilities. Indicative content: The module is structured around seven themes identified by learners as essential to their university experience: Ready to study: clear guidance on expectations, transitions and workload planning Academic skills and progress: development of academic skills including literature searching, introduction to research, critical thinking and digital competence. Career readiness and professional identity: Preparation for practice (mandatory training), supervision and assessment in clinical practice, safeguarding, documentation, confidentiality and data protection, evidence-based practice. Using and documenting in your electronic Midwifery Ongoing Record of Achievement (eMORA) Record keeping in line with NMC standards Potential career opportunities as a midwife Personal development and belonging: Raising and escalating concerns, at university and in practice. Duty of candour, multidisciplinary and interprofessional working. Social engagement and community building: Opportunities to develop/join a midwifery society, introduction to student and trade unions and our professional body. Feedback and reflective practice: introduction to models of reflection to support your clinical practice and personal development. Engaging with and using feedback constructively. Wellbeing and student support: Introduction to the Professional Midwifery Advocate (PMA) role and accessing support services. The power of emotional intelligence.

This module introduces you to childbirth and the immediate postnatal and neonatal period. You will learn about the physiological foundations of the intrapartum and postnatal periods for the woman and baby, the skills and techniques used to assess maternal, fetal and neonatal wellbeing; alongside the development of core midwifery skills to enable you to support labour, birth and early neonatal assessment and care. This module will enable you to address the fundamental knowledge and skill requirements to support your achievement against required proficiencies for the intrapartum, postnatal and neonatal period. It will provide the theoretical underpinning to the clinical care you provide to women and birthing families during this period. Indicative content: Fetal skull Maternal pelvis Pelvic Floor Physiology of the first stage, second stage, third stage Pain and pain relief Adaptation to extrauterine life Postnatal adaptation to include involution, lochia, physical and psychological recovery (including parental attachment) Minor disorders of the postnatal period Neonatal nutrition and growth Infant feeding skills – positioning and attachment / hand expression Skin to skin contact & microbiome Optimal cord clamping Vit K deficiency bleeding Intrapartum skills including assessment of labour and fetal monitoring , Vaginal assessment, Estimating blood loss Pain management and analgesia Newborn examination/Care of the well newborn infant Schedule of visits and postnatal assessments Preparation and transition to parenthood (role of birth partners and wider family), attachment theories/positive family attachment Birth debrief Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)/Safer sleeping Intrapartum, PN/NN screening- including Neonatal Screening Test (NNST)

The theory element of this module supports your development as a midwifery practitioner by focusing on care for newborns with additional needs and the systematic examination of the newborn (SEN), alongside the more specific Newborn and Infant Physical Examination (NIPE) screening intervention. By the end, you will be equipped to contribute confidently to the care of newborns with additional needs, ensuring safe and effective outcomes for families. In clinical practice you will have increasing responsibility in clinical decision-making and leadership, laying the foundation for advanced practice in your final year. SEN (Systematic Examination of the Newborn) competencies and documentation SEN and NIPE as a screening tool Managing complex neonatal cases (e.g. hypoglycaemia, hypothermia, hypoxia) Escalation and referral protocols Interprofessional collaboration and extended roles within midwifery practice Effective communication when planning care, giving advice regarding sexual health, contraception and preconception care Reflective supervision and peer feedback Care of the preterm neonate Physiology and management of jaundice Infant feeding issues, challenges and solutions

This module supports your development as a midwife who can confidently engage with evidence-based practice. You’ll explore how research informs clinical decision-making and enhances the quality of care. Through guided learning, you’ll be introduced to key research concepts, including ethics, methodologies, and the structure of literature reviews. You’ll learn how to critically appraise midwifery research and begin to build the skills needed to undertake your own small-scale literature review. The module is designed to be inclusive and accessible, with scaffolded tasks and flexible formats to support your learning. By the end of the module, you’ll be better prepared for your final year research project and equipped with transferable skills that support your professional development and future employability. Indicative content: What is evidence-based practice? Academic writing and presenting research findings Research paradigms and methodologies Critical appraisal tools (CASP, PRISMA) Hierarchies of evidence Ethics in research and clinical practice Ethical decision making and evidence-based care outside of guidance. Introduction to risk, quality improvement Literature review / Annotated Bibliography structure and referencing Literature searching, databases, tools and search strategies Introduction to audit and service evaluation

This module explores how midwives can make a meaningful impact on public health. You’ll learn about key public health priorities in maternity care and examine how social, economic, and cultural factors influence health outcomes for women, babies, and families. Together, we’ll look at health inequalities and how they affect access to care, and you’ll be supported to think critically about ways to promote fairness and inclusion in your future practice. This module will help you grow your confidence as a midwife who champions equity, supports diverse communities, and contributes to improving health outcomes for all. Indicative content: Socio-cultural determinants of health and referral pathways Epidemiology Asylum seekers/Refugee status Surrogacy and infertility Smoking/Obesity impact on pregnancy/birth Poverty/homelessness Modern slavery Learning disabilities Maternal mortality and morbidity trends Health promotion strategies Cultural competence and inclusive care Community engagement and outreach Female Genital Mutilation

This module will help you explore how research and innovation shape midwifery practice. You will learn about the foundations and processes of research and how this influences evidence-based care. You will also consider ethics, governance, and the impact of research on improving outcomes for women, babies, and families. By the end of the module, you will be able to apply research principles to practice and contribute to positive change in maternity care. Indicative content: Research question development Methodology and design Ethics and governance Data analysis and interpretation Quality improvement methodologies (e.g. PDSA) Dissemination and innovation in practice

You will explore leadership theories and styles and learn how to apply them in contemporary healthcare settings. A key focus will be on effective supervision and delegation, aligned with the NMC Standards for Student Supervision and Assessment (SSSA), ensuring you understand your role in supporting learners and maintaining safe, high-quality care. You will also prepare for your own transition into preceptorship, identifying your strengths and areas for development. Whether you choose a written or digital portfolio, you will be able to showcase your learning in a format that suits your style. By the end of the module, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and professional values to lead with integrity and support others effectively in midwifery practice. Indicative content: Leadership styles and theories Role of the newly qualified midwife as a supervisor Theories of supervision and delegation NMC standards for student supervision Clinical governance and risk management Service user involvement Preparing for preceptorship

In this module, you will explore how to respond effectively to urgent and emergency situations involving women and newborns. You will learn to recognise signs of deterioration, apply evidence-based emergency protocols, and understand when and how to escalate care. Through simulation, discussion, and reflection, you’ll develop confidence in your clinical decision-making and your role within the multidisciplinary team. You will also reflect on how these high-pressure situations affect you and others, developing strategies for emotional wellbeing. This module supports your development as a safe, responsive, and compassionate midwife, ready to act in critical moments and contribute meaningfully to team-based care. Learning is inclusive and flexible, with opportunities to engage through written work, posters, video reflections, and practical skills development. Indicative content: Recognition and management and escalation of obstetric emergencies (e.g. PPH, shoulder dystocia and breech birth) Neonatal resuscitation and emergency protocols Escalation and decision-making under pressure Understanding of referral pathways Human factors Multidisciplinary team (MDT) working Debriefing and emotional resilience