Core Content in Year 12:

1. Health and Social Care:
• Principles of Health and Social Care: Understanding the values, principles, and ethics of health and social care. This includes the importance of respecting confidentiality, dignity, and individual rights.
• Person-Centered Care: Learning how to provide care that is respectful and tailored to the individual’s needs, including how to support diverse groups and address health inequalities.
• Health, Safety, and Wellbeing: Focusing on health and safety practices, infection control, safeguarding, and the emotional and physical well-being of service users.
2. Anatomy and Physiology:
• Human Development and Life Stages: Study of human growth and development, including prenatal, postnatal, and childhood stages. This includes understanding the stages of pregnancy and the physiological changes that occur during labor and delivery.
• Reproductive System and Pregnancy: In-depth knowledge of the female reproductive system, pregnancy stages, fetal development, and the role of the placenta.
3. Communication in Health and Care:
• Effective Communication Skills: Training in how to communicate with patients, families, and other healthcare professionals. This includes verbal, non-verbal, and written communication techniques, as well as active listening and empathy.
• Professional Relationships: How to build professional, compassionate relationships with patients and colleagues in healthcare settings.
4. Working in Health and Social Care Settings:
• Roles and Responsibilities: Introduction to different roles in the healthcare sector, including midwives, nurses, healthcare assistants, and doctors.
• Teamwork and Collaboration: Understanding the importance of working within multidisciplinary teams, sharing responsibilities, and collaborating for the best patient outcomes.
5. Placement Preparation:
• Work Placement (Pre-placement Skills): Training in how to prepare for clinical placements, including professional conduct, health and safety, confidentiality, and basic care skills.
• Introduction to Midwifery: Overview of the midwifery profession, including a focus on antenatal care, pregnancy care, and the role of the midwife in different care settings (hospitals, clinics, home births).

Practical Experience:

• Students typically spend time observing and gaining experience in healthcare environments. This could include hospitals, clinics, and community care settings where students can start to see midwifery practice in action and gain insight into the practical aspects of the profession.

Core Content in Year 13:

1. Midwifery Specialism:
• Antenatal Care: Understanding the process of pregnancy, screening tests, assessments, and the role of midwives in monitoring maternal and fetal health. This includes understanding risks, complications, and how to manage them.
• Intrapartum (Labor and Birth) Care: Learning about the stages of labor, assisting in normal deliveries, providing pain relief options, and recognizing complications during labor that require medical intervention. Students will also be introduced to the management of complex births (e.g., breech, multiple births).
• Postnatal Care: Focusing on the care of the mother and newborn following delivery, including breastfeeding support, newborn assessments, postnatal check-ups, and mental health considerations (such as postpartum depression).
2. Midwifery Interventions:
• Supporting Normal Birth: Understanding what constitutes a normal pregnancy and birth, and how to support women through this process.
• Complications and Risk Management: Learning about complications during pregnancy and childbirth, such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, breech birth, and more, along with how to manage or refer patients in these cases.
• Emergency Midwifery: Training on how to handle obstetric emergencies, including managing hemorrhage, assisting with resuscitation of the newborn, and responding to maternal crises (e.g., eclampsia).
3. Clinical Skills and Practice:
• Clinical Placement: In Year 13, you will spend a significant amount of time on clinical placements, providing hands-on experience in maternity units, labor wards, and with midwifery teams. You will be expected to apply your theoretical knowledge in real-life scenarios under supervision.
• Assessment and Observation: During placements, students practice skills like monitoring fetal heart rates, assisting with labor and delivery, performing newborn assessments, and providing postnatal care under the guidance of qualified midwives.
4. Psychological and Emotional Aspects of Midwifery Care:
• Mental Health in Maternity Care: Training on how to support the mental well-being of women during pregnancy and the postnatal period, recognizing and responding to issues like postnatal depression, anxiety, or trauma.
• Emotional Support for Women and Families: Learning to offer emotional and psychological support, particularly during challenging or difficult births, and how to support families through grief or loss.
5. Professionalism and Leadership in Midwifery:
• Ethical and Legal Issues in Midwifery: Exploring the legal frameworks and ethical principles involved in midwifery practice, including patient consent, autonomy, and safeguarding.
• Reflection and Professional Development: Encouraging students to reflect on their practice, personal development, and how to maintain high standards of care in their professional lives.
• Leadership Skills: Developing leadership and decision-making skills, especially for those students interested in taking on senior roles in midwifery or healthcare settings.
6. Workplace Preparation:
• Continuing Professional Development (CPD): Understanding the importance of lifelong learning and how to engage in professional development throughout your career as a midwife.
• Job Search and Career Pathways: Preparing for future employment or further study, including understanding the different roles available within midwifery and the wider healthcare sector.