The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) who regulate midwives and courses that prepare midwives are changing the standards required for practitioners returning to practice. As a result there will be a new programme from April 2020.
This is happening nationally and at BCU we will be posting the Programme Specification and Module Descriptions on our website at a later date.
In the meantime please visit the NMC website for more information about the new standards.
Return to practice offers a flexible approach to regaining your professional registration. You will share core learning with others who are returning to healthcare practice after a break, so you'll have the support of other returners to develop your confidence in practice.
What's covered in the course?
The programme length will depend on your individual needs depending on how long you have been out of practice, your previous knowledge and experience, and relevant experience undertaken while you have been out of practice.
To be eligible for this programme you must first arrange a placement with a local healthcare provider.
The return to practice programme will also help you plan your future learning to develop your career.
Why Choose Us?
- Flexible length to meet your needs
- Part-or full-time placements
Credits
This course is worth...
15 credits
This course is not open to International students
Visit us to find out more
Come along to one of our upcoming events where our staff will be on hand to answer all your questions.
Subject event: Wed 15 May 4-7pm
Open Day: Sat 29 June
UK or EU students (Self Funded)
| Funding | Award | Start | Mode | Duration | Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self Funded | Sep 2019 | SC | Individually deternined | TBC |
UK or EU students (Employer Funded)
| Funding | Award | Start | Mode | Duration | Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employer Funded | Sep 2019 | SC | Individually determined | TBC |
International Students
Sorry, this course is not available to international students.
If you're unable to use the online form for any reason, you can complete our PDF application form and equal opportunities PDF form instead. The University reserves the right to increase fees in line with inflation based on the Retail Prices Index or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament up to a maximum of five per cent.
Entry requirements
- Lapsed UK registration as a midwife
- Evidence of your literacy and numeracy
- Satisfactory occupational health and DBS checks
- You will need a confirmed placement –in advance of the interview
- You will need to attend for interview
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Applicants should be aware that qualifications, personal statement, interview and reference all form part of the selection criteria for this programme
How to apply
Please read the 'Online application and enrolment process' and 'Method of payment' information below before making your application.
If you're unable to use the online form for any reason, you can complete our pdf application form instead.
Online application and enrolment process
- Complete an online application form via the link. The form requires you to submit a completed authorised funding form which must be uploaded with the application. Alternatively, you can download a hard copy application form.
- When your submitted application form has been processed and approved, details of the module and enrolment details will be sent to the email address stated on your application form.
- You will be sent an email asking you to complete your online pre-enrolment. This must be completed before you enrol.
- Without proof of funding, you will not be able to complete your enrolment/receive online pre-enrolment email. The funding form must be received within four weeks of the enrolment date; otherwise you will be withdrawn from the course.
Please submit your application as early as possible. We aim to give you a decision within two weeks of receiving your application. Please note that NHS Trust application deadlines may differ from our own and you should check with your NHS Trust training/education contact for confirmation of their deadlines.
Please ensure that you include full details of your qualifications and relevant work experience as part of your application.
Method of payment
The method of payment of your course fees will differ depending on whether you are a self-funding, sponsored or contracted/commissioned applicant. Definitions are provided below and you must choose the appropriate option when prompted. If you are unsure which funding method applies to you please consult your training/education contact in your NHS Trust prior to applying:
1) Self-funding
You are paying for the course and responsible for the fees.
Select 'Self Funded' when making your application.
2) Sponsored
Course fees are paid directly by the employer/NHS Trust which means we invoice your employer/NHS Trust to obtain payment.
To apply for this course you must download and complete the CPD Sponsorship Agreement Form, and submit it with your application. The upload facility is available in Section 3 of the application form: Fees and Sponsorship.
Select ‘Sponsored (eg employer, NHS Trust, charity)’ when making your application’.
Download Financial Support Form Instructions
3) Contracted/Commissioned
The NHS Trust agrees with HE West Midlands for your course fees to be paid directly to the University from funds managed by HE West Midlands for pre-agreed programmes.
To apply for this course you must obtain a contracted/commissioned financial support form from your Trust contact and upload the completed form and submit it with your application. The upload facility is available in Section 3 of the application form: Fees and Sponsorship.
Select ‘Funded by HE West Midlands (Contracted/Commissioned)’ when making your application.
Fee payment
NHS funding is arranged by the university
Module Description
Core Topics
The Return to Practice (Midwifery) course comprises 6 core study days (usually held over a 3 week period) followed by a period of placement. |
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NHS and NMC changes
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Generic skills of medicines management
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Aseptic technique
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Patient/service user handling
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CPR
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Academic skills and careers advice
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Midwifery Topics
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NNR
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Midwives Exemptions
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Perineal suturing
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CTG interpretation
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Professional and legal changes
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MEOWS and SBAR
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Trends in maternal morbidity and mortality
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Placements
Placement is a minimum of 150 hours but can be up to 450 hours depending on the length of time you’ve been out of practice. You will need to rotate through hospital and community settings to experience antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum midwifery care.
You will need to arrange your own placement. The requirements for placement include that you are assessed by a 'sign-off mentor' as competent for return to the NMC register, that you are supported by a Professional Midwifery Advocate (PMA) or local equivalent replacement to Statutory Supervision, and that the clinical area is currently audited for student placements.
Attendance
University study days are normally two days per week during the initial study block.
Our Facilities
We are constantly investing in our estate and are currently in the process of spending £260 million on new learning facilities.
We boast up-to-date, innovative facilities that simulate the real situations that medical staff may come across.
These resources are essential in offering students a hands-on introduction to health and social care practice. Much of our teaching is carried out within our state-of-the-art, £30m Seacole Building, which houses cutting-edge facilities.
Take a virtual tour of our skills suites at Seacole
In a sector where new techniques are constantly being discovered, we work hard to ensure that students learn using the most up-to-date equipment available. These include the only mock operating theatre in an English university and a cutting-edge radiography virtual clinical training facility, virtual ward and virtual case creator.
Virtual Case Creator
For pre-registration midwives, Virtual Case Creator software contains a range of scenarios to let you experience birthing situations and decide on appropriate interventions in a safe environment.
Hospital Ward
Our mock wards enable you to get a feel of what a ward is really like before you head out for your first placement. They contain ‘Sim Men’, which are demonstration dummies that develop ailments, allowing you to treat them as you would a real patient and build your confidence in reacting to the changing needs of patients.
The Hospital Ward can be adapted from a low care to high dependency care environment with the necessary monitoring equipment.
Part of the package is our SIM baby, SIM man and Mega code kid. There are also nursing manikins for fundamental skills teaching and various equipment to support essential skills teaching, such as blood pressure monitoring venepuncture and cannulation equipment.
Skills Practice and Clinical Enhancement facility
The SPACE (Skills Practice And Clinical Enhancement) learning facility lets you further practice the skills taught in class, at your own pace and convenience.
It is fully stocked with the specialist items and equipment needed for procedures such as taking blood pressure, giving an injection, abdominal examination of a pregnant woman and caring for ill babies in an incubator.
Biomedical Laboratories
We have recently installed new laboratory facilities to help you explore understand the scientific principles underpinning many of our courses. The physiology laboratory is equipped to help you learn about the way the human body works by performing investigative experiments. The biomedical science laboratory is undergoing an upgrade over the summer and will allow you to learn about anatomy, cellular processes, immunology and enzymology in a hands-on way that links directly to day-to-day health care.
Simulation Mannequins
We have several Simulation men (SIM men) and Simulation babies (SIM babies) which are leading edge, anatomically correct mannequins used for teaching specific techniques such as advanced adult and paediatric life support skills, acute and high dependency clinical skills, first aid and communication skills.
The SIM men and SIM baby mannequins are complete with software, which is used to replicate real symptoms, and are enhanced by the manipulation of for example blood pressure, pulse and heart rate for extra realism. SIM Man can also “talk” to the students which adds another dimension to their use in teaching clinical skills and in simulation exercises.
Mary Seacole Library
The Seacole library, based at City South Campus, is one of the UK's largest specialist health education libraries. The state-of-the art facility offers an extensive range of range of information and reference materials set out in a relaxing environment, conducive to studying. There are comfortable seating areas, group study areas, a silent study area and private study rooms.
The Seacole building houses a large open access IT Suite which comprises of 96 PCs, full colour printers, photocopiers and scanners. Our PCs utilise the latest Intel i5 core technology, all with:
- Fast (unrestricted) internet connectivity
- Ability to save files to USB, DVD & CD
- Microsoft Office software
- Research and statistical software
- Storage space which can be accessed from any PC across the University and from home
Our PCs are also designed to support students who may have difficulties with reading and writing, featuring specialised software with zooming/magnification and screen reading capabilities, which may also be customised for individual student needs.
The IT Suite offers extended opening hours and is supported by a specialist Open Access Assistant during term time. In addition to the open access PCs within the IT Suite, there are 12 networked student PCs available within Seacole library.
Rachel Moule
Senior Academic (Teaching and Learning)
Rachel is the programme leader for the return to practice: midwifery course. She has herself previously undertaken a RTPM course. Rachel is supported by colleagues from midwifery and nursing. Close links are maintained with practice education teams in local NHS Trusts. Wider afield, links are strongly made and maintained with trusts outside the region to support the RTP candidates to return to the midwifery register.
Course enquiries
The programme leader welcomes informal enquiries to discuss your individual situation.
Please contact Rachel Moule:
- Tel: 0121 331 7152
- Email: rachel.moule@bcu.ac.uk
Employability
Local NHS Trusts support the programme and most returners obtain employment in the same Trust as they undertook placement.