Candidate guide

Your next midwifery role

The questions that tell you what a maternity service is really like to work in, from scope of care and rotation through to escalation, skill mix and how you will be supported once you start.

Download the full guide PDF, 0.3 MB, 1 page. For midwives and dual-registered nurses.
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The questions

  • What is the service's scope of maternity care?

    • Births per year
    • Complexity of care
    • Clinical exposure

    Births per year, the complexity of care provided and the clinical exposure that comes with it.

  • What will my clinical rotation involve?

    • Birth suite
    • Postnatal
    • Antenatal
    • Special care nursery

    Birth suite, postnatal, antenatal, special care nursery and general wards for dual-registered midwives.

  • How is maternity care delivered?

    • Midwifery-led
    • Private obstetric
    • Shared care
    • Caseload / MGP

    Midwifery-led care, private obstetric care, shared care, or caseload and midwifery group practice.

  • How is care escalated when support is required?

    • Obstetric
    • Anaesthetic
    • Paediatric
    • Transfers

    Obstetric, anaesthetic and paediatric cover, the emergency response, and how transfers work.

  • How are skill mix and workload managed on each shift?

    • Leadership
    • Tenure
    • After-hours support

    The leadership and education team, how long the current midwives have stayed, and what after-hours support looks like.

  • What specialist services are available within maternity?

    • SCN
    • NICU
    • Lactation
    • Perinatal mental health

    Special care nursery, NICU, lactation support, antenatal clinics and perinatal mental health.

  • How will I be supported to settle into the service?

    • Orientation
    • Local practice
    • New clinical areas

    Structured orientation, local clinical practices, and support in clinical areas that are new to you.

  • How is my professional development supported?

    • Educator access
    • Postgraduate study
    • Leadership pathways

    Access to educators, postgraduate study, and specialist and leadership pathways.

The role attracts attention. The opportunity gives talent a reason to move.

What does this look like in your service?

Talk to the consultant who recruits your specialty about what we are seeing in your region.