Midwifery Preceptorship Information
Here at Darent Valley Hospital (DVH) we offer an exceptional Maternity Preceptorship program.
Currently, an initial meeting takes place with each Newly Qualified Midwife (NQM)/ Preceptee by the Preceptorship Lead Midwife within the first week of their start date. The role of the Preceptee within the maternity services is explored, a charter is then signed by both the Preceptee and Preceptorship Lead Midwife with expectations from both parties.
A new Preceptorship PAD has been developed and has been in place since November 2022. The aim of the PAD is to aid flexible development plans for Preceptees and the Preceptorship Lead Midwife. Preceptees will have different levels of skills and knowledge, and whilst there are set competencies all new midwives need to achieve in order to progress, many will already have a skill set and this needs to be acknowledged.
Our current DVH Preceptorship Program aims for each Preceptee to gain confidence and consolidate skills to move on to a band 6 within a year, acknowledging individual learning needs. The Preceptorship PAD, regularly meetings with the Preceptor/ Preceptorship Lead Midwife and the Professional Midwifery Advocate (PMA) will facilitate this.
At DVH Maternity we aim for Preceptees to have 4 weeks’ supernumerary time at the beginning of their Preceptorship. Preceptees will need to have attended the skills drill and CTG study days before they are rotated to Delivery Suite.
Abigail Lacey is the named Preceptorship Lead at DVH. Her role is to work alongside the Preceptees ensuring competencies are met, support is available in the clinical workplace and that the health and wellbeing of the Preceptee is maintained. Preceptors are also available they are a registered practitioner in the same discipline, with a minimum of 12-months’ experience and working in the same area, providing support and guidance to the preceptee. Furthermore, we have Preceptorship Champions who are registered midwives who support and promote preceptorship, preceptorship leads and preceptees, and raises the profile of preceptorship throughout the organisation.
As a Preceptee you will have a comprehensive support network through email, meetings, telephone contact, the PMA, Preceptors, Preceptorship Champions, Freedom to Speak Up Guardians and support from Mel Hawkins (Practice Development Midwife).
Recently our Preceptorship Surgery has been launched, this is a monthly drop in with Abigail to discuss any queries, positives or negatives within the Preceptorship Program. Any information/ queries will then be answered and fed back to the Preceptees. In the future, there will be workshops, drop ins and Q&A sessions with the Multidisciplinary team (MDT) which can be accessed by the Preceptees to aid better understanding of the wider team and promote relationships within the MDT.
At DVH we currently do not offer rotation to community or continuity of care teams.
At DVH we encourage personal development plans and recommend relevant courses that Preceptees are interested in pursuing. They are encouraged to progress with any ideas and career plans that they have. The Preceptorship Lead Midwife will seek out and recommend information from various sources to ensure ongoing interests for career progression.
We are confident at DVH that we treat all Preceptees as valuable members of the team, we ensure that their learning is individual, whilst developing their professional and reflective skills which will assist them in becoming a competent practitioner.
We look forward working alongside you.
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