Higher Midwifery Practice MSc

Core modules

Research Methodology

The ability to critically analyse and synthesise research is a necessary skill for all students who undertake higher education, in order to be able to apply research in all areas of specialist interest in the delivery of effective patient care. You will revisit existing knowledge of the research process and be supported further in developing your skills of critical analysis and synthesis. You will also have the opportunity to critically appraise the ethical dimensions of research studies that seek to develop, improve and advance healthcare services.

The assessment is a 5000 word critical appraisal of one chosen piece of contemporary research and a synthesis of the findings in relation to other related evidence within the wider context of literature in a chosen area of interest.

Major Project

The Major Project is central to the Masters award and allows you to demonstrate your ability to synthesise learning from previous modules. You’ll use this learning as the basis for planning, conducting and writing up a literature review, using an enhanced approach to research or a work-based project. This is the opportunity for you to demonstrate your ability to raise significant and meaningful questions in relation to your chosen topic and a critical understanding of research methodology and its relation to knowledge. You’ll be able to develop solutions to ethical dilemmas likely to arise in your research or professional practice. As well as expanding existing knowledge to contribute to the development of best practice and critiquing primary research.

Optional modules
When selecting your optional modules you will need to choose at least one of either Promoting Normal Childbirth or Facilitating Complex Birth. You can opt to do them both.

Promoting Normal Childbirth

Address one of the major national and international concerns about childbirth, the rising rate of intervention, and be provided with the underpinning knowledge and confidence required to modify this situation. You will be encouraged to develop your existing knowledge and skills by exploring the concept of normality and determining how this might be promoted during the antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal periods. Both international and local perspectives will be analysed, enabling you to apply your learning to your particular position whilst deepening your understanding of alternative situations.

Facilitating Complex Childbirth

Explore the role of the midwife in supporting women with complex social, emotional, and physical needs. You will be encouraged to explore both direct and indirect causes of maternal death and the role of the midwife in addressing these. You will also be expected to consider wider influences on maternal mortality and morbidity. Strategies for the maintenance of normality within such complex situations will be promoted. You will be supported in applying your learning to your own clinical practice and in developing your skills in caring for women with complex needs.

Other optional modules
If you have not selected to do both Promoting Normal Childbirth or Facilitating Complex Birth then you will need to select two optional modules from the list below.

Applied Leadership & Management

This module provides an innovative exploration of leadership and management in healthcare, and examines their impact on organisations including wider considerations in the external environment. This module will enable students to assess and analyse the roles that leaders and managers play in a range of organizational contexts; and to apply the principles and techniques of leadership and management in a range of contexts.

Professional Midwifery Advocate Preparation

Please note you need to be UK registered midwife to select this module.

We aim to develop your skills and expertise in the four functions of the Professional Midwifery Advocate: education and development (formative function), restorative clinical supervision, monitoring, evaluation and quality control (normative function) and personal action for quality improvement. On successful completion of the module, you’ll be able to undertake the role of the Professional Midwifery Advocate (PMA), and be appointable as a Professional Midwifery Advocate by your employing organisation. This module has been developed to meet the PMA standards set by NHS England, including the mandated 10 taught days. 

Contemporary Issues in Mental Health Care

Explore current issues in mental health from both a national and global perspective. Together we’ll address a number of issues related to mental health and society. The way in which mental illness is portrayed through the media and the impact this can have on interpretations of mental health and mental illness within a given society will be explored. This includes examining how mental health is represented in the news, on social media and within fictional sources including films and literature. The delivery of culturally appropriate health care will also be examined and how the knowledge gained can be applied to current or future practice.

Specialist Techniques for Medical and Healthcare Education

Develop specialist techniques required for your role in medical and healthcare education. You’ll have the opportunity to explore 5 techniques (of ten offered) that you believe will benefit your practice. You’ll be encouraged to reflect on how you might use these techniques to address identified areas for development in your practice and benefit your students’ learning. You will have resources and activities online which will be complimented with five webinars. Webinars may include; mentoring and motivational interviewing, coaching, teaching in the clinical environment, high stakes assessment, OSCE design and development, faculty development in the health professions, leadership in healthcare education, technology enhanced learning, teaching and assessing professionalism and education support and resilience. The assessment takes a patchwork approach, with each webinar having its own assessment and then a final integrative reflection at the end of the module.

Maternity Leadership

Recent reports into maternity care have highlighted the need for improved multi-disciplinary team (MDT) collaborative working
and training, strengthened leadership and an improved workplace culture. As senior midwives working in the UK, this course
will empower you to deliver excellent leadership in maternity, and get the absolute best from your teams by expanding your
knowledge of:

• Compassionate leadership and how this inspires your team to perform at their absolute best
• Developing a supportive workplace culture based on mutual respect, and
• Role modelling professional behaviours that are consistent with positive team working

By putting service users at the forefront of everything we do, you’ll develop your understanding of effective engagement with service users, carers and families and explore how you can use this to ensure care is both personalised and safe.
Develop your skills in building and supporting effective teams, and evaluate the role of psychological safety, emotional intelligence, and situational awareness in achieving this.

We’ll support you to advance your reflective practice and advocacy responsibility and become an effective role-model for your teams. We’ll equip you with the knowledge and understanding to be able to create a working environment that is cohesive, supportive, and non-judgemental, and promotes meaningful relationships with the wider inter-professional team.

Other optional modules are available but will require attendance at campus workshops. Modules are subject to change.