Supervision, again ...

My thoughts are returning to the supervision topic, as I prepare to attend more meetings in preparation for the introduction of some model of supervision for privately practising midwives.  This additional regulatory process is clearly intended to identify and manage midwives whose practice does not conform with accepted standards.

Becoming a mother is a quintisentially profound moment in a woman's life, regardless of her people group, education, wealth, or any other variable.   A midwife holds knowledge and skill of working in a way that protects, promotes, and supports wellness in the childbearing process and adjustment to motherhood. 

A greeting card that captures some of the wonder of becoming a mother.

The regulation of midwifery, and other health professions, is the process by which a society can have confidence in the profession, ensuring high standards of education and practice, and a reliable process of investigation and calling to account any midwife who is involved in care that leads to adverse outcomes, or allegations of professional misconduct.


In its Request for Tender – Privately practicing midwives models of supervision, the NMBA (2013) has stated that supervision is: “a critical mechanism in the training, support and ongoing safe practice of midwifery. It incorporates elements of direction and guidance through a process of professional support and learning which enables a practitioner to develop knowledge and competence, assume responsibility for their own practice and enhance public protection and safety.”


The Australian College of Midwives (ACM) has encouraged members to communicate the following points to the reviewers, either in the consultative process of focus groups, or via the online survey.  ACM states that:

• Supervision should be a supportive, mentoring and advisory process, not a management or punitive process; 
• There should be one supervision process for all midwives 
• If supervision is mandated by the NMBA, the model should be developed, implemented and regulated by midwives, not other professions 
• Supervision is not an inter-professional clinical review process 
• The importance of current practices in Australia such as the ACM Midwifery Practice Review (MPR) program, should not be overlooked. 
• The projects should also be mindful of other review and consultation processes currently happening, and that supervision should not been seen in isolation:

• • ACM evaluation of MPR

  
  

  • NMBA review of the Quality and Safety Framework

  
  

  • NMBA review of registration standards for both midwives and eligible midwives

  
  

  • ANMAC’s review of standards for prescribing programs and peer review programs

  
  Many midwives using social media have been quick to express their frustration and dismay at *yet another* level of regulatory control.  Questions asked include: 
  
  • Why are private practice midwives being subjected to supervision?
  • Haven't we jumped through enough hoops with eligibility, insurance, MPR, QSF, and all the codes and guidelines we have to follow?
  • The UK Health Ombudsman found their supervision system has problems - "Supervision is a statutory responsibility...the dual role of a Supervisor, providing support but also a regulatory function, allows for an inherent conflict of interest." Why are we introducing supervision if it is not working in the UK?
  • Who pays for supervision?
  • The UK review also found  "There is a weak evidence base in terms of risk for the continuation of an additional tier of regulation for midwives."
  •  What if the woman doesn't want a supervisor involved in her care? 
  •  Is the supervision remote or ... direct observation? 
  • How are the supervisors trained? Who trains them? 
  • Can a non-eligible midwife supervise an eligible midwife? 
  • What Body does the supervisor report to?
   

It appears to me that AHPRA has decided it needs to provide additional levels of regulation for some midwives (and they can, whether we like it or not).  The current investigation is seeking models of supervision, and from the NMBA (2013) request for tender (referenced above) I gather that the primary focus of supervision of privately practising midwives is to be those midwives who are entering private practice, ensuring that they develop "... knowledge and competence, assume responsibility for their own practice and enhance public protection and safety"  A large number of midwives have recently left hospital jobs, attracted by the possibilities of primary midwifery practice in their communities.  There has been no standard pathway for this exodus: each midwife has found her own way, achieved notation as an eligible midwife, and endorsement to prescribe, and hung up their shingle or joined a group practice.

In concluding this log, I would like to put my thoughts on the record.

Anything that comes from the NMBA needs to be of a regulatory nature, and that regulation needs to be transparent about what it is seeking to achieve, and properly managed and funded to maintain the integrity of the process.   This sort of regulatory professional supervision could be applied to all midwives who move into private practice, for a period, such as up to five years, with standards against which the midwife and the supervisor are able to assess performance.  Midwives who have had some years of experience in midwifery may be able to demonstrate their "knowledge, competence, and responsibility" over a shorter period of time (eg 1 year), while new graduates of a B Mid course, or midwives who are under Board investigation, may remain under supervision for the full five years, or more.

In developing my position on professional supervision, I must assume that any regulatory requirement must be funded, for the preparation and payment of supervisors, and the ongoing development of the program.

I do not agree with a process that attempts to integrate the regulatory surveillance role with a support role.  Mentoring and support are valuable elements of professional development, but are different, and should be separate from supervision. 


Your comments here, or in the facebook villagemidwife group, are welcome. 

supervision?

This is an amazing old piece of stitching. 
But, I don't think it is meant to represent a ruptured uterus!

Recently, the Nurses and Midwives Board of Australia (NMBA, or Board) has invited midwives to participate in a series of focus groups and consultations that will lead to a process of supervision for privately practising midwives.  I and a number of other midwives and stakeholders have been invited to participate in three expert consultations with the law firm, Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) that has been engaged to oversee the project, and advise on potential models.

This midwife supervision project is all about the statutory duty (of the NMBA) to provide a level of protection for the public through regulation and support of the midwifery profession.  Whether or not they introduce supervision for PPMs, or for all midwives, and what it will look like (how supervision will work) is unknown.  Note that the Board has recently replaced its ‘Safety and quality framework for midwives attending homebirths’ with a SQF for all midwives http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/News/2014-04-30-safety-and-quality-framework.aspx

 


If you are a midwife who has worked in the United Kingdom, you will know that all midwives there have a supervisor, who answers to the local regulatory authorities, who in turn answer to the national regulator.  The process is at present being reviewed.  [See Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman's Conclusions and Recommendations -added to this post 19/6/14]

The current model of supervision, in the UK context, is a "means of promoting excellence in midwifery care, by supporting midwives to practise with confidence ...", and  a means of protection of "women and babies by actively promoting a safe standard of practice." (NMC 2009.  Modern Supervision in Action: a practical guide for Midwives, p3)

That two-sided goal, to protect mothers and babies, at the same time as supporting midwives, is what statutory regulation seeks to provide.  A process that is focused solely on weeding out those midwives who may have performed poorly in a particular situation is unbalanced and probably unnecessarily punitive.  A process that is focused solely on supporting midwives, and ignores the need for careful correction and improvement, is also unbalanced and may lead to tragic, preventable outcomes for the consumer, and loss of that midwife to the workforce. 

At present in this country any midwife is able to elect to work in a self-employed capacity, or employed privately by a midwifery group practice.  A small number of midwives have chosen one of these pathways, with very little, or no postgraduate experience working in the more structured, and more supervised, environment: mainstream hospital maternity wards.  Within hospital employment models a midwife who has recently graduated will be given support and a process of structured performance reviews over time.  A midwife whose practice does not meet the standard expected within the unit may be asked to agree to a performance contract that includes measurable outcomes.

Midwives who are practising privately form a very small proportion of the profession.  Yet, we are an easy target for bureaucratic control.  In the past few years we have jumped through amazing hoops in order to achieve eligibility for Medicare, and notation on the register as midwife prescribers.  We are instructed and guided by the Board, the insurers, Medicare, and professional bodies, and the list of codes, guidelines and instructions grows constantly.  In my opinion, there is no need for a professional supervision program for all privately practising midwives.  It would be an enormous waste of resources, for very little gain.

I would like to urge the NMBA to establish a targeted professional supervision program, with a strong focus on adult learning through peer discussion and reflection, directed at those midwives who have recently commenced private practice, as well as those who have had complaints or notifications made about their private practice.  The midwife may be required to comply with a program of professional supervision for a period of time, such as 5 years, or a number of episodes of care (eg 50) in which the woman is receiving primary maternity care from that midwife.  The midwife supervisor would need to be a respected and experienced member of the profession, who has demonstrated her/his ability to practise midwifery in the private practice context.  At the end of the supervision period, the supervisor would advise the NMBA of the midwife's successful completion, or recommend an extension.  If at some time the supervisor forms the opinion that the midwife's practice does not meet the Board's standard, there may be restrictions to practice imposed, and the process of notification, investigation, and a hearing would need to be initiated.   The Board has supportive processes like this available for nurses and midwives who seek help in dealing with mental health issues, or alcohol or other substance addiction. 


The opinions shared and explored here are my own.  I would be very happy to discuss this matter further with midwives or others, either through the comment function on this blog, or at my villagemidwife facebook site.

 

midwifery directions for 2014

Greetings to my little band of readers and thinkers and birth nerds.

In my first blog entry for 2014, not knowing what lies ahead, I hope this new year brings you valuable learning and the satisfaction of knowing that you have contributed well to whatever your work is.

There is an old saying that the pen is mightier than the sword.  I am using the internet to wield a (virtual) pen/sword (whatever that might mean in today's world) in my campaign to protect, promote and support health through childbirth.  The midwifery-childbirth scene is in need of protection. The context is discussion around the future of midwives and homebirth in Australia, stimulated by midwife-blogger Rachel Reed.  I would encourage you to read the post, and the comments.