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The transition from student to autonomous practitioner will be exciting and, at times, possibly challenging for you as a new graduate. Many of us remember our first year as an autonomous midwife, and some of us have been fortunate enough to have had an experienced midwife support us during that year.

The Midwifery First Year of Practice programme (the programme) is intended to provide this mentored support to all new Graduates. The programme is formally organised to help you to apply the knowledge you gained as a student into real life and day by day practice. The combination of education complemented by mentoring is intended to provide opportunities for you to build professional networks and increase your confidence in your ability to work in partnership with women and colleagues. This is in addition to the practical experience you will be gaining in your everyday work. The programme also provides support to your mentor as she guides you through your first year.

The programme is Ministry of Health funded through Health Workforce New Zealand (HWNZ) and coordinated nationally by the New Zealand College of Midwives (NZCOM). The programme frameworks are the Competencies for Entry to the Register of Midwives and the Midwifery Scope of Practice, the Standards of Midwifery Practice, Midwifery Standards Review, the programme Confident Midwife Profile and HWNZ career planning requirements. The Midwifery Council of New Zealand maintains responsibility for the regulation of midwives participating in the programme.

We look forward to supporting you and your mentor, over the next 12 months.

Yours sincerely

Karen Guilliland Chief Executive

New Zealand College of Midwives

Your first point of contact for any programme related queries should, in the first instance the MFYP National Coordinator:

Kate Clark

Phone: 03 372 9737 Mobile: 027 6120699

Email: mfyp@nzcom.org.nz

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Accessing the portal

Throughout the programme you will need to access the NZCOM portal to enter in any reporting or access any documents. This will also allow you to view what your status is at anytime throughout the programme year e.g. how many mentoring hours or professional education hours you have used or what compulsory elements of the programme you still need to complete.

To begin you will need to go to the NZCOM website - http://www.midwife.org.nz Then go to Education/midwifery first year of practice and you should see this:

Click on to the login details and you should see this:

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Enter your login details and you will see this:

Please note: you will not have all these icons, the MFYP one is what you need. If this does not appear then please contact the College.

Click on the MFYP icon and this will have all your details.

Contact the MFYP National Coordinator if you have any questions or are having problems.

National Coordinator Contact Details:

Kate Clark

Phone: 03 3729737 Mobile: 027 6120699

Email: mfyp@nzcom.org.nz

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PROGRAMME PARTICIPATION:

Understanding the Midwifery First Year of Practice (MFYP) programme ... 7

Start and finish timelines of the programme ... 8

Time commitments of the programme ... 8

Eligibility criteria ... 9

Terms and conditions of the MFYP ... 10

Programme responsibilities ... 10

Change of a participant’s circumstances and effect on programme completion ... 12

Programme funding ... 12

Graduate midwife funding ... 12

Mentor midwife funding ... 13

Programme payments ... 14

Documentation and reporting ... 14

Quarterly reporting ... 14

Payment schedule………..15

Missed birth fund ... 15

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Understanding the Midwifery First Year of Practice (MFYP) programme

The MFYP programme is an educational and professional support programme for graduate midwives.

The structured yet flexible framework allows each midwife to identify her individual needs (education and professional support) for her first year of practice.

The programme is compulsory for all graduate midwives who have completed their midwifery education in New Zealand and who want to practice midwifery in New Zealand.

There are four key elements which support a graduate midwife over the 12 month transitional period in her first year of practice.

Graduate midwives have been deemed competent by the Schools of Midwifery and the Midwifery Council. The MFYP provides a framework to support and enable the graduate midwife to identify access and attend education and professional support opportunities that enable her to:

• consolidate the knowledge, skills and clinical competencies acquired during undergraduate midwifery education programme

• progress from a competent graduate midwife on entry to the Register of Midwives, to a more confident practicing midwife by the end of your first year of practice

• prepare for MFYP Midwifery Standards Review Graduate midwife participants:

For graduate midwife participants the programme includes:

 compulsory and elective education; a minimum of 69 hours is required, and up to 80 hours is funded

 one-on-one mentoring with her mentor; a minimum of 40 hours is required, and up to 56 hours is funded

 reimbursement of up to $1,800 for education workshop/course fees

 travel and accommodation assistance, if eligible (HWNZ criteria apply)

 payment of MFYP Midwifery Standards Review Mentor midwife participants:

For mentor midwife participants, the programme includes:

 mentor education and development workshops (mandatory)

 providing the graduate midwife with one-on-one mentoring

 travel assistance, if eligible (HWNZ criteria apply)

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Start and finishing timelines of the programme

There are three different programme commencements and completion dates which are guided by the National midwifery examination dates and time of Registration with the Midwifery Council of New Zealand.

Once graduate midwives have obtained an Annual Practicing Certificate (APC) they must enroll in the next available cohort of MFYP.

National examination date Programme

commencement date

Programme completion date

December 2015, known as Cohort 1 01/02/2016 31/01/2017

March 2016, known as Cohort 2 01/05/2016 30/04/2017

July 2016, known as Cohort 3 01/08/2016 31/07/2017

Please note: If an extension is granted, then the programme completion date will change.

A graduate midwife is considered to have completed the programme when there is documented evidence that:

i. all programme requirements have been met within the 12 months of the programme year (or extension period)

ii. a MFYP Midwifery Standards Review has been completed in which all graduate midwives have the opportunity to describe and demonstrate attainment of the Confident Midwife Profile as described by the programme (see the education and MFYP Midwifery Standards Review sections)

On programme completion both mentee and mentor midwife will receive a Certificate of Achievement or a Certificate of Participation respectively.

Time commitments of the Programme

Graduate midwife time commitment

The minimum time commitment for graduate midwife participants is 110 hours and the total (maximum) hours per graduate midwife funded by the programme, is 136 hours. The minimum and maximum hours for the graduate midwife programme requirements are listed in the table below.

Component Minimum hours required Maximum hours funded

Compulsory education 40 46

Elective education 30 34

Mentoring hours 40 56

Total programme hours 110 hours 136 hours

While there is some flexibility for when a graduate midwife undertakes her programme education activities, all her programme requirements must be completed within 12 month period, unless an extension has been approved (see later in this section).

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Mentor midwife time commitment

Mentors on the programme undertake 16 hours (2 days) mentor education. Mentors are required to provide a minimum of 40 mentoring hours to the graduate midwife, and are funded for up to 56 hours.

The minimum and maximum range for each of the mentor midwife components is listed in the table below.

Mentors Minimum hours required Maximum hours funded

Mentoring 40 56

Mentor development and support

(workshops) 16 16

Total 56 hours 72 hours

Eligibility Criteria

Graduate midwife eligibility:

The programme funding is only available for graduate midwives who have completed their midwifery education programme in New Zealand and who are New Zealand citizens or permanent residents.

Participants can be asked to provide evidence of residency.

International students must apply to NZCOM to participate in the programme.

Other eligibility criteria all graduate midwives must meet are:

 holds a NZ midwifery degree awarded within 2 years of her programme commencement and must join the next available cohort of MFYP

 holds a current NZ Annual Practicing Certificate throughout her programme duration

 working as a self-employed caseload midwife (Lead Maternity Carer, LMC) or as an employed core or caseload midwife.

 An LMC graduate midwife must be building a caseload on programme commencement and is expected to have a caseload of approximately 20 or more clients by programme completion.

OR

 working as an employed graduate midwife and is to be employed for 32 hours per week

(0.8 FTE). Participation for a graduate midwife who is employed for less than 32 hours/week e.g.

0.6–0.8 FTE will be considered on a case-by-case basis

Any graduate midwife who does not meet all of the above eligibility criteria will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Mentor midwife eligibility

Mentors are asked to confirm (and provide evidence if requested), that they:

 have successfully completed the NZCOM workshop The Practicalities of Being a Mentor Midwife within the last three years

 are registered with the Midwifery Council of New Zealand ( Midwifery Council) ‘in good standing’ and with no restrictions on registration that would negatively impact on her abilities to be a mentor

 to be a current member of The New Zealand College of Midwives

 have an Annual Practising Certificate with the Midwifery Council of New Zealand throughout the graduate midwife’s programme duration

 have significant midwifery experience across the Midwifery Scope of Practice i.e. have practised as a midwife for at least three years.

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 have met all the requirements of the Midwifery Council Recertification Programme over the previous three years and have completed at least one Midwifery Standards Review. If mentors have not been practising as a midwife in New Zealand over the three years prior to joining the (MFYP) programme (e.g. if previously working overseas or returning to practice from parental leave) you must confirm you are working towards Recertification Programme requirements

 have well established and collegial working relationships with midwifery and other health professional colleagues within the region in which you are both practicing

 are able to promote equity of outcomes for Maori and practice in a culturally safe manner with all consumer groups

 are willing and committed to supporting and encouraging a graduate midwife through your role as a mentor and to receiving feedback on your performance as a mentor

 are in a position to make the required time commitment e.g. reduction in caseload or employment FTE as necessary.

In the event there is any doubt as to whether mentors meet any of the above eligibility criteria, you will be required to provide proof of eligibility within seven (7) working days of it being requested.

On receipt you will be advised within five (5) working days whether the eligibility criterion has been met and participation as a mentor can continue.

Terms and conditions of the MFYP programme

This is an agreement between either mentee or mentor and the NZCOM of participation in the programme and related responsibilities.

Programme responsibilities

As a government funded programme, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the NZCOM have expectations of how both graduate and mentor midwives participate in the programme.

Graduate midwife responsibilities to the MFYP These require the graduate midwife to:

 take responsibility for her participation in the programme e.g. set and manage learning goals for education activities and mentoring partnership

 be open with concerns, problems, and things that are not working

 use her own networks as well to learn and discover

 undertake and fulfill the programme education and mentoring requirements

 negotiate and develop a written Partnership Agreement (M1) in conjunction with her mentor.

This is available to download on line.

 develop a written Professional Development (Education) Plan (PD1) in conjunction with her mentor. This is available to download on line.

 participate in at least 12 formal face-to-face reflective practice sessions with her mentor, to stay in regular contact with her mentor, to reflect on and be open on receiving feedback about her practice and progress to date (including decision making, assessment and referral processes, professional relationships and application of research to evidence) and review the Partnership Agreement (M1) and Professional Development Plan regularly (PD1).(Note: these meetings are in addition to the initial meetings to develop both the Partnership Agreement (M1) and individualised graduate midwife’s Education (Professional Development) Plan (PD1))

 seek support and advice in her professional practice and development from her mentor, whilst being responsible and accountable for her decisions and actions

 continually review and reflect on her midwifery practice

 agree to undertake all the compulsory education requirements

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 agree to complete the programme documentation requirements using the online forms provided

 agree to upload a copy of the Partnership Agreement (M1) and Professional Development Plan (PD1) to the MFYP National Coordinator with the first quarter’s reporting

 agree to submit the MFYP quarterly reporting requirements by the due date

 agree that should any difficulties arise in the mentoring partnership and unable to resolve such difficulties, either mentee or mentor will contact the MFYP National Coordinator for assistance as soon as practicable.

Responsibilities specific to education, mentoring and MFYP Midwifery Standards Review requirements are included in their respective sections.

Mentor midwife responsibilities These require the mentor midwife to:

 take responsibility for participation in the programme and all actions associated with it

 be open with concerns, problems, and things that are not working

 continually review and reflect on your role and responsibilities as a mentor

 assist the graduate midwife to set and manage the goals for the mentoring partnership and education activities

 encourage the graduate midwife to seek support and advice in her professional practice and development from you. If/when seeking advice/support from you, the graduate midwife remains responsible and accountable for her decisions, actions and midwifery practice

 undertake and fulfill the programme mentor education and mentoring requirements (see the education and mentorship sections)

 negotiate and develop a written Support and Development Partnership Agreement or Partnership Agreement in short (M1), in conjunction with the graduate midwife and assist the graduate midwife to develop a written Professional Development (Education) Plan (PD1)

 participate in at least 12 formal face-to-face reflective practice sessions with the graduate midwife, to reflect with her about and provide feedback on her practice and progress to date (including decision making, assessment and referral processes, professional relationships and application of research to evidence) and review the Partnership Agreement (M1) and her Professional Development Plan (PD1) (Note: these meetings are in addition to the initial meetings to develop the Partnership Agreement (M1) and the graduate midwife’s Professional Development Plan (PD1))

 support the graduate midwife to meet the compulsory aspects of the MFYP programme

 provide the graduate midwife with a written reflection on her development towards the programme Confident Midwife profile (see the education and MFYP Midwifery Standards Review sections)

 agree to complete the programme documentation requirements using the on line forms provided

 agree to submit the MFYP quarterly reporting requirements by the due date

 agree that should any difficulties arise in the mentoring partnership and unable to resolve such difficulties, either mentee or mentor will contact the MFYP National Coordinator for assistance as soon as practicable.

Please note: as this is a 12-month programme; should it appear that either mentee or mentor are not fulfilling the specified programme requirements or meeting the programme responsibilities in a time appropriate manner, the MFYP National Coordinator will contact either party to discuss the situation and mutually agree an action plan.

Should a dispute arise between either mentee or mentor and the NZCOM, then either party may commence the dispute resolution process by setting out the nature of the dispute in writing and forward it to the other party as per NZCOM policy.

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Change of a participant’s circumstances and effect on programme completion

We appreciate that personal and professional circumstances can change at any time. Circumstances may arise for either mentee or mentor that could make it difficult for the graduate midwife to complete her programme within the required timeframe. Extensions are granted on a case- by-case basis, up to a maximum of three months.

Examples of circumstances where an extension may be granted include:

 a serious or significant personal health issue

 a family health issue or bereavement

 family or personal relationship issues e.g. relationship breakdown

 mentoring relationship issues

When a programme extension is granted there is no additional funding i.e. the programme funding stated in your respective programme contracts applies regardless of whether the actual duration is 12 months or 15 months.

Please note: Inability to complete the programme education requirements within the programme year e.g. incomplete activities in a timely way, will not qualify for a programme extension.

Withdrawing from the programme

In very rare instances, a situation may arise where continued programme participation is no longer considered appropriate.

Should such situations arise please contact the MFYP National Coordinator as soon as possible for further information.

Programme Funding

The NZCOM submits the names of all graduate and mentor midwives participating in the programme and their respective funding categories each quarter to the MOH. Once the data is approved, the funds allocated to each midwife are then paid to the NZCOM.

Graduate Midwife Funding

The graduate midwife programme funding is based on:

 the Multi-Employer Collective Agreement (MECA) for an employed core or caseload graduate midwife

 the Primary Maternity Services Notice modules of care for a self-employed (LMC) graduate midwife

The funding category is determined by the graduates work setting i.e. either employed core or caseload midwife or a self-employed (LMC) caseload midwife.

We understand that circumstances can change, however on commencement with the programme all graduate midwives need to advise us as to her plans for the coming year (if known).

For example, intending to work as a core midwife for part of the year while building a caseload as an LMC midwife, then we need to know of this, as it has implications for the payment category into which the graduate is initially assigned.

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Each Graduate gets funded a set hourly rate for mentoring and education.

All graduate midwives also have an allowance of up to $1,800.00 for education fees (this cannot be used for travel, accommodation, books or equipment) and for your first Midwifery Standards Review ($500.00) which is paid by the programme.

Eligibility for travel and accommodation assistance to meet your programme education and/or mentoring requirements is indicated in your details on your MFYP tab online

Workshop/course fee allowance for graduate midwives

For education workshop/course costs (fees) to be paid (reimbursed), the workshop/course must be listed in your Professional Development Plan (PD1), reported in your MFYP Quarterly Reporting and a copy of the receipts must be downloaded with your quarterly reporting.

Many courses/workshops require that you pay the fee at the time of enrolment or registration. We appreciate this can have financial implications particularly at the start of your programme year.

Therefore to enable you to enroll early for workshops/courses, 25 percent ($450.00) of the maximum payable ($1,800.00) for education and professional development costs will be advanced as follows:

 direct credited 26/02/2016 for Cohort 1



Note: Any advances (or part thereof) not fully accounted for by receipts, will be deducted from your final payment. Similarly workshop/course fees for education activities paid for by the programme but not attended within your programme year will either have to be repaid or will be deducted from your final payment.

Mentor Midwife Funding

Payment for mentor education attendance and mentoring is the same respective rate for all mentors.

Mentor and graduate midwives cannot claim for any programme funding where funding for the same item has already been accessed or received from another source. For example, where an employer pays a course or workshop fee for a graduate midwife, these items cannot be claimed back from the programme.

As previously mentioned, the total programme funding, applies regardless of whether the actual duration is 12 months, or 15 months if an extension has been granted.

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Programme payments

The NZCOM direct credits all programme payments to the account information you have provided in the system. These are made quarterly. The NZCOM does not deduct Resident Withholding Tax from the payment(s) you receive whilst participating in the programme. All obligations in relation to taxation (all mentor and graduate midwives) and ACC levies (LMC mentor and graduate midwives) are your respective responsibilities.

If the quarterly reporting is not submitted by the due date it will not be paid until the next quarter.

The NZCOM also reserves the right to with-hold or delay a payment(s) if it appears that you either the mentee or mentor are not fulfilling the programme requirements in a time appropriate manner.

Documentation and reporting

As this is a government funded programme, participation and associated payments are auditable by the Ministry of Health. Therefore the activities being claimed and funded have to be confirmed in the system. The reporting has been kept to the minimum required to meet respective contractual and reporting requirements are constantly being reviewed.

All the reporting is online and is driven by the graduate. Once a graduate enters the details, the mentor will be sent an email notification and will only have to click the link then confirm what has been entered.

If the mentor does not confirm the reporting no-one will be paid.

Quarterly reporting

Graduate midwife quarterly reporting to be submitted consists of:

 Mentoring hours

 Professional Education Hours

 Copies of workshop/course certificates of attendance

 Copies of workshop/course fee receipts.

 If eligible to claim for travel, copies of any related airline tickets or accommodation receipts must be uploaded with the quarterly reporting

Mentor midwife quarterly reporting to be submitted consists of:

 Mentoring hours

 Professional Education hours (attendance at the MFYP workshops)

 If eligible to claim for travel, copies of airline tickets or accommodation receipts must be uploaded when submitting the quarterly reporting.

Both mentee and mentor be sent a reminder email before the quarterly reporting is due. The graduate will be sent an email once her mentor has confirmed the reporting.

Again, if you do not submit your reporting when it is due, neither of you will be paid until the following quarter.

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Programme payment schedule

Cohort 1 reporting period (01/02/2016 to 31/01/2017 programme duration):

Reporting Period Reporting Due Payment Date

01/02/2016 - 30/4/2016 04/05/2016 21/05/2016

01/05/2016 - 31/07/2016 03/08/2016 25/08/2016

01/08/2016 - 31/10/2016 02/11/2016 24/11/2016

01/11/2016 - 31/01/2017 01/02/2017 23/02/2017

Cohort 2 reporting periods (01/05/2016 - 30/04/2017 programme duration):

01/05/2016 - 31/07/2016 03/08/2016 25/08/2016

01/08/2016 - 31/10/2016 02/11/2016 24/11/2016

01/11/2016 - 31/01/2017 01/02/2017 24/02/2017

01/02/2017 - 30/04/2017 02/05/2017 25/05/2017

Cohort 3 reporting periods (01/08/2016 to 31/07/2017 programme duration):

01/08/2016 - 31/10/2016 02/11/2016 24/11/2016

01/11/2016 - 31/01/2017 01/02/2017 24/02/2017

01/02/2017 - 30/04/2017 02/05/2017 25/05/2017

01/05/2017 - 31/07/2017 01/08/2017 24/08/2017

Missed Birth Fund

The Missed Birth Fund is only for self-employed (LMC) programme participants who are:

 currently participating in the programme

 the registered LMC for the woman at the time she gives birth, and

 expected to be present at the birth but are absent due to meeting programme requirements

Applications to the Missed Birth Fund will only be considered in the following circumstances:

1. Where a graduate midwife has missed a birth due to attendance at the MFYP workshop and any education activity (seminar, workshop, course etc) listed in her Professional Development Plan (PD1)

2. Where a mentor midwife has missed a birth due to attendance at programme mentor education requirements (MFYP workshop), or

3. Where the graduate or mentor midwife has missed a birth due to attendance at the graduate midwife’s MFYP Midwifery Standards Review.

If the above apply, then the midwife can submit an application to the MFYP Missed Birth Fund.

The actual fee reimbursed will be equivalent to the fee that was paid by the graduate or mentor midwife directly to the practice partner or locum midwife for the services provided in their absence.

The programme cannot pay the Missed Birth fee directly to practice partners or locum midwives.

Payment can only be reimbursed to a programme participant after they have paid the practice partner or locum midwife.

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Submitting a claim:

Missed Birth Fund claims must be received within three months of the missed birth event. Claims received after this time may not be paid.

The Missed Birth Claim forms can be downloaded from the MFYP agreement documentation section on the MFYP system on the New Zealand College of Midwives (NZCOM) website.

The completed form and accompanying documentation can be either:

Scanned and emailed to:

mfyp@nzcom.org.nz Or sent to:

MFYP Missed Birth Claims NZ College of Midwives PO Box 21-106

Christchurch.

All claims submitted to the MFYP Missed Birth Fund must be accompanied by the following documentation:

i. evidence that the graduate or mentor midwife who submitted the claim, was the woman’s registered LMC at the time of the birth and was expected to be at the birth

ii. the name and contact details of the practice partner or locum midwife who attended the birth in the absence of the LMC graduate or mentor midwife

iii. evidence that the woman gave birth

iv. evidence that the practice partner or locum midwife has received the applicable payment from the graduate or mentor midwife (a receipt from the practice partner or locum midwife is required), and

v. a completed MFYP Missed Birth Claim form

The graduate midwife will also have to provide in addition to the above:

vi. a photocopy of the relevant page from her Professional Development Plan (PD1) showing that the education activity was planned, and

vii. a photocopy of the certificate of attendance for the education activity The mentor midwife will also have to provide in addition to the above:

i. Email confirmation from the MFYP National Coordinator that the mentor midwife was attending mentor education requirements at the time of the missed birth

When a claim is received

On receipt of a MFYP Missed Birth claim, the MFYP National Coordinator will check that all the claim requirements have been met. Providing all the required documentation is provided, claims will be processed and approved for payment at the end of the month following the receipt of the paperwork.

Payments will be made by direct credit to the midwife’s nominated bank account that is held in the MFYP system.

Payments will only be made by direct credit and we can provide written evidence of the disbursement to the graduate or mentor midwife who submitted the claim.

Any disputes are presented to the NZCOM advisory team for consideration and their decision is final.

In the event a claim does not meet the requirements, the MFYP National Coordinator will contact the graduate or mentor midwife making the claim, and advise what is required for the claim to be approved.

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PROGRAMME EDUCATION:

Confident midwife profile ... 19

Health Workforce New Zealand career plan ... 20

Midwifery Council’s continuing education and recertification requirements and how they relate to a graduate midwife’s programme participation ... 20

Links between the programme’s education requirements and a midwife’s professional portfolio .... 21

Hours required for the education components of the programme ... 21

Mentor midwife programme education requirements: support and development workshops ... 21

Graduate midwife - workshop/course fee allowance ... 22

Criteria regarding the education activities a graduate midwife can undertake ... 22

Graduate midwives compulsory education requirements for the programme ... 23

Funded elective education activities graduate midwives ... 23

Employed graduate midwives – balancing employment requirements in conjunction with MFYP requirements ... 24

The compulsory familiarisation session(s) for graduate midwives ... 24

Finding out about education opportunities and approved education providers ... 25

Attending education requirements for LMC graduate midwives – arranging locum/practice cover ... 25

Dates for the mid-year support meetings ... 25

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Confident midwife profile

The programme provides all graduate midwives with access to education activities and creates a supportive environment necessary for transition in the first year of midwifery practice from a competent graduate (as defined by the Midwifery Council) on entering the Register of Midwives, to a more confident midwife by the end of the first year of practice.

The profile of the confident midwife at the end of a graduate midwife’s first year of practice, as described by the programme, is that she:

1. works in partnership with women across the Midwifery Scope of Practice

2. understands, promotes and facilitates the physiological processes of pregnancy and childbirth by:

– consolidating her knowledge and skills

– effectively applying her knowledge and skills to practice

3. identifies complications in mother or baby and works in collaboration with other health professionals to ensure appropriate care by:

– confidently handling complex situations 4. manages emergency situations appropriately by:

– identifying unpredictable situations and acting appropriately

5. informs and prepares women and their families for pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and parenthood by:

– demonstrating feedback is being obtained from women

– demonstrating evidence based information is being provided to women

6. facilitates the interface between primary and secondary/tertiary maternity services when necessary by:

– demonstrating collaborative working relationships with other midwifery colleagues – demonstrating open effective communication with other health professional colleagues – demonstrating effective consultation and or referral processes

7. works autonomously and remains responsible and accountable for the care she provides in all settings by:

– participating in quality assurance activities

– participating in professional (eg, peer teaching) activities

– attending at least one Perinatal Mortality Review meeting during the Programme.

The programme Confident Midwife Profile applies to all participating graduate midwives whether employed or self-employed.

The programme Confident Midwife Profile should not be confused with the Midwifery Quality and Leadership Programme (QLP) Confident Midwife Domain (Domain A) for employed midwives.

More information can be found at http://www.midwife.org.nz/meras-quality-and-leadership

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Health Workforce New Zealand career plan

Since 2012, Health Workforce New Zealand (HWNZ) requires career plans for all training that it funds

‘to ensure that the training has a clear purpose and will provide benefit to the trainee and the wider health sector and value for money for the New Zealand tax-payer.

A MFYP programme mentor is not required to have a career plan as they are not the ‘recipient’ of the training; the graduate midwife is the ‘trainee’.

According to HWNZ, the training/career plan may encompass some or all of ‘on-the-job’

experiences, formal education, informal education and mentoring/coaching/support, and will be individualised and tailored to particular points in a career path as well as to personal skills and aspirations. The career plan is achieved within the MFYP programme by the development of the professional development plan.

Graduate midwife Professional Development Plan

The programme requires that the graduate midwife has a written Professional Development Plan (PD1) that includes well defined goals and specific education outcomes.

In conjunction with her mentor, a graduate midwife will determine what education activities are required to meet the programme Confident Midwife Profile and prepare for and complete the MFYP Midwifery Standards Review (see the MFYP Midwifery Standards Review section). Both mentee and mentor will plan and decide which workshops/courses etc. to support this outcome.

A graduate midwife’s Professional Development Plan (PD1) should be viewed as a ‘living document’ by both mentee and mentor as education requirements may change during the year as levels of confidence increase. We suggest that this document is regularly reviewed and updated.

The Professional development plan form can be uploaded in the graduates MFYP tab on the NZCOM portal system.

Midwifery Council’s continuing education and recertification requirements and how they relate to a graduate midwife’s programme participation

The Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 stipulates that a midwife may not be issued with an annual practicing certificate unless the Midwifery Council is satisfied that a

Midwife meets the required standard of competence. Engagement in the Midwifery Council Recertification Programme is the process by which all midwives demonstrate their ongoing competence.

The Recertification Programme requires registered midwives to complete certain compulsory and elective education courses and engage in professional activities in each three-year period. The MFYP programme compulsory education requirements support graduate midwives with many of the Recertification compulsory education components.

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Links between the programme’s education requirements and a midwife’s professional portfolio

The Midwifery Council’s Recertification Programme (Policy updated February 2014) must be undertaken by all midwives in order to demonstrate on-going competence to obtain an annual practising certificate. The programme has several essential components: annual declaration of competence and engagement in the Recertification Programme; practice across the Midwifery Scope of Practice;

maintenance of a professional portfolio; compulsory education; elective education and professional activity; participation in the NZCOM Midwifery Standards Review process.

All midwives (including those who work part-time) who need to hold a practising certificate are expected to provide evidence of their activities under each of the identified sections in the portfolio over each Recertification period. Written reflections on these activities must be provided. These may be brief (a short paragraph) as long as they make a link between the learning experience and midwifery practice. This requirement also applies to the MFYP programme education activities that graduate midwives undertake.

Opportunities for education and clarification of Recertification programme requirements will be discussed further at the MFYP workshops. More information regarding the full Midwifery Council of New Zealand’s Recertification Programme can be found at:

www.midwiferycouncil.health.nz

Hours required for the education components of the programme

Graduate midwife programme education requirements

The programme requires all graduate midwives to complete a minimum of 69 hours education; and is funded for up to 80 hours education. The combination of compulsory and elective education opportunities will assist all graduate midwives to meet the programme Confident Midwife Profile.

 To meet the minimum education requirement of 69 hours (8.6 days), this equates to approximately 7 education hours per month excluding December and January (usually little or no education is available during these months).

 To meet the maximum education hours funded i.e. 80 hours (10 days), this equates to approximately 8–10 education hours per month excluding December and January.

Please note, travel time to and from a course or workshop cannot be included (counted) in these hours.

Mentor midwife programme education requirements: support and development workshops

All mentors are required to attend mandatory MFYP education to participate in the Programme New mentors to the programme are required to attend a 1-day mentor development workshop and a 1-day mid-year mentor support meeting i.e. 16 hours in total.

Learning outcomes for the 1-day workshop provide new mentor midwives with the opportunity to:

 Understanding how the programme components can support a graduate midwife during the transitional year

 Explore the principles of an effective mentoring partnership

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 Consider tools and strategies to enhance and create learning opportunities for the graduate midwife through effective mentoring

Returning mentors are required to attend a 1-day update workshop and a 1-day mid-year mentor support meeting i.e. 16 hours in total.

Learning outcomes for the workshop will provide returning mentor midwives with the opportunity to:

 Understand any changes and implications of their role in the MFYP programme as mentor midwives

 Critically reflect and consider how to ensure effective mentoring

 Explore and share experiential learnings to enhance mentoring skills

The mentor midwife midyear one day meetings are always a combination of new and returning mentors and are designed to provide mentors with an opportunity to:

 Review and discuss participation in the programme to date year

 Expand on the effectiveness of mentoring

 Explore the principles and obligations of supporting a graduate midwife prepare for the MFYP Midwifery Standards Review

Graduate midwife: MFYP workshops and course fee funding

All graduate midwives each have up to a maximum of $1,800.00 available for education workshop/course fees. This funding cannot be used for books, equipment or travel and accommodation associated with a workshop/course.

Many workshops/courses require that the fee is paid at the time of enrolment or registration. We appreciate this can have financial implications particularly at the start of a graduate midwife’s programme year. To enable graduate midwives to enroll early for courses and workshops/ courses, all graduate midwives will receive an advanced $450.00 of the $1800.00 education activity fees allowance within the first month of programme commencement.

Criteria regarding the education activities a graduate midwife can undertake

The focus of the programme education component is a consolidation of the knowledge, skills and experience acquired in a graduate midwife’s undergraduate midwifery education programme. The MOH criteria require the programme educational hours to only be used for workshops/course which directly assist a graduate midwife to achieve the Confident Midwife Profile, and consolidate her midwifery education learning and experiences.

All education activities funded by the programme are expected to involve structured teaching and/or group learning and must be provided by:

1. Midwifery Council approved education providers. Check the Council website for more information

2. New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), Committee on University Academic Programmes (CUAP) or Institutes of Technology & Polytechnics Quality (ITPQ), accredited educators

We suggest that any graduate midwives unsure as to whether a particular workshop/course meets the criteria, please contact the MFYP National Coordinator prior to enrolling in the workshop/course.

This will help avoid a situation where workshop/course fee reimbursement and/or payment of hours are declined because the HWNZ criteria have not been met.

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Graduate midwives compulsory education requirements for the programme

All graduate midwives are required to achieve certain compulsory education activities over the year.

Some of these also support midwives meeting the Recertification Programme requirements (see table below). The compulsory education activities will total 40 to 46 hours according to whether a graduate midwife undertakes the minimum or maximum total hours shown in the following table.

The workshops will provide graduate midwives with the opportunity to:

• Explain the MFYP programme in detail

• Explore how the MFYP supports graduate midwives over the first year of practice

• Understand and identify effective mentoring processes and how to apply these in the mentoring relationship

Compulsory education activity Min Hours Max hours

MFYP graduate midwife programme commencement workshop

8 8

MFYP graduate midwife support meeting workshop 8 8

Combined Emergency Skills Day* 8 8

Midwifery Practice Day 8 8

Perinatal Mortality Review meeting (at least one) 2 4

Familiarisation with another setting 4 8

MFYP Midwifery Standards Review 2 2

Compulsory components total hours 40 46

* Please note; this must include Adult CPR including resuscitation of the pregnant woman and neonatal resuscitation

The familiarisation session has been designed and incorporated into the programme to support all graduate midwives develop professional relationships and networks, and assist in achieving number 6 of the programme Confident Midwife Profile.

Funded elective education activities for graduate midwives

Within the programme all graduate midwives are required to undertake elective educational opportunities. These should complement the compulsory education requirements and will most likely be influenced by undergraduate experiences, practice setting, support needs identified in t h e P artnership Agreement (M1) and education needs identified in the Professional Development Plan (PD1). Educational activities that support graduate midwives in their first year of practice are the main objective when deciding on elective education options.

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Employed graduate midwives: balancing employment requirements in conjunction with MFYP requirements

Note: this section is relevant to all employed graduate midwives and mentors of an employed graduate midwife only.

A number of employers offer new graduate (employment) programmes which may include significant education components e.g. an additional four or more education days over and above the MECA (Multi-Employer Collective Agreement, the graduate midwife’s employment contract terms) entitlement per year.

The (MFYP) programme requires a minimum of 69 (40 compulsory and 29 elective) and funds up to 80 hours education. Both programmes ideally complement each other i.e. the intent is that neither should become onerous or stressful for any graduate midwives.

We appreciate it can become confusing as to what can be counted as MFYP programme education hours. The following should clarify this.

Educational and professional activities not able to be counted include Service orientation, organisational employment requirements or any other training required, provided and paid for by the graduate midwife’s employer. This may include such training as:

 BFHI or core breastfeeding study day(s)

 Syntocinon, epidural or IV workbooks (certificates)

 DHB New graduate study days.

Education the graduate midwife undertakes on paid work time that may be counted

 Combined Emergency Skills workshop, Midwifery Practice day provided by the graduate midwife’s employer and undertaken during paid work time.

 The hours for these activities will be counted as the requirement having being met, however employers of graduate midwives will not receive reimbursement for the hours as their Ministry of Health funding agreement provides for these

 Any elective education activity chosen by the graduate midwife and provided by her employer and undertaken during paid work time can be counted. Her employer may be reimbursed for these hours at the end of the graduate midwife’s (MFYP) programme year.

Education the graduate midwife undertakes in her own time can be counted

All (MFYP) programme compulsory or elective education requirements undertaken in the graduate midwife’s own time e.g. on rostered days off, can be counted and the programme reimburses for those hours.

The compulsory familiarisation session(s) for graduate midwives

The programme familiarisation session(s) component is a compulsory education component that provides an opportunity for the graduate midwife to explore professional networks and services that are relevant to her work setting and support needs, and will assist her in meeting number 6 of the Confident Midwife Profile.

It is an opportunity to develop an understanding of a facility or unit, group practice or service by formally meeting the key personnel and seeing the layout of the facility/unit, practice or service, so the graduate midwife is aware of:

 the midwifery support that is available, and

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 any administrative systems, consultation and referral processes that will be relevant to her practice and necessary for integrated service delivery

Graduate midwives may choose to only undertake a single familiarisation session that will meet the minimum hours requirement (4 hours), or decide to undertake 3–4 familiarisation sessions and claim the maximum hours allocated (8 hours).

While the familiarisation session(s) can by undertaken at any time during the graduate midwife’s programme year, we would recommend that it is planned to meet at least the minimum requirement (4 hours) in the first half of the programme year.

Mentors are not required to attend the familiarisation session(s) with the graduate midwife.

Finding out about education opportunities and approved education providers

It is impossible for the programme to maintain an up to date list of providers and workshops/courses being offered nationally, as these are constantly changing.

We do however recommend that you consider linking in with your local NZCOM region and contacting your local DHB midwifery educator or visit the Colleges website for more educational opportunities nationally.

The Midwifery Council of New Zealand approves all continuing education activities and providers in New Zealand and more details can be found by visiting the Councils website.

Attending education requirements for LMC graduate midwives: arranging locum/practice cover

For self-employed LMC graduate midwives, please consider practice or locum cover arrangements for your programme education activities. This will ensure that you are able to meet all the requirements within your programme year.

The Missed Birth Fund is there to ensure you are not financially disadvantaged whilst meeting your education requirements.

You may wish to give thought to arranging cover from more than one person, especially if you are rural and the majority of your education activities will be ‘out of town’. This may help minimise or prevent tension with your practice colleagues.

Dates for the mid-year support meetings

The dates for your MFYP workshops are on your MFYP tab on the NZCOM portal.

However all participants in the MFYP programme will have been sent the dates on confirmation as a participant on the programme. We suggest that you please diarize these as it is part of your confirmed commitment to the programme and responsibility to attend.

This is a mandatory requirement to attend these meetings.

If you have been allocated a workshop that it is impossible for you to attend, please contact the MFYP national coordinator ASAP to discuss if there are other options.

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MENTORSHIP:

Mentoring ... 27 Required mentoring hours to complete this component of the programme ... 28 Deciding on the written mentoring partnership agreement ... 28 Mentoring partnership responsibilities ... 28 Programme expectations regarding how mentors are to be contacted ... 29 Expectations of formal mentoring meetings ... 29 Discretionary mentoring hours ... 30 Midwifery practice skills support ... 31 Giving and receiving feedback in mentoring partnerships ... 33 Mentoring partnership that are not working ... 33 The compulsory collegial feedback session ... 33

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Mentoring

One of the unique aspects of the MFYP programme is that each graduate midwife develops and maintains a one-one mentoring partnership with an experienced midwifery colleague over the course of the programme. The purpose of the MFYP mentoring relationship is to support a graduate midwife to build and further enhance confidence as they transition through their first year of practice. This relationship is based on the philosophy of mentoring as described in the New Zealand College of Midwives consensus statement, which states:

‘The mentoring relationship is one of negotiated partnership between two registered midwives. Its purpose is to enable and develop professional confidence. Its duration and structure is mutually defined and agreed by each partner. A mentor listens, challenges, supports and guides another midwife’s work. A mentor does not always give answers but encourages the mentored midwife to research, explore and reflect on her practice. The mentored midwife remains responsible and accountable for her own practice in accordance with statutory obligations of a registered midwife (NZCOM, 2000).’

It is also supported by the Midwifery Council of New Zealand’s definition of mentoring which describes mentoring as:

“…..entering a formal relationship with another midwifery colleague for a defined period of time for the purposes of support and guidance as the midwife colleague adjusts to a different practice context or to practice as a new practitioner (Midwifery Council 2014)”

A New Zealand study highlighted the importance of such supportive mechanisms to support newly qualified practitioners as many can experience challenging times as they transition from undergraduate student to working as a registered midwife (Dixon et al, 2014). Supportive programmes such as MFYP can mitigate some of these challenges, enhance the experience and enable continued learning through reflective processes within the mentoring relationship.

The programme one-to-one mentoring complements and supports the natural learning process, is underpinned by the philosophy of midwifery partnership, and is about the support a graduate midwife determines for herself along with support and guidance from her mentor.

The flexibility within the mentoring component also allows the graduate midwife in conjunction with her mentor to identify any specific midwifery practice skills that she wishes to further develop and the different ways she can access the support needed to achieve this.

More information regarding the historical aspects of the MFYP programme and mentoring can be found in the book Women’s Business (Guilliland & Pairman, 2010). This book explores the history of the College and describes the rationale and development of the MFYP from its conception in 2007.

References

Dixon, L., Tumilty, E., Kensington, M., Campbell, N., Lennox, S., Calvert, S., Gray, E., Pairman, S. (2014). Stepping forward into life as a midwife in New Zealand/Aotearoa: An Analysis of the Midwifery First Year of Practice programme 2007-2010 (pp. 1-71). Christchurch.

Guilliland, K., & Pairman, S. (2010). Women's Business: The story of the New Zealand College of Midwives 1986-2010. Christchurch:

New Zealand College of Midwives.

Midwifery Council of New Zealand.(2014). Schedule of professional activities, 2014, from http://www.midwiferycouncil.health.nz/images/stories/pdf/ProfessionalStandards/Schedule%20of%20professional%20activities%2020 14.pdf

New Zealand College of Midwives. (2000). Consensus Statement: Mentoring. Christchurch: New Zealand College of Midwives.

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Required mentoring hours to complete this component of the programme

The programme requires that a mentor provides each graduate midwife with a minimum of 40 mentoring hours over the year, however both mentee and mentor are both funded for up to 56 hours (if required). The mentoring hours will be a combination of formal face-to-face (arranged) and discretionary (as required) or phone contacts (discretionary).

Deciding on the written mentoring partnership agreement

Mentoring partnerships (relationships) can take time to develop and need to be built on trust.

Without trust, mentoring partners may take things personally, may make false assumptions and do not create a positive learning environment ; this can result in the mentor and graduate midwife going through the motions of mentoring rather than engaging in actual process of mentoring.

The intent of the programme is that the support and advice from mentors assist the graduate midwife to progress from a competent graduate to a more confident midwife. This support is based on the principles and practices of adult learning and is formalised through the written Partnership Agreement (M1).

Programme mentoring partnership agreements:

i. Identify and documents a graduate midwife’s support needs ii. Identify and documents requirements of the mentor

iii. Identify and documents availability of mentors, including support with midwifery practice skills if required

iv. Identify and documents mutual responsibilities, including but not limited to the frequency and method of contact, partnership ground rules, confidentiality safeguards, boundaries, and

v. Identify and documents processes for managing any partnership issues between the mentoring partnership, should these occur.

The Partnership Agreement also supports the graduate midwife’s Professional Development Plan (PD1).

It is important to also remember that both are living documents and as graduate midwives gain more confidence, her needs are acknowledged and are reflected in both documents.

A blank Partnership Agreement (M1) for completion by the mentor and the graduate midwife can be downloaded.

Mentoring partnership responsibilities

A good mentoring partnership is a two-way relationship that promotes trust and open, honest, meaningful communication. Some mentoring partnerships evolve naturally into long-lasting friendships, but this is not necessary for effective mentoring to occur.

Graduate midwife mentoring specific responsibilities These require all graduate midwives to:

 be willing and enthusiastic in mentoring meetings

 seek support and advice in her professional practice and development from her mentor, whilst being responsible and accountable for her decisions and actions

 continually review and reflect on her midwifery practice

 keep in regular contact with her mentor

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 be open with concerns, problems, and things that aren’t working in regard to the mentoring partnership

 bring new ideas into the mentoring partnership, including alternatives and potential solutions to problems, and

 welcome challenges from your mentor and explore the boundaries of her Midwifery Scope of Practice.

Mentor midwife mentoring specific responsibilities These require mentors to:

 be willing and enthusiastic in mentoring meetings

 continually review and reflect on the mentoring role and responsibilities as a mentor

 keep in regular contact with the graduate midwife

 bring new ideas into your mentoring partnership, including alternatives and potential solutions to problems

 challenge the graduate midwife and explore the boundaries of her Midwifery Scope of Practice

 be open with concerns, problems, and things that are not working in regard to the mentoring partnership

 regularly seek feedback from the graduate midwife regarding her experience of the mentoring partnership and whether it is meeting her needs.

As in any relationship, time pressures and the demands of life and work can have an impact.

Organising and scheduling your mentoring time will be essential. We suggest that this is discussed jointly and reasonable limits and demands are identified and explored. These all need to be reasonable.

We also suggest that both mentee and mentor explore how graduate midwives may contact her mentor particularly when the need arises to see mentors at short notice. By developing and agreeing to the boundaries and processes by which to work together, the partnership becomes a mutually rewarding and satisfying experience.

Programme expectations regarding how mentors are to be contacted

As part of the Partnership Agreement (M1), the mentor and the graduate midwife will both agree the contact arrangements. The programme expects all clinical-related discussions with the graduate midwife to be by telephone or face-to-face.

Text messaging is not to be used for clinical-related discussions, as text messages can be open to miscommunication and/or message transmission can be delayed. Text messaging should only be used to arrange/confirm meeting plans or to check if it is a convenient time to talk.

Similarly, for internet security reasons (confidentiality etc) and the principles of a mentoring partnership, the programme advises other electronic forms of communication such as blogs, emails, tweets, Facebook should only be used to arrange and/or confirm meeting plans.

Expectations of formal mentoring meetings

The programme requires that the graduate midwife and mentor undertake a minimum of 12 formal face-to-face reflective practice/critical thinking meetings. These meetings are in addition to the meetings to develop your Partnership Agreement (M1) and the graduate midwife’s Professional Development Plan (PD1), the graduate midwife’s preparation for MFYP Midwifery Standards Review and concluding the mentoring partnership.

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CONTENTS

Accessing the portal

PROGRAMME PARTICIPATION:

Understanding the Midwifery First Year of Practice (MFYP) programme

Start and finishing timelines of the programme

Time commitments of the Programme

Eligibility Criteria

Terms and conditions of the MFYP programme

Programme responsibilities

Change of a participant’s circumstances and effect on programme completion

Programme Funding

Graduate Midwife Funding

Mentor Midwife Funding

Programme payments

Documentation and reporting

If the mentor does not confirm the reporting no-one will be paid.

Quarterly reporting

Programme payment schedule

Missed Birth Fund

PROGRAMME EDUCATION:

Confident midwife profile

Health Workforce New Zealand career plan

Midwifery Council’s continuing education and recertification requirements and how they relate to a graduate midwife’s programme participation

Links between the programme’s education requirements and a midwife’s professional portfolio

Hours required for the education components of the programme

Mentor midwife programme education requirements: support and development workshops

Graduate midwife: MFYP workshops and course fee funding

Criteria regarding the education activities a graduate midwife can undertake

Graduate midwives compulsory education requirements for the programme

Compulsory education activity Min Hours Max hours

MFYP graduate midwife programme commencement workshop

8 8

MFYP graduate midwife support meeting workshop 8 8

Combined Emergency Skills Day* 8 8

Midwifery Practice Day 8 8

Perinatal Mortality Review meeting (at least one) 2 4

Familiarisation with another setting 4 8

MFYP Midwifery Standards Review 2 2

Compulsory components total hours 40 46

Funded elective education activities for graduate midwives

Employed graduate midwives: balancing employment requirements in conjunction with MFYP requirements

The compulsory familiarisation session(s) for graduate midwives

Finding out about education opportunities and approved education providers

Attending education requirements for LMC graduate midwives: arranging locum/practice cover

Dates for the mid-year support meetings

This is a mandatory requirement to attend these meetings.

MENTORSHIP:

Mentoring

Required mentoring hours to complete this component of the programme

Deciding on the written mentoring partnership agreement

Mentoring partnership responsibilities

Programme expectations regarding how mentors are to be contacted

Expectations of formal mentoring meetings