From Maternity Support Worker to Apprentice Midwife

Ever wondered what it's like to transition from a Maternity Support Worker to a Midwifery Apprentice? While many student midwives head straight to university, the apprenticeship pathway is a blend of NHS employment, clinical experience, and academic study. I’ve been quizzing Jamie to find out what it’s been like for her to go from MSW to Student Midwife.

Q. Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us! Please share when you started your career in maternity care, and what drew you to it? How long did you study to become a Maternity Support Worker?

I had always wanted to be a midwife since I was around 5 years old, however life influences as I grew up changed the narrative on what path I saw myself working when I became an adult. It wasn’t until I had my daughter that I really had to think about mine and my family’s future and what my five year plan was to be.

This led me to start researching access courses and ways into midwifery and that’s how I came across becoming a Maternity Support Worker (MSW). From someone who had worked in the health sector previously, I always had a passion for making a difference, and I just knew that maternity services was where I needed to be.

Study wasn’t necessary to become an MSW, as long as you had met the job requirements, most training would be provided at the hospital through study days.

Q. Being a Maternity Support Worker before starting your apprenticeship, what are the biggest ways that your MSW experience helps you as a student midwife? And are there ways that being a MSW before makes it harder for you?

One of the biggest ways that my MSW experience has helped me with my transition to student life is that I am not learning the fundamentals of the way the maternity unit works. I already have an understanding of the different areas within maternity, the roles of the multi-disciplinary team and how care is delivered and implemented across the maternity pathway.

As an MSW, I would never shy away from getting involved and asking questions, and this I feel has been beneficial as I continue to show that initiative through the first year of my degree.

I would definitely say that there is almost a bias when it comes to having been an MSW before, in the sense that it is often assumed that you know or do more than you can actually do. With me, having been a Band 2 MSW, which essentially meant that my job role was everything but clinical skills such as venepuncture, observations and catheter removal.

"People were often shocked that I had never taken blood samples before or carried out observations until I explained what my role was previous."

So, coming into the degree, essentially with no clinical experience, people were often shocked that I had never taken blood samples before or carried out observations until I explained what my role was previous. Having that open dialogue with my practice supervisors helped me get the support I needed when it came to practicing certain clinical tasks.

Q. Can you explain the main differences between being a Maternity Support Worker and a Midwife for those who might not be aware?

So, a maternity support worker is a non-registered person (someone who holds no professional PIN with a relevant healthcare body) who works under supervision and guidance of a midwife to facilitate and support care such as infant feeding support, mobilisation post surgery, cleaning and stocking of areas etc. A midwife is someone who has completed a dedicated university degree and holds a protected, legally registered professional title.

The Apprenticeship Pathway

Q. I’ve not heard the term ‘apprentice midwife’ before and I’m curious what this means - you mentioned that you are an employee alongside university study and placement - how does that work? Does it mean you have to do your job as a MSW at the same time as all your student midwife work and studies? Does it affect whether you need to pay to study to become a midwife?

So, I am currently completing the Midwifery Degree Apprenticeship pathway that is funded under the apprenticeship scheme in order for me to train as a midwife while remaining a paid employee. If it wasn’t for the apprenticeship programme, I would not be able to afford the traditional route of university.

For the three years of the degree, we are essentially on study leave and only attend the hospital for our student shifts when on placement. It is not a requirement to undertake any MSW shifts however the option is available to book any bank shifts should we wish to.

It’s important to know that when on shift as an MSW, no student midwife tasks are allowed to be performed. So, for instance, I would not be allowed to undertake observations or venepuncture as that is not part of my job description as an MSW.

At the end of my three years, I will be fortunate enough to not have any student finance debt, and my access course advanced learner loan I was accepted for when completing my access course will be wiped off upon completion of my degree.

"If it wasn’t for the apprenticeship programme, I would not be able to afford the traditional route of university."

Q. Do NHS Trusts encourage and support Maternity Support Workers to take on apprenticeship to midwifery? Is it quite a common route to midwifery to become a MSW first?

I would say the apprenticeships aren’t widely advertised by trusts due to it mainly being an internal recruitment process for current employees and it is also VERY competitive, often with 1-2 spaces at each intake available. There aren’t many trusts in the UK that offer the apprenticeship pathway either.

One of the requirements for the apprenticeship is to have healthcare experience as a MSW/clinical support worker prior to the degree anyway, so it’s very common to become an MSW first.

Q. What are the biggest differences between the apprenticeship route and a traditional direct-entry university route? Is the uni part of the training different for you because you already have clinical knowledge?

The biggest difference is that we’re being paid to train and essentially become ‘home-grown’ midwives. Every day is a new learning day, and I learn something new each time I’m on shift or at uni. It will be the same when I qualify too. You can always learn something new from someone different too.

Q. When you're working an apprentice shift on the ward, how does your uniform differ from your Band 2 MSW uniform? Is it ever confusing for staff or women to know which role you're in that day?

When I am on placement as a student, I wear my university issued uniform that states student on the top with my name badge that states my role. When I work a MSW shift, I wear pink/purple uniform depending on the area I’m working in with my name badge that states my job role and I always introduce myself as a support worker to staff and any person I deliver any care to.

Q. Does the apprenticeship pathway affect the likelihood of you getting a job as a midwife in your trust once you qualify?

There is a grey area regarding that because there should be a job ready as a midwife as it’s classes as a secondment and when we qualify they have to put our job at for MSW. There is also job uncertainty for us as apprentices too!

Q. If there wasn't a job for you as a midwife when you qualified then could you continue working as an MSW until you found one?

I could until I received my pin, otherwise I’d have to delay getting my pin, or I’d be actively looking at a different trust, which would break my heart! I’m hoping that when I qualify the job situation will be different!

Study Tools

Q. You shared great photos showing how you drew fetal skull sutures, fontanelles, and bones onto a doll for revision! Are there other ways you like to be creative with study methods like this help complex anatomy topics sink in?

Absolutely! I’m definitely a very visual and kinaesthetic learner, so I’ve found that if I can make something visual or physically interact with it, it tends to stick in my head much more easily.

Drawing the fetal skull onto a doll was one of my favourite examples because I could physically look at the sutures, fontanelles and bones rather than just trying to memorise a labelled diagram. I could then move around the doll and relate what I was seeing to fetal positions and how the head moves through the pelvis.

I also like creating my own diagrams, mind maps and annotated drawings rather than relying entirely on textbook images. I find that actually drawing something forces me to think about what I’m learning rather than just reading it.

I also use colour quite a lot. I’ll use different colours to separate information or highlight things that I need to remember. I love making my notes visually appealing, but there is a purpose behind it. The colours and images give my brain something to associate the information with.

"I’m definitely a very visual and kinaesthetic learner, so I’ve found that if I can make something visual or physically interact with it, it tends to stick in my head much more easily."

Q. I was very glad to be see your happy post with your Student Midwife Planner and Milestone Stickers from my shop! Can you share how you use your planner and study tools have helped you feel organised when balancing all the responsibilities of your job and studies? Have you done something fun with your milestone stickers?

I use it to document my new learning taking place while in placement. It’s very hard sometimes to keep on track with my off the job log when the clinical environment is busy however it is also my responsibility to ensure that I’m evidencing appropriately and correctly as possible. I write anything I want to do more research on and it’s also a way of keeping in track with my eMORA and any deadlines I’ve had.

Q. Affirmations have been a big deal for me in my own healing journey (I love Louise Hay!). I have thought in the past about making affirmation cards for student midwives. Do you like to use affirmations in your day? Which are your favourites? Do you think I should make some? :):)

I am a firm believer of positive mental attitude and always tell myself at the start of the shift ‘whatever happens today, I will be ok!’ I also love manifesting! Absolutely please make some!

Q. People loved seeing your handwritten pharmacology drug revision cards! Do you have tips for learning them all?

Fortunately for me, I was previously a dispenser in community pharmacy so I have knowledge surrounding pharmacology. However I always use the British National Formulary (available in app form on your phone) to help with this revision.

Clinical Firsts & Placement Milestones

Q. On placement, you crossed off major milestones like taking manual blood pressures, doing manual urine dips, and taking bloods for the first time! Which clinical skill felt the most daunting before you tried it on a real person, and how did it feel when it finally clicked?

Taking blood for sure! It took me a while to figure out what works for me in regards to technique. But with a few adjustments and feedback from practice supervisors, I was able to successfully take blood and now I love it! I also love a challenge when it comes to blood taking.

Q. You mentioned learning to recognise deviations from the norm and using SBAR effectively to escalate care. How did moving from an MSW role to making clinical judgment calls as a student midwife feel?

As an MSW I knew what SBAR was but was unfamiliar in why it was used. Since transitioning to a student, I have been able to understand why it’s used and how important it is to give an accurate history using SBAR to ensure no clinical detail is left out as this can impact someone’s care massively.

When I’ve noticed something abnormal, I escalate immediately to my practice supervisor; however I always try to have a plan of action in my head in case my supervisor asks ‘what are we doing next?’. It’s good to get thinking like that early on as in year 3 you’re expected to lead most of the care with minor input from your supervisor while still being supervised.

Reflection & Advice

Q. You shared how reaching the end of Year 1 means completing 33% of your degree, alongside facilitating births on the MLU, signing off 167 proficiencies, and receiving lovely feedback from families! Looking back, what has been the most rewarding moment of your first year? And what has been hardest?

Most rewarding is probably being able to advocate for my families and get noticed for the difference you have made to them and their care. I will always try my best to facilitate their wishes however sometimes it’s not always possible, however being honest from the start helps manage expectations. The hardest part was identifying a severely unwell neonate and escalating promptly. Something that will stick with me forever, however I feel better equipped with the research I’ve done in the event I encounter something similar in the future.

"Most rewarding is probably being able to advocate for my families and get noticed for the difference you have made to them and their care."

Q. What advice would you give to another MSW or prospective student who is thinking about applying for a midwifery degree apprenticeship?

Do it! If you’re unsure, enquire with your local university on their partnerships with local trusts, consult your maternity education team, and talk to fellow colleagues! Apprenticeships are the way forward!

Thank you so much to Jamie for contributing her student midwife story - it was so interesting to learn about a different journey into midwifery. If you have a story to tell, please let me know - I'd love to share it.