School Pupils Given Insight into Midwifery

As part of the Midwifery Insight Programme, pupils were given a tour of the Maternity Unit at The Balfour.

​A partnership initiative between NHS Orkney and Developing the Young Workforce Orkney has enabled local school pupils to gain an insight into the career of a Midwife.
 
Throughout the year, senior pupils from Stromness Academy and Kirkwall Grammar School have been given the opportunity to participate in a Midwifery Insight Programme which has given them the chance to learn more about the role of a Midwife and gain insight into early childhood development.

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Leah Rendall, the DYW School Co-ordinator at Kirkwall Grammar School, worked with NHS Orkney to develop the programme.  She said:  “As part of my role in the school, I work with pupils to identify work placements which will help them develop skills and knowledge that will benefit them as they progress from school.  Several pupils had identified Midwifery as their preferred future job role, but this is not an area where they can access a traditional work placement.
 
“Working with NHS Orkney, we were able to develop a programme that lets pupils gain some insight and knowledge which would help them to confirm if Midwifery was the right career choice for them and also help them with college, UCAS or job applications and interviews.”
 
The first part of the programme saw pupils complete the Solihull Approach for Young People – Understanding Yourself and Parenting, which was delivered by Orkney Islands Council’s Early Years Team.  This course has previously been offered to pupils interested in working in early years and childcare and this year was expanded to include pupils interested in midwifery.  The course gives an insight into early child development and looks at how babies’ brains develop.
 
A visit to the Maternity Department at The Balfour gave pupils the chance to see the clinical environment midwives work in, learn more about the role and some of the activities midwives undertake as part of their duties.  Pupils also heard about the alternative pathways into a career with the NHS, including work-based learning and the chance to gain their nursing qualification with NHS Orkney through the Open University.
 
Following the Maternity Department visit, pupils were invited to attend a block of Parentcraft classes, which are delivered by a Midwife and attended by expectant mums and their partners.  The four-week block covered topics such as labour, breastfeeding and post-natal care.
 
Lauren Flett, Senior Charge Midwife at The Balfour, said:  “We were delighted to work with DYW Orkney to offer pupils an insight into midwifery.  We welcomed the pupils into the Maternity Unit, which gave them the chance to see a birthing suite and speak with myself and a newly qualified Midwife to learn more about the pathways into the job.
 
“Attending the Parentcraft classes was an opportunity for them to learn more about labour and postnatal care, however it also offered an insight into another aspect of the role, as midwifery is not just about delivering babies.  I hope this programme has helped them to learn more about working as a Midwife and has prepared them to move into the role in the future.”
 
Finally, Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen offered a virtual insight session to support pupils who want to apply to study Midwifery.  The online session offered hints and tips to help pupils complete their UCAS application and prepare for a university interview.
 
Nine pupils started the programme, with seven completing all aspects.  Feedback gathered from the pupils highlighted that the programme helped them to improve their knowledge of the role of a Midwife, with the Parentcraft classes being a particular highlight.
 
One of the pupils who took part in the programme was Erin Scott, who has recently completed her sixth year at Kirkwall Grammar School.  Reflecting on her time in the programme, Erin said:  “I found the insight programme so useful for giving a wider overview on what being a midwife is like and some of the things you may have to do.  My favourite part was learning about labour and the different stages as I found that really interesting.
 
“By having this experience it confirmed that midwifery is definitely what I would like to do for a career and I have now accepted my place at Edinburgh Napier University to study Midwifery.
 
“I found the programme so helpful when writing my personal statement and doing university interviews.  Getting the experience to be able to go into the maternity ward and being taught in more detail about labour, delivery and after the birth was a huge advantage and gave me lots to write about in my personal statement.”
 
Ali Sabiston, Talent and Culture Manager with NHS Orkney said:  “At NHS Orkney we are always keen to look at alternative ways to engage with our future workforce, and this programme has been a great way to do this.  Working with DYW Orkney has enabled us to develop a programme that gives young people a real insight into the role of a Midwife and helps them to understand if this is the right career choice for them.  The programme will also help them with their UCAS or job applications and interviews.  We hope that this will become a regular programme that interested pupils can access.”
 
Any young people who are interested in a career in Midwifery should speak to their DYW School Co-ordinator or Guidance Teacher to access this programme in the new academic year.