How the Midwifery Council ensures midwives are competent.

Applicants for registration as a midwife have to hold qualifications as required by the Midwifery Council, demonstrate that they are competent to practise within the Midwifery Scope of Practice and provide certain information to satisfy the Council that they are fit for registration.    See these requirements for midwives.

Applicants for an Annual Practising Certificate also have to provide information to satisfy the Midwifery Council that they continue to be fit and competent to practise. A midwife's Scope of Practice will be endorsed on her or his Annual Practising Certificate. (At present there is only one Midwifery Scope.)  You can ask to see this document.   See these requirements for midwives.

The Council has developed its policy about ongoing professional development to ensure that once registered, midwives continue their professional education and maintain their competence to practise.  Midwives, as with all health practitioners, need to be willing to commit to continuing education as part of being a registered health practitioner. The Midwifery Council's Recertification Policy sets out the programme in which registered midwives must engage, to demonstrate that they are competent to practise within the Midwifery Scope of Practice.   

The Council is also able to undertake reviews of a midwife's practise when it becomes aware of possible competence issues. 

You can check the status of your chosen midwife by searching the public Register elsewhere on this site.