First movers and fast followers

The new model of midwifery supervision, Advocating for Education and QUality ImProvement (A-EQUIP), ‘aims to build personal and professional resilience of midwives, enhance quality of care for women and babies and support preparedness for appraisal and professional revalidation’ (NHS England 2017: 3). Two midwifery leaders, Jane Herve (JH), Director of Midwifery at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Carmel McCalmont (CM), Director of Midwifery and Associate Director of Nursing at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, shared their vision for implementation.

JH: Following discussion about the needs of maternity services in Oxford, I developed a business case for the implementation of A-EQUIP and the PMA [professional midwifery advocate] role. This showed a different approach to implementation and was recently approved by the Trust board.

JH: PMAs will deploy A-EQUIP, offer professional advice and be involved in service developments.

They will be part of a Professional Advisory Council (PAC), managed by the Head of Midwifery, and comprising eight midwives who will apply for these roles.