Following the publication of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Standards of proficiency for midwives (NMC, 2019) a standardised practice assessment document, the Midwifery Ongoing Record of Achievement (MORA), was developed for use across all pre-registration midwifery programmes in England and Northern Ireland; a project that was led by the first supervisor. The implementation of the MORA began in 2020 and is now an integral part of all pre-registration midwifery programmes. Prior to the implementation of the MORA, midwifery student practice assessment processes across England and Northern Ireland varied widely, requiring midwives to understand and navigate different approaches to the assessment of midwifery students during clinical placements.
The rationale for the implementation of a standardised document and process using the MORA was to enhance validity and reliability of assessment, facilitate movement across service provision for both students and midwives and foster collaborative working between universities within a locality where placement sites were shared.
This project seeks to explore how midwives in clinical practice undertaking the role of practice supervisor, practice assessor or nominated person perceive the effectiveness of the MORA as an assessment tool, building on a research project exploring the experiences of student midwives and academic staff, currently being led by the first supervisor. It will also explore whether the original aims of implementing the MORA have been achieved.
There is a significant gap in the research in this field as the standardised practice assessment tool in pre-registration midwifery education in England and Northern Ireland is a novel concept. This study will contribute to the body of knowledge informing best practice in the field of midwifery and related healthcare assessment of professional proficiency.
The aim of the project is to explore midwives' experiences and perceptions of the effectiveness of the standardised clinical practice assessment process using the MORA (Midwifery Ongoing Record of Achievement), in ensuring the Standards of proficiency for midwives (NMC, 2019) are met for preregistration students in England and Northern Ireland.
The objectives of this project are to:
I qualified as a midwife in 2010 and worked clinically for 10 years with a particular interest in high-risk antenatal care. I have always enjoyed supporting student and so made the transition into academia becoming a senior teaching fellow at the University of Southampton in 2021.