Scottish Maternity Development Programme (SMDP) Institutional
Information
Introduction
The Royal College of Midwives acts on behalf of the Scottish
Multiprofessional Maternity Education Group (SMMEG) which has a service level
agreement (Appendix 1) with the Scottish Executive Health Department (SEHD) to
provide the Maternity Development Programme and its related courses. The
Constitution of the SMMEG details the working relationships (Appendix 2). This
document sets out the organisational and management systems of the Royal College
of Midwives to demonstrate its fitness for purpose as an educational provider
and details the relationships between the partners in the Scottish
Multiprofessional Maternity Education Group.
The Royal College of Midwives
The Royal College of Midwives is the largest trade union and professional
body for midwives. The majority of midwives in the UK are members of the RCM.
The College carries out work in providing professional leadership, lobbying for
effective legislation and advancing midwifery knowledge. The College provides
its own programme of continuing professional development courses and has an
extensive midwifery library. The College influences updating of midwifery
legislation and thus influences the pattern for the future provision of
maternity care.
Organisational Structure
The organisational headquarters of the RCM is in London. The College is
governed by an elected Council of practising midwives. Council sets the strategy
through the strategic plan and directs the implementation by staff. Each of the
four UK Countries – Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and England has its own
RCM Board providing education and research, professional affairs and employment
relations services to midwives in those countries. This structure is
supplemented by the framework of branches where members where can give and
receive support as well as discuss professional and workplace issues.
Financial strategy
The RCM has its own financial strategy. This is agreed by Council. It
publishes independently audited annual accounts for debate at its AGM each year.
A separate financial plan for the Scottish Maternity Development Programme has
been agreed with the SEHD.
Liaison with outside bodies
The RCM has an extensive network to ensure effective liaison with the
National Health Service and Higher Education Institutions. In Scotland this
includes regular meetings of the Advisory Group on Education comprising
midwifery lecturers, and the Heads of Midwifery Group. Members of the RCM are
also members of Health Boards and Trust Boards thus ensuring that effective
communication channels are maintained.
As part of the SMMEG, the RCM will take responsibility for liasing with the
other members of the group to ensure that information is disseminated. This will
include hosting meetings, as appropriate, and the use of e-mail networks.
The RCM on behalf of the SMMEG will ensure that the Scottish Maternity
Development Programme website is kept updated to ensure effective communication
about the Scottish Maternity Development Programme courses and the activities of
the SMMEG.
The Service Level Agreement between the SEHD and the SMMEG ensures that
effective procedures are in place for assuring the quality of the collaboration
between the different organisations. This will be demonstrated through the SMMEG
report which will be made annually to the SEHD.
Quality Assurance
The organisational structure of the RCM ensures that its work is open and
transparent. The RCM on behalf of the SMMEG will administer the quality
assurance processes developed by the SMMEG and outlined in the Scottish
Maternity Development Programme Section of this validation document. These
processes ensure that learning and teaching strategies are effective and that
courses meet the needs of individuals and Trusts. Resources are developed by
Working Groups comprising professionals and users and take account of available
evidence and best practice statements. All learners on courses have access to
the relevant learning materials. The SMDP quality assurance mechanism embraces
the principles of fairness in the appeals mechanism and the complaint
procedures.
Courses of the nature identified in the Scottish Maternity
Development Programme are subject to change according to professional and
clinical needs, expectations and course evaluation. It is envisaged that there
will be an on-going robust evaluation of the Quality Assurance process of the
SMDP by an external body. The SMMEG is not in a position to carry out an
evaluation of the impact the SMDP on women’s reproductive health outcomes but
will suggest to groups such as SPERCH that an evaluation would be helpful.
Finally the recommendations of EGAMS will be included in the SEHD Performance
Assessment Framework and all Boards must ensure that cognisance is taken of
this.