Leadership

Every midwife, MSW and student midwife has a leadership role to play in maternity. This may be through supporting women, colleagues, teams and the wider services. It is important for all midwives, students and MSWs to appreciate and understand leadership and their role as a leader within maternity.

Core leadership competencies

Authentic

Standing up for personal values and beliefs

Emotionally intelligent

With a sense of self value and independence, taking personal responsibility for their own direction

Visionary

The ability to inspire others to see the vision and to want to be part of it

Passionate

Demonstrating enthusiasm, energy and commitment, as well as sharing their passion

Self-effacing

Self-aware with the ability to blend humility with drive

Leadership development

The RCM believes that all midwives, students and MSWs are able to lead and be leaders within their area of work and expertise. Opportunities to develop their leadership skills, competence and expertise is a key priority within the NHS. At the RCM we offer a wide range of resources and courses to support you with your leadership development no matter what stage of your career you are at. We offer a range of resources and courses to support you.

The RCM Fellowship scheme recognises individuals who provide exceptional leadership and deliver excellence in practice, education or research. RCM midwife members can apply to be considered for a fellowship and if successful, applicants can use the fellowship status to display their support for the RCM.

Activists’ leadership course

This course is aimed at experienced RCM activists who wish to further develop their leadership skills and expertise. The objective is to broaden your understanding and confidence in taking up an influencing position within the workplace and amongst colleagues. The course will be led by the RCM’s trade union and educational staff and will include external visits.

Syndeo Band 7 leadership programme

This is a leadership behaviour, quality improvement, and networking programme. It has been designed for Band 7 leaders to help them connect better with themselves, their team, their colleagues and to grow healthier workplace cultures. As part of the programme, participants will identify a simple quality improvement (QI) project that will be developed through the course of this programme. This course builds the skills needed to lead confidently in complex and high‑pressure maternity environments.

The course focuses on four key areas:

Quality & safety improvement

Develop and deliver a QI project to improve safety, governance and care quality.

Share learning through the RCM network.

Leadership behaviours

Explore your leadership style and its impact on team culture.

Build compassionate and courageous leadership skills.

Learn strategies for promoting positive behaviours and challenging poor practice.

Communication

Enhance confidence in difficult conversations with colleagues and families.

Understand human factors and their influence on communication and systems performance.

Political awareness

Learn how maternity services are shaped and governed.

Understand how Band 7 leaders can contribute to service improvement, guidance and transformation.

Programme Benefits

Leadership development aligned with national recommendations (e.g., Ockenden).

Guided support to implement a QI project, with opportunities to showcase work UK‑wide.

Connect and learn with Band 7 leaders from across the UK.
Approx. 50 hours total study time (including sessions, self-directed learning and QI work).

How to apply

To confirm a place on the course your Trust/Health Board will need to supply a PDF of the full purchase order.  Your place is not confirmed until we have received a PDF of the purchase order.

Cost to attend £800+VAT to RCM members and £925+VAT to non-members

Terms and Conditions

Full payment must be received no later than 30 days prior to the course. Failure to do so means you place will be forfeited.

Should you need to cancel your place, 31 days’ notice from the course start date in writing is required for a full refund.

Testimonials from our 2026 cohort

'Caitlin and Maggie were amazing tutors. I felt so inspired by their delivery and insights and I truly felt this course was transformative for me. Yes it was the content but crucially it was how they delivered it. It’s been transformative in both my professional and personal life.'

'It was very useful and helpful and will definitely impact positively on my practice.'

'Course has been excellent in widening knowledge on not just general leadership, but learning about myself as a leader and how I can improve, adapt and change dependant on other leadership styles.'

'Engaging course with a lot of opportunity to share experiences and to discuss within the group. A good size group for interaction, Maggie was brilliant at interacting with everyone and listening to everyone’s point of view. I feel I have learnt a lot even though starting out as a new leader '

'Amazing course presenter, lots of years and experience. Amazing group collaboration.'

Eidos Aspiring Band 7 leadership programme

We have created this leadership development programme for all Band 7 leaders including labour ward co-ordinators and those who are leading teams. Our programme focuses on culture, workplace behaviours and human factors linking these to safety, while also exploring key skills needed to lead effectively in highly demanding, complex and dynamic clinical environments.

Band 7 clinical leaders and co-ordinators have a key position in maternity services to support and foster positive workplace cultures and ensure safe and effective care delivery within their teams. Understanding how teams work and deliver in complex care systems lies at the heart of leadership.

The programme will focus on four key learning and development areas:

Improvement for quality and safety in maternity
Behaviours
Communication
Political awareness

It is imperative for all participants to fully engage in the programme to include sharing workplace relationship experiences and being an authentic, inclusive, and compassionate leader. As part of your application, you will be asked to identify a simple quality improvement (QI) idea that you will develop through the course of this programme. You will need to speak with your line manager about your idea so they can support you to develop this in your clinical area. You may wish to look at a change in practice/behaviour/policy in your clinical area which may enhance culture/safety/quality in the workplace

Overall study time, including self-directed learning and preparation for the programme sessions in person and virtual, and for a small QI project development, needs to be agreed prior to starting the programme. On average, including attendance at all sessions, the total study time is approximately 50 hours. This does not include travel time.

Participants in the Eidos programme will benefit from a rich and supportive learning experience designed to elevate their leadership potential.

How to apply

You will need to complete an application form which ask for an outline of your proposed QI project, agreement to attend from your manager and confirmation you have secured funding to attend. Places are limited to 14 for the course.

Application close  Midnight Monday 5 November 2025

To confirm a place on the course your Trust/Health Board will need to supply a PDF of the purchase order by 21 November 2025.  Your place is not confirmed until we have received a PDF of the purchase order.

Cost to attend £800+VAT to RCM members and £925+VAT to non-members 

For any questions about the programme  please email us at  events@rcm.org.uk

Testimonials from our London 2026 cohort

'I have learnt a lot about myself, especially libations I may have when trying to approach others/situations. If I didn’t know or get to identify them I would have been stunted in my growth.'

'It has planted the seeds to enable to help me think about my future career in a leadership position.'

'I feel like over the past 2 days have I done a lot of self reflection and now have more understanding of the type of person I am and how these can become my strengths and not making them my weaknesses going forward.'

'I feel that its really opened my eyes to self reflection and how that can make me a better person, colleague and one day, leader. The course has empowered me and given me confidence to grasp new opportunities and push myself out of my comfort zone.'

'The course was not as I expected, I enjoyed the collaboration and discussion. It's made me think more deeply about myself and what values are and who I want to be in life and as a leader.'

Aspiring HoMs/DoMs leadership programme

This programme is aimed at new and experienced Heads and Directors of Midwifery who want to develop their personal leadership in line with current midwifery leadership challenges. The programme is delivered face-to-face to enable participants to share challenges, ideas and solutions and to encourage peer learning. The programme includes 1:1 coaching sessions so that each participant can benefit from individualised professional development.

Consultant Midwife and Lead Midwife for Education leadership project

This project examined the development of clinical and academic leadership roles, namely the consultant midwife (CMW) and the Lead Midwife for Education (LME). Although these roles work in different contexts, they have similar strategic responsibility and are required to lead midwifery within their respective settings across the professional pillars of practice and education.

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