Networks
Sharing information and intelligence is vital if we are to improve midwifery care and education. The RCM facilitates a number of networks to bring together midwives and MSWs working clinically, in research and in education to inform RCM policy and how we influence policy-makers across the UK.
Our current networks
RCM Director and Head of Midwifery Network
RCM Director and Head of Midwifery Network
The RCM Director and Head of Midwifery Network brings together senior leaders from across the UK and provides the opportunity to explore current challenges and opportunities within the maternity arena, as part of a peer support forum. It is a platform for the RCM to gain insights from the system to inform future RCM work that can support leaders in practice, enables us to share expert advice and initiatives drawn from the RCM and external contributors . to discuss topical issues and provide protected time for professional networking. This working partnership between the RCM and Midwifery leaders facilitates an opportunity to influence the strategic health and social services changes and developments in the UK which impact on women and birthing people, families, and midwifery.
The network’s main objectives include:
- To be an RCM recognised network of individuals that are leaders of maternity services across the UK
- To provide a platform for networking, peer support and information sharing for Directors and Heads of Midwifery.
If you are a Director or Head of Midwifery and member of the RCM, please get in touch to join the network.
RCM Consultant Midwives Network
RCM Consultant Midwives Network
The RCM Consultant Midwives Network brings together consultant midwives in post (and those in development roles) from across the UK. It provides expert advice and acts in partnership with the RCM to inform, lead and influence the strategic health and social services changes and developments in the UK which impact on women and birthing people, families, and midwifery.
The network’s main objectives include:
- To be an RCM recognised network of individuals, who can be nominated to provide national/UK representation for expert committees/working groups, media activities and organisations in the public and private sector.
- To ensure that the role of the consultant midwife is communicated, understood and utilised within maternity services at a local, regional and national level.
- To provide a platform for networking and sharing best practice for consultant midwives as well as peer support
Lead Midwives for Education UK
Lead Midwives for Education UK
The Lead Midwives for Education UK network brings together all LME’s that work in universities across the UK. The RCM has a nominated honorary LME role that sits on the network and acts in partnership to inform, lead and provide support for educators who are responsible for midwifery education in their NMC approved institutions.
Student Midwife Forum
Student Midwife Forum
From debating and discussing issues affecting student midwives at local and national level to informing the work of the RCM and being a voice and a face for student midwives in both an academic and clinical setting, the Student Midwife Forum (SMF) plays a significant role in our work supporting and advocating for you.
The SMF also actively support the relationships and affiliations between your midwifery societies and RCM Branches. If you’d like to contact your SMF representative, you can find more about each of them, their role and contact details below.
RCM learning representatives network
RCM learning representatives network
RCM learning reps hold a pivotal role in supporting midwives, maternity support workers and student midwives with their learning and development needs, promotes opportunities to access learning and organises learning events for their branch. The learning rep has a key role in welcoming and supporting early career midwives (ECMs) as they join the workplace and in the first three years of their career.
There is a suite of RCM workshops that are accessible for use by RCM Learning representatives these can be supported by the local regional officer or organiser.
Learning representatives can also join a Facebook group specifically for LRs which is used to share ideas of events and i-learn updates.
Two virtual learning reps updates take place annually to address current learning issues and your role in supporting early career midwives. This event in an opportunity to discuss issues in your area or workplace and get advice and support and share your ideas with other reps. This is part of your workplace rep training and is covered under time off for trade union activities.
RCM health and safety representatives
RCM health and safety representatives
Informal network of RCM Health and Safety reps coordinated by the RCM’s Health and Safety Advisor. Facilitates access to resources, a space to chat, support each other and exchange ideas sharing their experiences. Provides access to RCM H&S Advisor (who works part time), signposting to relevant regional officer, organiser and online resources.
Centre for Sustainable Healthcare
Centre for Sustainable Healthcare
The Centre for Sustainable Health (CSH) is partnering with the RCM, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and The Sustainable Healthcare Coalition (SHC) to deliver the project, Taking collective action to deliver low carbon, equitable maternity care.
This year-long project aims to engage the multi-disciplinary maternity community through studying the maternity care pathways, highlighting carbon and health inequity hotspots, supporting maternity teams to run QI projects to tackle these hotspots, and bringing the whole community together to discuss how the findings can influence future maternity care.
RCM Strategic Midwifery Advisory Group (SMAG) – Northern Ireland
RCM Strategic Midwifery Advisory Group (SMAG) – Northern Ireland
SMAG is a forum where senior midwife leaders in Northern Ireland meet to discuss matters related to maternity services, midwifery practice, maternity care and midwifery education. The outcomes of these discussions will lead to a consensus of opinion which can be used to promote the midwifery profession at national, regional and local level, advise on the impact of policy decisions and influence at a strategic level.
Objectives
- To offer a forum for professional networking and information exchange which supports the roles of senior midwives working in Northern Ireland (NI).
- To communicate and discuss new policy developments which may affect maternity services at a national, regional and local level, facilitating presentations from guest speakers.
- To facilitate midwifery leaders to identify key issues impacting on the delivery of safe and effective maternity services and identify strategic approaches to influence and advise key stakeholders on these matters.
- To contribute to the development of future midwifery leadership in NI
- To provide a direct interface between the RCM and midwives in senior and strategic positions in NI ensuring that the activities of SMAG are used to inform the work of the RCM in NI
Strategic Midwifery Leadership Group (SMiLe) – Scotland
Strategic Midwifery Leadership Group (SMiLe) – Scotland
The Strategic Midwifery Leadership Group (SMiLe) was established to oversee and support the ongoing work being undertaken to achieve the ambitions set out in the five year plan for the midwifery profession. Networks have been set up to amplify the voice of all parts of the profession and link them with existing networks to focus on the profession. They provide opportunities for midwives at different stages of their careers to contribute and work towards making positive change for the midwifery profession across Scotland and identify leaders at every stage of their career.
Clinical Leaders (Scotland)
Clinical Leaders (Scotland)
This network brings together midwives who are undertaking the RCM leadership program as they develop their leadership skills within a supportive network of peers. The chair of this group sits on the SMiLe group to ensure this network’s voice is heard.
Early Career Midwives (Scotland)
Early Career Midwives (Scotland)
This network brings together midwives at the start of their career, through their preceptorship period up until revalidation. It brings early career midwives from across Scotland together to advocate on behalf on their colleagues to ensure midwifery care and the profession is safe, sustainable, future focused and always compassionate. The chair of this group sits on the SMiLe group to ensure the voice of early career midwives is heard.
Educators (Scotland)
Educators (Scotland)
This network brings together midwifery educators from university and practice to provide peer support and to advocate for educators in midwifery to ensure midwifery care and the profession is safe, sustainable, future focused and always compassionate. The chair of this network sits on the Smile group to ensure the educators’ voices are heard.
Risk and Improvement (Scotland)
Risk and Improvement (Scotland)
Networks bring midwives and MSWs (maternity support workers) from across Scotland together to advocate on behalf on their colleagues to ensure midwifery care and the profession is safe, sustainable, future focused and always compassionate.
Scottish Consultant and clinical research active midwives
Scottish Consultant and clinical research active midwives
This network brings together Consultant midwives and clinically research active midwives in Scotland to provide peer support, strengthen the voice of midwives who advocate for and promote evidence-based care, this group also has a seat on the ULK consultant midwives group as well as sitting on SIGN for the RCM. The chair sits on the SMiLe group to ensure this voice is heard.
Scotland student midwives’ network
Scotland student midwives’ network
This network brings together the two Scottish Student Midwife Forum representatives and representation form the three student societies in Scotland to provide peer support, share what is going well and to advocate for the voice of student midwives in Scotland. The chair sits on the SMiLe group to ensure the future midwife voice is heard.
Workplace representatives (Scotland)
Workplace representatives (Scotland)
Networks bring midwives and MSWs (maternity support workers) from across Scotland together to advocate on behalf on their colleagues to ensure midwifery care and the profession is safe, sustainable, future focused and always compassionate.
