Best entry to midwifery

Hello,

I'm not sure I fully understand the midwifery training and was wondering if someone would kindly explain please?

Do I gather correctly that the diploma is now gone and the only route is through a Degree course? If so is it correct that if I worked as a HCA in the maternity unit they may fund me to do the midwifery training?? Or have I totally plucked this out of thin air?

I have not studied for over 10 years - the last training I did was nurse training which I didn't complete (derr!).

My prob is that I have a mortgage and two little children(2&3) who are in nursery (at extortionate costs!) 3 days a week at the moment and wonder what kind of help I could get with childcare whilst training - anyone know??

What is the best route? Access to midwifery distance learning sounds good for my hectic lifestyle at the moment.

I just need some advise to get me started please?
Thanks so much in anticipation
xxxx

I could be wrong, but I was under the impression that the diploma was being phased out, so the degree is likely to be your best option.
A degree grant is means tested so childcare elements are taken into consideration as part of that.
Your local Trust may seccond (?sp) you, which means you would retain a wage (but I am not sure how much), I expect someone else can give you more on that.
Universities look for recent study and I did an access course which helped me to get back into the way of studying (although I hadn't done any for more than 20 years) and gave me a boost in the first year of the programme.
I hope you are able to fulfill your dream and wish you all the best,
KS

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Kentish Spitfire
Moderator, Student Services
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"It's better to be thought a fool - rather than proved a fool!"

Hi Imogen and welcome to the site.
It seems lots of MCAs go on to do the degree, but it just depends on your trust whether they will fund you or not....not many will these days so you will need to check locally.
As for the rest, agree with spitfire, which is to say - NHS bursary is means tested, so cant really give you an idea of how much money you will get towards childcare and living etc. It depends on whether you are single, how old you are, the household income and so on. You could phone them and get a general idea i spose?

Dont really know much about the distance learning course, I think most people who have been out of education for a while tend to do a normal access course at college which seems to prepare them well. Alternatively, why don't you do an NVQ through work (level 2 i think), because it counts when applying and therefore no access needed....i know of people who have done it this way.

all the best and good luck
x

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Site Administrator, Student Mentor Scheme Manager

STMW 2nd year - no, really!

Thank you so much you two! - i've learnt more on this website today than I've ever known about M/W! I don't work in any care/hospital setting and my current job wouldn't fund any kind of NVQ training as it's a very small two man band set up! Thanks for info though. I'll look into all and see what I can work out - the money bit is the real prob for me though hence my caution applying!

can understand your caution, money is a real issue, and a real enigma b4 u start!
I really think the best thing in that case would be to defo call NHS bursarys, they should really be able to give you a rough idea based on household income
good luck. Anything else, just ask!!
x

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Site Administrator, Student Mentor Scheme Manager

STMW 2nd year - no, really!

Thanks - sooo helpful!
xx