AIBU to think I am being forced out of midwifery?

[ThisMustBeMyDream]

I've been a midwife for 12 years. I have a wealth of experience and skills.
But I am also a single parent (not through choice).
I have no family support. Ex husband doesn't involve himself with the children.
I'm in so much debt from paying for a Nanny so I can keep on working.
I can't do it anymore.
Work won't help.
I feel absolutely lost and distraught that for 12 years, I have fought hard to make this work (I was a teenage mum when I started my training). And now I can feel it slipping out of my fingers.
All I wanted was to work as a community midwife so I can use regular childcare. But no, this can not be accomodated due to the government deciding 80% of women should have continuity of carer (Better Births recommendation, which was then used in the NHS Long Term Plan). The traditional community model is going to go to a caseloading model which involves community days, along side hospital shift work. My employer has stated even if I could do the caseloading model, I can not stay part time either (I am currently part time as I have 3 children to manage, and one has additional needs).
These changes are allegedly happening in all Trusts as a result.
I'm going to lose my career. What the hell am I going to do?

It’s not a value judgment - just a description. Take it as you will!

Move to Australia? Where midwifery is still valued as an occupation? Sorry to hear this but is it just the .org u r with? Hope you resolve this. Atb, x

It’s sad though when people like OP actively want to be midwives yet can’t because they’re forced into a way of working that was absolutely not what they signed up for.

This is the same for many HCPs, for teachers...

The best outcomes are with midwife led continuity of care. Thta is why there is a move to casework in the NHS.

I felt that there was continuity of care when I gave birth - I liked having a team of MWs who knew me.

I went to the dentist today. I like the team of professionals who look after my teeth. They do a far better job than a single dentist could.

I am a midwife and some of our staff that have the same problem have gone on the bank and do as and when hours (if which there are millions)! Then you can pick and chose what you do with no nights or oncalls?

And continuity of care means a team of staff. But led by one midwife. Just as one dentist is responsible for your teeth.

It only leads to good outcomes if it is done properly with enough staff. Not done on a shoestring with half the amount of staff required to make it work properly.

I don't disagree with that.

And it’s well researched and documented that full time caseloading leads very quickly to burnout. It isn’t a way of working conducive to having any kind of work life balance. Who is going to midwife when all of our existing ones are on their knees because of the system imposed on them?

Just as one dentist is responsible for your teeth.

That’s not how it works at the dental practice I use.

I am also a midwife planning an exit if/when COC comes in. My trust are just starting planning it. I feel so stressed about it!!

They think of one thing after another to wreck the NHS , it may be very nice having continuity of care, but much much safer to have a qualified midwife than none at all.

OP I hope you can use some of the suggestions offered by posters. It would be very sad if your skill and enthusiasm for your work could not be employed for mothers and babies.

I haven't read all the replies as I'm on my way to work but as a fellow midwife, felt the need to reply. NHS Jobs is currently full of jobs for many trusts that are looking for both continuity AND community midwives. In the trust I work for women are being given the option of continuity so community midwives are still very much needed. Another option is agency work as long as you don't need a permanent contract. Pulse offers all the mandatory training you need to keep you up to date and the pay is generous enough that you may be able to get yourself out of debt. I did the same for a short time exactly for that reason. There are also places like fertility and sexual health clinics that operate 'regular' working hours and often advertise for part time as well as full time staff. I hope you find a solution xxx

I would too suggest bank/agency until the children are older or policy changes. You will be asked to work regularly and can turn down shifts that don't work and can keep up your hours.

Practising in this model has been far from popular in our Trust. According to our HoM, COC has now been put on hold due to the cost implications of delivering care in this way. No idea how they'll square this with the '20% of all women being booked into this model' mandate?

I haven’t had a chance to read all the replies to see if this has been suggested.

Can you not employ an au pair? Link both children into one bedroom and give her access to a bedroom?

I believe au pairs are much cheaper than nanny and you can work in the flexible nature of your hours.

I haven't read the whole thread but I would be speaking to your union if you are a member. Also, I'd contact ACAS, you can get advice and do early consolidation for free through them. I believe organisations have a legal right to respond in a certain number of days.

www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4028

If you are already working part time, I'm unsure if they can just take that off you. Given you have children and are a single parent, they have to tread very carefully that they are not indirectly discriminating against you.

I'd really take some advice and she what both these sources say.

My DH is a long standing NHS employee, and the 'management' are slaves to the latest initiative and 'needs of the service' without any consideration for their workforce. Completely different situation, but when they tried to refuse my husbands flexible working request, I quote a pile of the law at them, and they had completely backed down and changed their mind within 24 hours - idiots!

I really hope you can gather some information and do the same. I would take some advice and keep all communication in writing about the situation.

Best of luck.

I agree with joining an agency for better control and flexibility of your shifts. In addition I am sure your NHS Trust will have plenty of bank shifts available. This will enable you to complete your hours for revalidation and keep your skills up. I haven’t done so myself but many of my friends have. I left the UK 5.5 years ago and worked as a midwife in a crown dependant country. We had midwives doing only short days to accododate them and a few working part time. The midwives working in the antenatal clinic had the best gig as they pretty much worked office hours Monday-Friday. I was a Labour Ward M/W with a bit of PN/AN ward rotationally every now and then. I was also on the bank so did some community rounds and on calls every now and then. I think it’s shocking that the NHS have imposed COC rule. They will be loosing so many experienced and excellent midwives who simply can not accommodate this work pattern!

Haven't rtft so sorry if the suggestions have been said before -

Could you work for NCT, or do private antenatal classes?

I guess being a doula is also out because of the irregular hours.

Bank work? Choose your hours?

I guess if you can try and keep your registration until kids are old enough to be left?

8Maria* Really? I am shocked. Every single practise I have ever been in, you have a named dentist who is responsible for your treatment plan. They are the one that does and gives you your written treatment plan. So you have different dentists doing your treatment plan each time you go?

Good continuity of care costs money to implement. That is the real issue.

Different dentists do what they are best at, mostly. And they have meetings with the patient present to discuss the way forward. It’s not “shocking”, it’s great!

Do you have a written treatment plan when you get treatment? And if so, who does this? This should be the dentist responsible for your treatment. It does not mean they have to deliver all of your treatment, but they co-ordinate it.