Complete career change to midwifery...help please!

[YouMaySayImADreamer]

I have recently returned to my career following maternity leave and I am having a bit of a career crisis in that I want to change careers completely to become a midwife. I am completely lost on where to even begin with reagrd to applying for courses, gaining experience, getting funding etc and would really appreciate some help.

It isn't a whim, it is something I have have thought about before, but was scared to make such a big change. However, becoming a Mum has made me reconsider a lot of things, and I have decided to go for it.

I just about have the right qualifications luckily, with good GCSEs and I believe psychology A-level will be accepted as my science subject. However my degree is in Geography, and I have a Planning related masters - my current career is environment related.

I have absolutely no experience in a health or care setting.

I am thinking I will need to up my experience in this field, but where to begin? And what else will help with my application?

Also, what else would bolster my application?

I know the course is funded by the nhs and I would receive a bursery, but what other funding is available?

Thanks in advance

OP are your qualifications GCSE's recent - as in the last 5 years? Most unis are different but require recent study.

Not always essential to have care experience, in fact I'd say most if the younger girls on my course hadn't even stepped foot inside of a hospital. Although any experience isn't a bad thing, just so you can show some initiative - as in volunteering at a bf group, or children's centre.

What's your current line of work?

Hi santa thanks for replying. No I did my GCSEs just over a decade ago...my most recent study was my masters which I finished 3.5 years ago...would this count?

I was thinking of taking a year to get some experience as I think I have missed the deadline for UCAS this year(?). I was thinking of becoming breastfeeding peer supporter and have made some enquiries already about this, and possibly seeking work as a hca in a nursing home or similar as you don't usually need any qualifications as far as I know. But didn't know if this is closely related enough.

My current line of work is environmental, so completely different!

My school qualifications are well and truly more than 5 years old but because I'd got a degree I was accepted to do midwifery without recent study. I would very strongly advise you to get some experience as a health care assistant in maternity if you can, especially if you're changing career. I had done my research but nothing can really prepare you for what it's like to work on a maternity ward.

Different unis have different requirements. Nottingham for instance insist on recent (within 4 years) study regardless of whether or not you have a degree. But something like a professional qualification or an evening class, nvq could count.

I got in without any experience of healthcare but I did have a lot of customer service experience which are transferable skills.

It is hard to get into. I'm not sure I'd recommend packing your job in in order to work as a HCA. I know some HCAs who have worked in maternity for ages who have applied quite a few times before they got in.

The nhs pays the course fees but the bursary is means tested now. So if you have a dp who works you might not get anything.

I'd contact local unis and see what their entry requirements are. Get signed up with the bank at the hospital as a HCA. So you could work some odd shifts at weekends to get a feel for it. You may well get shifts on maternity as well.

Sign p the midwifery sanctuary for more advice on applications, etc. studentmidwivessanctuary.com/

Find out as much as you can about the role of the midwife as on the application and at interview that's what you need to get across that you understand.

What viva said.

Hi YouMay,

I know someone who did this. She originally applied with very good grades (and already a BA in a humanities subject) but nothing sciencey, and the A levels were a while ago, and she got rejected by everywhere. The next year, however, she got into a very good course - the key thing she did to bolster her application was taking evening classes in biology/health at the local city college.

I don't think she did any volunteering though, but I'd guess it wouldn't hurt. The BF supporter idea sounds like a really good one! Good luck!

Thank you all so much for your replies. Although it seems experience isn"t esssential, I have just about missed the UCAS deadline for this year, so I think it would strengthen my application to try and get some experience, at least around my work, this year.

mrsmini how easy is it to get work as a hca on a maternity unit? I have been looking for these sorts of roles but I cant find a thing. Viva how to I sign up with the bank, do I need to be with an agency or have qualifications to do this?

mint evening classes sound like a great idea, thank you. Was this a-levels or nvqs. Just wondering what sort of qualifiicationsnare likely to strengthen my application.

Thanks all again

You don't need any qualifications to sign up to the bank. You could check the nhs jobs website to see if they're currently advertising but best bet is to ring the hospital and ask to speak to the nursing bank office. Ten explain to them there that you have no experience but you'd like to go on the bank. They'll tell you what to do.