1/B53: MIDWIFERY FIRST YEAR OF PRACTICE PROGRAMME SERVICE SPECIFICATION
1.0 PURPOSE OF THE AGREEMENT
1.1The Ministry of Health (The Ministry) through its Health Workforce New Zealand Business Unit (HWNZ) and New Zealand College of Midwives share a common vision that through the Midwifery First Year of Practice (MFYP) programme:
a.graduate midwives will receive a high standard of clinical support and mentoring, and are orientated to safe and confident autonomous practice
b.will contribute to supporting the overall goal of improving the quality and safety of maternity care
c.will contribute to the recruitment and retention of the midwifery workforce and build a sustainable base for the New Zealand midwives workforce in the future.
1.2The MFYP programme commenced in 2007 as a fully funded national programme aimed at providing a framework of support for newly graduated midwives during their first year of practice.
1.3The programme is compulsory for all graduate midwives who have completed their midwiferyeducation in New Zealand and who want to practice midwifery in New Zealand.
2.0 MFYP PROGRAMME COMPONENTS/SERVICE DESCRIPTION
2.1 The MFYP programme is a 12 month programme with three cohorts a year
which are guided by the National midwifery examination dates and Midwifery
Council of New Zealand (The Midwifery Council) registration.
2.2 The four key components of the MFYP programme for graduate midwives
are:
a.One-to-one mentoring by a NZCOM approved mentor
b.Midwifery practice
c.Preparation and support for Midwifery Standards Review (MSR)
d.Continuing education and professional development activities
2.3 Additional Components include:
e.Midwifery Practice Skills Support
f.Missed Birth Fund
g.National Programme Co-ordination
h.Travel and Accommodation Support
2.4 For mentor midwives the MFYP programme includes:
i.Mandatory mentor education and development workshops
j.Mentoring to the graduate midwife
k.Travel assistance
3.0MFYP PROGRAMME ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
3.1Midwifery Training Funding Eligibility
HWNZ funding for the programme is only available for graduate midwives
who have completed their midwifery training in New Zealand and are New
Zealand citizens or permanent residents.
Graduates midwives need to meet all the other requirements identified in the NZCOM MFYP programme for eligibility to the programme[1].
NZCOM needs to apply to HWNZ under the HWNZ exception to residency
policy for New Zealand graduates to participate in the MFYP programme
immediately on graduation and receive HWNZ funding.
Midwifery graduates who have not trained in New Zealand and are required
by the MidwiferyCouncil of New Zealand to complete the MFYP programme
need to self- fund the MFYPprogramme themselves.
3.2MENTOR ELIGIBILITY
Mentors for graduate midwives need to be members of NZCOM, be a
NZCOM approved graduate midwife mentor and listed on the MFYP
mentoring database, and meet all the other requirements identified in the
NZCOM MFYP programme for mentor eligibility for the programme1.
3.3MIDWIFERY PRACTICE SUPPORT ELIGIBILITY
Midwives mentors who are not currently practising as mentors can provide
midwifery practicesupport. Midwives providing midwifery practice support
need to be members of NZCOM, be listed on the MFYP mentoring database
and meet all requirements identified in the NZCOMMFYP programme for
providing midwifery practice support1.
4.0COMMENCEMENT OF PROGRAMME
Midwifery graduates need to commence the programme within the timeframe
as determined by the requirements of the Midwifery Council.
1/B53: Midwifery First Year of Practice Programme Service Specification Health Workforce New Zealand. February 2015
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