Finally Starting my New Role, Professional Midwifery Advocate!

Last month marked the first day of my new job. It's only 7.5 hours a month, but it's a band 7 contract so I get paid a little more per hour of work. I finished the course in July 2023, but got an extension for my workbook until October. It then got confirmed as being passed in December but I had to wait for the results to be rectified until April, so it's been quite a long wait. 

I am now officially a sessional PMA which means that I mainly work with service users for birth reflections and birth planning meetings. The birth services are aimed to support families in either getting answers or coming to terms following traumatic deliveries and experiences, or to create a bespoke birth plan for those requesting plans outside of guidelines. The main priority is ensuring open and honest communication, alongside informed decision making and ensuring they involved in the process. 

Whilst not a priority initially, we can also be contacted for staff support with Revalidation, Restorative Clinical Supervision (RCS), Careers conversations, Support in practice and more. I haven't yet heard this personally, but in the future apparently I will also be helping to run some sessions on study days which will be exciting. 

Impact will be the priority study day for supporting on, but I haven't attended that study day myself just yet. From what I have heard, it's a full study day taking place 0800 - 1600 on site and it is for Midwifes, Maternity Support Workers and Obstetricians. The study day is meant to focus on personalised care training, focussing on women's care and journey through maternity care and will be an annual update. I think this is very much a PMA focus, so I can see why it would be useful to have them on a training day but I would like to attend myself before teaching on it. 

Overall, I am really excited to start the job and eager to get involved and provide the support to staff and service users alike, both of which is something I am really passionate about. However, I am a little nervous because I don't want to do or say the wrong thing, and I feel because it's such an infrequent role, it will take a while to feel comfortable in the position. Luckily, I have 3 days of shadowing a PMA first which will hopefully give me more confidence and experience in the different roles and jobs.