International Confederation of Midwives. Essential Competencies for Basic Midwifery Practice 2010. 2011.
Notes: This document presents the most recent version of ICMs essential competencies for basic midwifery practice. Throughout this document the term "competencies" is used to refer to both the broad statement heading each section, as well as the knowledge, skills and behaviours required of the midwife for safe practice in any setting. They answer the questions "What is a midwife expected to know?" and "What does a midwife do?" The competencies are evidence-based. The competencies are written in recognition that midwives receive their knowledge and skills through several different educational pathways. They can be used by midwives, midwifery associations, and regulatory bodies responsible for the education and practice of midwifery in their country or region. The essential competencies are guidelines for the mandatory content of midwifery pre-service education curricula, and information for governments and other policy bodies that need to understand the contribution that midwives can make to the health care system. The Essential Competencies for Basic Midwifery Practice is complemented by ICM standards and guidelines related to midwifery education, regulation and clinical practice.
International Confederation of Midwives. Global Standards for Midwifery Education (2010). 2011.
Notes: This document presents the most recent version of the ICM Global Standards for Education. This report is one of the essential pillars of ICM's efforts to strengthen midwifery worldwide by preparing fully qualified midwives to provide high quality, evidence-based health services for women, newborns, and childbearing families. ICM's pillars include updated core competencies for basic midwifery practise, midwifery education, midwifery regulation and strong midwifery associations. The midwifery education standards were developed globally using a modified Delphi survey process during 2009-2010 and represent the minimum expected for a quality midwifery programme, with emphasis on competency-based education rather than academic degrees. ICM developed the Global standards for midwifery education to assist primarily three groups of users: 1) countries who do not yet have basic midwifery education but are wanting to establish such programmes to meet country needs for qualified health personnel, 2) countries with basic midwifery education programmes that vary in content and quality who wish to improve and/or standardise the quality of their midwifery programme(s), and 3) countries with existing standards for midwifery education who may wish to compare the quality of their programme to these minimum standards. ICM expects that those countries whose current standards exceed these minimum standards will continue to offer the higher level of preparation for midwives in their region. The stated standards as listed are: I. Organisation and Administration II. Midwifery Faculty III. Student Body IV. Curriculum V. Resources Facilities and Services and VI. Assessment Strategies. The education standards were developed in tandem with the update of the Essential competencies for basic midwifery practice (2010) as these competencies define the core content of any midwifery education programme. This document was also produced together with an updated version of Global Standards for Midwifery Regulation. There are companion guidelines to this document.
International Confederation of Midwives. Global Standards for Midwifery Regulation (2011). 2011.
Notes: The International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) has developed the ICM Global Standards for Midwifery Regulation (2011) in response to requests from midwives, midwifery associations, governments, UN Agencies and other stakeholders. The goal of these standards is to promote regulatory mechanisms that protect the public (women and families) by ensuring that safe and competent midwives provide high standards of midwifery care to every woman and baby. The aim of regulation is to support midwives to work autonomously within their full scope of practice. By raising the status of midwives through regulation the standard of maternity care and the health of mothers and babies will be improved. These standards were developed during 2010 in tandem with the development of global standards for midwifery education and the revision of the ICM essential competencies for basic midwifery practice. Together, the ICM essential competencies and the global standards for regulation and education provide a professional framework that can be used by midwifery associations, midwifery regulators, midwifery educators and governments to strengthen the midwifery profession and raise the standard of midwifery practice in their jurisdiction.
International Confederation of Midwives. Global Standards for Midwifery Education 2010 - Companion Guidelines. 2011.
Notes: This document presents the Companion Guidelines for ICMs most recent version of the Global Standards for Midwifery Education 2010. These guidelines were developed to address the following questions: "What is needed to implement each standard (suggested guidelines)?" and "How does one determine whether the standard has been met (evidence needed)?" A glossary of key terms used throughout the Standards is offered to assist in understanding. These Companion guidelines are intended to offer guidance on the ICM Global standards for midwifery education 2010. The document lists information in two columns. The first column offers suggestions on how to meet each standard and may include examples to illustrate what is meant. These examples are NOT all inclusive and midwifery educators will have others. The second column highlights the type of evidence, with some examples, that a programme might use to determine when and whether they have met the standard. Much of the evidence is in the form of written documents, letters of support, and faculty meeting minutes.