A grounded theory study on midwifery managers’ views and experiences of implementing and sustaining continuity of carer models within the UK maternity system (20 November 2021)

Summary

Current UK health policy recommends the transition of maternity services towards provision of Midwifery Continuity of Carer (MCoCer) models. Quality of healthcare is correlated with the quality of leadership and management yet there is little evidence available to identify what is required from midwifery managers when implementing and sustaining MCoCer.

Turner et al. developed a theoretical framework that represents midwifery managers’ experiences of implementing and sustaining MCoCer models within the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).

Content

Findings:

MCoCer models that have sustained within the NHS have had supportive leadership from midwifery managers who have the necessary skills, attitudes, aptitudes and behaviours identified within the findings. Sustainable implementation of MCoCer is achieved through development of a values-based recruitment and retention policy within all areas of midwifery and encouraging midwives with previous experience in MCoCer or supportive philosophies towards it, to manage the model.

Providing the appropriate support for MCoCer is time consuming and personally demanding for midwifery managers, however, implementing and sustaining MCoCer was shown by participants who valued MCoCer models to be rewarding, bringing meaning to their midwifery leadership.