1. UWE Midwifery Student Newsletter March 2010 We are delighted to be able to send out the first newsletter specifically designed for you, keeping you up to date with any changes to the programme that may affect you e.g. changes to the University regulations or new information from the Nursing and Midwifery Council. We intend to send these out in future, following the Programme Management Committee meetings to also directly give you feedback on issues brought to the Committee by your student representatives. However, if there are particular topics not covered which you would like to see in future newsletters – then please let us know Topics included in this newsletter are: Placement information Managing clinical attendance hours Academic News and information Module Leader information National Student Survey

2. Placement Information All students are notified about their next placement via ARC. It is good practice (and appreciated by mentors) if students phone the placement approximately 2 weeks before the placement commences. This way, you can establish who your mentor is and see what requirements the team have (i.e what shifts to work, what to wear, any reading requirements). At this time, it would be useful to work out how to get to your placement or see if you can lift share with any other students – remember, that some of your placements may well be some distance from your home, so it is best to iron out any transport difficulties prior to your placement starting. If you have any issues prior to the start of your placement, please contact Bob Phillips (Allocations Officer) on: 0117 3281149. You also need to call Bob if you are sick or absent from your placement. For further info see the Practice Support Web: http://hsc.uwe.ac.uk/net/student/Default.aspx?pageid=2http://hsc.uwe.ac.uk/net/student/Default.aspx?pageid=2 Support in Practice Most students are probably aware of how to get support in practice and the system has not changed, but thought it worth reminding students about what to do should a problem arise. Your first discussion should be with your mentor or the clinical team. The NMC specify that you should spend a minimum of 40% of your time with your mentor (approx 2 shifts per week) however if this proving to be problematic, you may need to plan your working patterns to accommodate accessibility to your mentor. If you are having a problem in practice, but for whatever reason you cannot discuss it with your mentor, then you may need to call or email the Practice Support Line: Email: hscpsl@uwe.ac.uk or Telephone: 0117 3281152hscpsl@uwe.ac.uk The Practice Support Line covers many practice issues including:- work or assessment related worries difficulties with work relationships personal/health issues Extenuating Circumstances learning outcome concerns How Does It Work? The issue will be reviewed by the Practice Support Line Advisors (for appropriate referral where necessary), who will then be able to help resolve the query or concern. If they are not able to resolve the issue over the phone, they will contact somebody that will be able to help. This could be: Your GDP tutor The Practice Associate Lecturer in Midwifery (PALM) or specific Visiting Lecturer The Programme Leader The Practice Associate Lecturer s in Midwifery (PALM’s) are UWE staff and the Visiting Lecturers (V/L’s) are Trust staff. They work closely with each other to ensure that both students and mentors are supported. If required the PALM will contact you and may visit you in your clinical area to offer advice and guidance.

3. Academic News and Information Changes to the Assessment Regulations and How to Access Academic Support From 1 st September 2009 the Academic Regulations have changed significantly. Please see the following link explaining the changes: http://acreg.uwe.ac.uk/changes.asp. It is vitally important that you familiarise yourself with these changes. If you have any questions relating to these changes, you can speak to your module leader (see contact details further on), Personal Tutor, GDP Facilitator or the Student Advisers.http://acreg.uwe.ac.uk/changes.asp I would like to highlight below, a few of the changes: The late work rules (24 hour and 10 day) have been removed. Work must be submitted by the published deadline. Work not submitted by the deadline will be recorded as a non submission. Students who have not attended and/or have not submitted their final assessment for a module and who have no accepted extenuating circumstances will not be permitted a referral opportunity. There will be one chance only to redeem failure in a module (students already enrolled on modules who haven't used up their two attempts (or exceptionally approved further attempts) provided for under the current regulations will be permitted to continue as enrolled) An administration charge of £50 for each referred module will be charged to cover the increased costs to the University of running referrals. If you are having any difficulties with Academic work, please see your Personal Tutor who can help and advise you. In addition to this, the Faculty Student Advisers can provide information and advice on a wide range of programme and student related matters. They can also assist you with personal matters that may be affecting your studies and refer you to other sources of support. Faculty advisers can provide information and help in a number of areas including: assessment regulations withdrawal and transfer to other programmes late work and extenuating circumstances what to do if unforeseen personal circumstances affect your studies fees and student funding special examinations needs and arrangements Managing Clinical Attendance Hours The guidance on managing your clinical attendance has not changed. Please see your programme handbook for details.

4. At Glenside, the student advisers are: Annette Britton, Sue Ollis, John Benefield and Sally Hawkins, you can either pop in, arrange an appointment or contact them by email: hsc.studentadvisers@uwe.ac.ukhsc.studentadvisers@uwe.ac.uk At Swindon, the student adviser is: Jeanette Ellis – 01793 604737 or email: jeanette.ellis@uwe.ac.ukjeanette.ellis@uwe.ac.uk At Hartpury, the student adviser is: Steve Tufnell – 01452 702166 or email: stephen.tufnell@uwe.ac.ukstephen.tufnell@uwe.ac.uk Module Leader Information Year 1Year 2Year 3 Intro to Midwifery and Low Risk Childbearing Kirsten Baker: kirsten.baker@uwe.ac.uk or 0117 3288539 kirsten.baker@uwe.ac.uk Research for Midwifery Practice Jenny Hall: jenny.hall@uwe.ac.uk or 0117 328 Health Promotion Glenys Hook: glenys.hook@uwe.ac.uk glenys.hook@uwe.ac.uk or 0117 32 88802 Interprofessional 1 Patricia White: patricia.white@uwe.ac.uk or patricia.white@uwe.ac.uk 0117 3288510 Interprofessional 2 Rachel Thomas: rachel4.thomas@uwe.ac.uk or 0117 3288790 rachel4.thomas@uwe.ac.uk Interprofessional 3 Matt Hughes: matt.hughes@uwe.ac.uk or matt.hughes@uwe.ac.uk 0117 3288585 Biological Sciences for Midwifery Helen Godfrey: helen.godfrey@uwe.ac.uk helen.godfrey@uwe.ac.uk or 0117 3288594 Medical disorders affecting health, pregnancy and childbirth Geraldine Lucas: geraldine.lucas@uwe.ac.ukgeraldine.lucas@uwe.ac.uk or 0117 3288519 Management of Self, Caseload and the Maternity Service Sheena Payne: sheena.payne@uwe.ac.uk sheena.payne@uwe.ac.uk or 0117 3288578 Midwifery, Gynaecology and Reproduction Julie Williams: julie.williams@uwe.ac.uk or 0117 3288562 High Risk Midwifery: susan.davis@uwe.ac.uk susan.davis@uwe.ac.uk or 0117 3288639 Dissertation Module Julie Hobbs: julie.hobbs@uwe.ac.uk julie.hobbs@uwe.ac.uk or 0117 3288579 Foundation in Psychology and Social Science Stuart MacLean stuart.maclean@uwe.ac.ukstuart.maclean@uwe.ac.uk or 0117 3288783 Choice module Either: Complementary Therapies in Midwifery, Mary Mitchell, mary.mitchell@uwe.ac.uk or mary.mitchell@uwe.ac.uk 0117 3288892 OR Preparation for Parenthood Educators, Kirsten Baker, kirsten.baker@uwe.ac.uk or kirsten.baker@uwe.ac.uk 0117 3288539 OR The Art and Science of Breastfeeding Practice, Geraldine Lucas, geraldine.lucas@uwe.ac.ukgeraldine.lucas@uwe.ac.uk or 0117 3288519

5. National Student Surveys. By completing the NSS, it gives us an important indicator of your satisfaction with the programme and your overall student experience. The survey is extremely important for us, as without your feedback, we can’t continue to adapt and improve the programme. FOR FINAL YEAR OR Part 2 STUDENTS (78 wk) On 1 st February 2010, the National Student Survey started for all UWE final year students. The survey ends at the end of April. You will have been sent a personalised email invitation by IPSOS Mori which directs you to the survey. If you have not received this invitation, or have lost it, please go to: www.uwe.ac.uk/studentexperience FOR FIRST AND SECOND YEAR STUDENTS OR Part 1 STUDENTS (78 wk) The University is also launching its own Student Experience Survey for all first and second year students at the same time. The SES is similar to the NSS in content. It started also on the 1 st February and will run until the 26 th March. This can be found at: http://www.uwe.ac.uk/student experience/