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Shortened Midwifery Training for Registered Adult Nurses - Funding Arrangements

HEE will provide the following funding offer for programmes starting January 2022 until April 2024 for up to a combined total of 300 students per year across HEE regions:

A consistent salary support offer for all students aligned to the mid-point of AFC band 5 and including on-costs
A tuition fee contribution of up to £9,250 per student per annum, pro rata for the length of the course
Funding for placement activity in line with the published tariff rate for clinical placement activity

This funding will be available to support students who start courses from January 2022 up to April 2024. In liaison with the Student Loans Company, any students who have already started their programme (from January 2022) can be refunded their tuition costs/loan by their university, either directly to the Student Loans Company (HEIs are aware of how to do this), or if this has been funded via other means we expect universities to refund to the original source of payment.

Students eligible for this funding offer will not be able to access the Learning Support Fund (LSF). Further information on eligibility requirements for LSF are available on the NHS Business Services Authority website. However, students are entitled to seek support, if eligible, from the Student Loans Company for a maintenance loan.

The success of the approach and continued need for this level of funding will need to be reviewed prior to any decisions around funding beyond April 2024.

Requests for additional information and or/any questions relating to the funding offer should be directed to Health Education England Regional Commissioning leads:

North West: nw.midwifery@hee.nhs.uk

South East: MP-SE@hee.nhs.uk or andrea.curling@hee.nhs.uk

North East & Yorkshire: Lesley.Young@hee.nhs.uk

London: NursingandmidwiferyLDN@hee.nhs.uk

Midlands: nursingandmidwifery.midlands@hee.nhs.uk

East of England: educationcommissioning.eoe@hee.nhs.uk

South West: nursingandmidwifery.sw@hee.nhs.uk

What is the new offer?

HEE will provide the following funding offer for programmes starting January 2022 until April 2024 for up to a combined total of 300 students per year across HEE regions:

A consistent salary support offer for all students aligned to the mid-point of AFC band 5 and including on-costs

A tuition fee contribution of up to £9,250 per student per annum, pro rata for the length of the course

Funding for placement activity in line with the published tariff rate for clinical placement activity

What is different to the current offer?

There are regional differences in funding models across England that have been developed in response to the workforce requirements in those areas. Whilst some HEE regions have provided a level of financial support for students on shortened midwifery education programmes in response to meeting training number requirements for several years, other regions have not had the need to do so. System workforce planning drives commissioning and other factors considered include whether programmes have good retention rates and whether students remain within the profession, trust, or region on completion of programmes.

Recognising the need to offer a consistent approach in response to the current staffing and safety concerns within maternity services, Health Education England undertook a full review of the current shortened midwifery course offer across all regions to better understand and determine how this route can continue to support the training of midwives to meet system requirements.

Why did we need to change?

The shortened midwifery programme is a key component of the response to the current workforce challenges. This response includes the HEE Midwifery Training Expansion programme. Two widely publicised reports into safety issues within maternity services, the Ockenden report and the report of the Health and Care Select Committee Inquiry into Maternity Safety led, in April 2021, to NHS England/Improvement securing funding to enable an increase in the number of midwifery posts (establishments) across England of an additional 1,200, hence the current requirement to fill an increased number of vacancies. The shortened programme allows us to facilitate a faster supply of trained midwives with nursing qualifications into the workforce.

Shortened midwifery programme places are sought from HEE regional commissioning teams by provider trusts and this is what drives demand. Demand from the system to expedite this supply line has grown in response to the current issues outlined, not only to support faster supply into the system but also recognising the increasing need for joint nursing / midwifery skills to support increasing complexity and acuity of the women using maternity services.

Who is eligible?

If I am eligible, can I still access the Learning Support Fund?

Can I access funding if I started my course prior to Jan 2022?

HEE will not provide continuous or retrospective funding for those who started their training Programme prior to January 2022

Health Education England’s role is to support the delivery of excellent healthcare and health improvements to patients and public of England by ensuring that the workforce of today and tomorrow has the right numbers, skills, values and behaviours, at the right time and in the right place; education programmes are therefore commissioned according to system demand and requirements. Consequently, these programmes and funding models can change over time to meet these needs.

We do recognise and value and commitment given by individuals to developing themselves and entering a profession they want to as this ultimately supports patients whilst growing their own professional competencies and skills.

How long will this be available?

The current offer will be available for cohorts from January 2022 to April 2024

How will it inform future decision-making regarding funding?

This will be a test of concept that will be reviewed and evaluated to identify whether the current demand from service continues and provides value for money to the taxpayer. We will be looking at:

whether attrition rates from programmes fall ensuring they are more financially viable,

whether students continue into posts as midwives on registration and.

an assessment of the added value in service of having midwives with nursing skills.

Who do I contact for further information?

If you would like further information then please contact the HEE Regional Head of Commissioning for your area. Details can be found below: