A-EQUIP midwifery supervision model
With more than ten months of engagement with over 2,400 people across the healthcare system including 1,400 survey responses, 280 comments on the replacement model, contributions from over 400 delegates at the 2016 RCM conference the A-EQUIP model was tested and contributions from over 800 delegates at various conferences, we would like to introduce A-EQUIP.
A-EQUIP is an acronym for advocating for education and quality improvement. The A-EQUIP model is made up of four distinct functions: normative, restorative, personal action for quality improvement and education and development.
During a pilot phase (November 2016 – March 2017) sites across England testedthe model and providing invaluable feedback on what works well and what could be improved. We worked closely with our pilot sites and their feedback was built into the final model.
The model supports a continuous improvement process that builds personal and professional resilience, enhances quality of care and supports preparedness for appraisal and professional revalidation. The ultimate aim of using the A-EQUIP model is that through staff empowerment and development, action to improve quality of care becomes an intrinsic part of everyone’s job, every day in all parts of the system.
With the help of midwives, the Local Supervising Authority national taskforce and the projects Editorial Board, ‘A-EQUIP Operational Guidance’ has been developed.
The guidance is in four parts:
- Part one describes the impact of the legislative change on midwifery regulation and the changes to midwifery supervision
- Part two describes the A-EQUIP model and its benefit to midwives and users of maternity services
- Part three has a clinical focus. Case studies show how the model can be deployed to support staff working in clinical and non-clinical roles and the benefits of the model to the multidisciplinary team
- Part four provides guidance for:
- Midwives and providers of maternity services and describes key actions for maternity providers
- ICSs
- HEIs