Developing clinical competency: Experiences and perceptions of Advanced Midwifery Practitioners in training

• Links between the University and Trust were instrumental in developing both generic and specialised skills required for AMP.
• The changing demographics of the client group facilitated the development of specialised clinics and a robust staff training.
• The generic competencies gained improved collaborative working with their medical colleagues.
• Development of specialised midwifery bespoke skills enhanced decision making responsibilities to promote evidence based care.

This paper will describe the experiences and perception of a cohort of trainee Advanced Midwifery Practitioners (AMP's) during their training on an MSc in Advanced Practice. The educational philosophy underpinning the master's programme is interprofessional learning linked closely to work based learning and assessment. The focus group explored how the AMP's were developing core competencies within four domains:1.Clinical/direct patient care or practice;2.Leadership and collaborative practice;3.Improving the quality and developing service practice;4.Development of competency in self and others.The links between the university and clinical assessments were instrumental in developing both midwifery and specialised skills required for extending their scope of practice. The changing demographics of their client group facilitated the need to provide safe assessment and management of ladies with complex health and social needs in pregnancy and childbirth; provide specialised clinics and the development of a robust staff training and assessment process. The generic competencies they gained improved collaborative working with their medical colleagues, raising the trainees profile and acceptance of their extended role. In addition to this, development of specialised midwifery skills promoted a high degree of decision making responsibilities within midwifery to facilitate service development and promote evidence based care.