I first heard about UK Birth Centres Ltd's Professional Risk and Indemnity Scheme for Midwives (PRISM) when it launched in February, directly through Private Midwives. The scheme is one-of-a-kind and allows self-employed midwives to work as part of a company that is Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered and regulated. This means that I will benefit from the comprehensive insurance and governance that is required for self-employed midwives to operate, which is normally extremely cost prohibitive. The PRISM scheme also has a robust governance structure and comprehensive professional indemnity schemes, which allows me to work outside of the NHS in a private setting.
Having been a midwife both privately and in the NHS for nearly 15 years, it was great to find a scheme that enabled me to not only work autonomously and independently, but also offered the security I need. For the two years prior to joining PRISM, I was working for Private Midwives on their bank, a casual form of employment where midwives adopt a workload that suits them and fits into their lifestyle. For me, this would usually involve taking on around 12 to 15 clients at one time, yet I was still able to benefit from having access to equipment and supplies, incentives and rewards, and a pension scheme. Working in this way offered many benefits, but there is even greater flexibility within the new scheme.
For me, there was no other opportunity like PRISM, which would not only provide me with ultra-flexible working hours, but also robust insurance cover. Under the scheme, I can pay my membership monthly, interest free; and I am covered for up to £15 million in liability through UK Birth Centres Ltd's comprehensive and legally required Medical Malpractice Healthcare Indemnity (MMHI) insurance policy. The insurance cover includes something called ‘run off cover’, which means that all insurance is still in place long after I stop working. There is even an option for me to care for some clients on a ‘pro-bono’ basis if I want—for the women who you just have to say ‘yes’ to—and provide the extra level of care and support that working in this way offers, regardless of their ability to pay.
Independent midwives can practise with insurance from the Royal College of Nursing, through honorary contracts with NHS Trusts or through other insurance opportunities, but all of these have limitations on either scope or cover. This wasn't something I felt comfortable with, as I wanted to be able to practise as a midwife, with reliable indemnity insurance and the support of a like-minded organisation in which I could have confidence. I want to practise safely and legally, but also autonomously, and this not only provides support for me, but also for the women and families in my care. For all of these reasons, and having looked at all of the options, the PRISM scheme fitted my needs perfectly.
One further advantage of joining the PRISM scheme is that I will also benefit from UK Birth Centres' resources, including access to its clinical guidelines, policies and procedures, Perinatal Institute maternity notes, gestation-related optimal weight (GROW) chart generators and multi-professional training opportunities. The company's exceptional standards are maintained through regular training and annual appraisals, all of which enable midwives working under the scheme to meet revalidation requirements. It's great to be able to benefit from such reliable resources and the high level of support, and I feel that it is a very fortunate position to be in.
Of course, there are also numerous advantages to having such a flexible work schedule. For those with families, PRISM provides the opportunity to balance work and life commitments as working hours can be scheduled flexibly. Although extremely rewarding, being a midwife can often be stressful, so it's great to be able to manage my time more effectively. I love working in the private sector and how it allows me to build close relationships and spend the necessary time with mothers-to-be, due to the flexibility provided.
Since joining the scheme, I have noted a number of ways in which PRISM has positively affected my career as a midwife. It has provided me with the confidence to pursue independent practice, with the peace of mind that there is the structure and governance to support this. Previously, clients would approach me directly for care, but I would often have to turn them away due to my workload, so it's great to now have the flexibility to manage my time effectively for my clients.
PRISM is an excellent working opportunity, and one that I would highly recommend. The scheme offers the best of both worlds, allowing experienced midwives to benefit from being able to work flexibly and independently while having all the support from the governance and insurance of a CQC-registered company. The PRISM scheme is a fantastic model and the first of its kind to really open up more opportunities for midwives to work independently.