University shortlisted in Royal College of Midwives awards for excellence

The University of Leicester has been shortlisted in three categories for the prestigious Royal College of Midwives (RCM) Awards 2023. 

Celebrating and rewarding outstanding achievements within midwifery, the awards are a benchmark for excellence.

Winners will be named at a special ceremony in London later this month (19 May).

Midwifery lecturer Maxine Chapman has been nominated in the Unsung hero category for Midwives or Higher Education staff from a Black, Asian or Ethnic background, thanks to her efforts to ensure culturally sensitive working practices and high standards for all patients. 

She is among a team of people who have developed a ‘decolonising midwifery education toolkit’ with the Royal College of Midwives to address inequity in health education.

Her nomination called her an “inspiration” and said her work on the toolkit had ensured improved care outcomes with students now more likely to recognise unwell women and babies such as those with jaundice or rashes.

A delighted Maxine, who has more than 20 years’ experience in midwifery, said: “It was an absolute shock to learn that I’d been nominated, never mind shortlisted for an award but it’s lovely to be recognised in this way.

“I’m passionate about advocating for all women in childbirth. I hope the toolkit will be embedded in midwifery standards for education. We know that Black women are 3.7 times and Asian women 1.8 and women of mixed ethnicities are 1.32 times more likely to die, as a result of  childbirth in the UK in comparison to White women (MBRRACE report 2022). 

“Education and raising standards of care for all so that vital signs of deterioration in a mother and baby aren’t missed because of the colour of their skin, is key to changing this.” 

Third year student Selena Palmer has been nominated in the Unsung Hero category for support workers or students from a Black, Asian or ethnic backgrounds. 

The 21-year-old was nominated for her work to ensure a change in culture, attitudes and behaviours in the university and clinical setting, she has also been involved in the decolonising midwifery education toolkit. Selena formed part of the practice group which helped discuss ideas to improve the experience of global majority midwifery students. 

She said: “I was able to speak about the toolkit at the RCM’s recent Education and Research conference and although it was daunting, it was such an amazing opportunity.

“It was a lovely surprise to be nominated – I feel incredibly proud. Being there at the start of someone’s life journey is extremely rewarding.”  

Professor Jayne Marshall has been shortlisted for the Excellence in Midwifery for Leadership Award in recognition of her ability to inspire and motivate others, embracing collaboration and creativity in developing and implementing the 4-year undergraduate Master in Science (MSci) Midwifery with Leadership programme alongside a new faculty of midwifery academics at the University. 

The programme is now in its fifth year and is the only one of its kind in the UK to have leadership theory and practice embedded in its curriculum. Enrolment has increased with half of students now from Black, Asian and Ethnic communities, being representative of the local demographic that in time, may change the current cultural imbalance of leaders in the maternity services. 

She said: “I feel very proud to have been shortlisted but believe that being a good leader is to nurture others to reach their potential and bring out their best, irrespective of their background, so they too can lead. For Maxine and Selena to have also been recognised is a great endorsement of their achievements and an inspiration to others.”