Helen Hayward

Helen qualified as a midwife in 2015 and has worked in several NHS hospitals gaining experience and honing her passion for education. Most recently, she worked in the Maternity Assessment Unit at the Leicester Royal Infirmary, balancing the demands of a busy service with supporting students on their journey to become midwives.

Helen has always been interested in high quality education and came into academia through a seconded role while working in clinical practice. She is currently undertaking my Masters of Science qualification in Clinical Education and have a keen interest in Interprofessional Education. This is an area she would love to advance within midwifery education in the future, building positive relationships between professions to create a supportive and cohesive work environment after qualification. Helen's other interests include; infant feeding, anatomy and physiology and improving safety and empowerment in maternity care. 

I am currently studying an MSc in Clinical Education and focussing on implementing my research into education. I am working with the School of Medicine and other allied healthcare professions in the School of Healthcare in creating interprofessional education sessions for students. 

I am currently co-lead of Year 3 with Lucy Bradley, teaching clinical skills teaching and midwifery practice in this year of study. I am midwifery lead for the first-year module ‘Professional Development’ involving interprofessional education and the importance of effective communication and professionalism in the workplace. I am also lead for the second-year module ‘Promoting safe and effective midwifery care through the continuity of carer model’, exploring personalised care and midwifery models of care. I work 4 days a week and love to take on teaching for all year groups. 

I am Interprofessional Education (IPE) lead for Midwifery at the University of Leicester, and take part in Working Together Groups, Patient and Carer meetings and IPE activities and strategy groups. I aim to incorporate innovative IPE activities throughout the years of study to enhance education in midwifery and obstetrics. I am also deputy placement lead, facilitating discussions between the university and practice partners to ensure quality practice experience for all students. I am a registered midwife and always seek to continue my own clinical practice by undertaking bank shifts when I can. 

BSc Midwifery at the University of Surrey completed (2015)

MSc module in Mentorship (2018) at the University of Surrey

Associate Fellow in Higher Education Academy (ongoing) 

PGCert Clinical Education at the University of Leicester (ongoing)

PGDip Clinical Education at the University of Leicester (ongoing)

MSc Clinical Education at the University of Leicester (ongoing)