Open College Network West Midlands Access to Higher Education Diploma (Midwifery)

If you dream of becoming a midwife, the Access to HE Diploma (Midwifery) will equip you with knowledge you need to apply for a midwifery degree programme. Whilst preparing learners for the challenges of academia, this Access to HE Diploma will also help students to build a foundation of knowledge in everything from human reproduction to the skeletal system.

Everyday midwives perform the extraordinary job of bringing new life into the world. They regularly develop meaningful relationships with expectant mothers and fathers and provide comfort and reassurance to people when they need it the most. If this sounds like something you could do this diploma could be the perfect option for you.

Life is unpredictable and circumstances change. This is why students don't have wait until September to enrol on this Access to HE Diploma . If you want to study you can start right away, or at another time that is convenient for you. This Access to HE Diploma hase been specially designed to suit people who have been out of formal education for a while. Also, because there are no classes to attend, individuals with family and work commitments can still fit their studies around their schedule. Students are free to finish their qualification in as little as 6 months, on average learners complete their course within 8 to 9 months (the maximum time allowed to complete your diploma is 2 years).

How does my Access to HE Diploma work?

Once you have enrolled on your Access to HE Diploma, the rest of the process is pretty self-explanatory. Every student will be provided with a comprehensive set of interactive learning materials. Everything supplied is easy to access and easy to understand. As well as this, all learners have access to our expert tutors. These tutors are hardworking, approachable and wholly dedicated to student success. If at a student finds themselves struggling or in need of support, they can contact a tutor via phone, email or through their online learning platform that is called PEARL.

As this is a distance learning course, students will have to take full responsibility for their own study timetables. This means that they will need to develop the discipline to work independently and learn how to set their own realistic targets. Learners will also be provided  with a learning plan to follow that sets out deadlines to work towards. This may be difficult at first, but with the help of tutors and fellow students, learners do not take that long to find their feet.
 

How will my Access to HE Diploma be assessed?

The Access to HE Diploma (Midwifery) will be made up of a number of units and assignments. Once you have completed your first assignment to the best of your ability, you should send it back to one of the tutors for marking. Once they have graded the work and offered feedback, you should begin your next piece, drawing on feedback from the past paper. Once all of the assignments have been handed in and marked, you will have sufficient evidence to be awarded with a number of credits. The Access to HE Diploma is a nationally recognised Level 3 qualification, regulated by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). In order to achieve this Access to HE Diploma in midwifery, you must achieve 60 credits in total. You should note that 45 of these credits are taken from graded units which are concerned with academic subject content. The remaining 15 credits are earned via taking ungraded units which are included to help you to develop your study skills.

What happens after my Access to HE Diploma?

When you have finished studying your course, you will be able to apply to university. After successfully completing a university degree, you would be able to start working as a fully qualified midwife. As a practicing midwife you will have plenty of opportunities available to you. These include:

• Working for the NHS
• Working in private practice
• Working overseas
• Transferring into a different area of healthcare

Unit 1: Preparing To Study

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand how study is organised and planned
• Understand how to apply theories of learning in relation to personal approaches to learning
• Understand a range of constraints upon study
• Understand the importance of assessment feedback.

Unit 2: Academic Writing Skills 

On completion of this unit you will:

• Be able to write with relevance in responding to an academic task.
• Know how to interpret and discuss concepts and debates in responding to a set, academic writing task.
• Be able to summarise for academic purposes, selecting key points, information or central ideas.
• Understand the role of reference, allusion and paraphrase to avoid plagiarism.

Unit 3: Preparing a Written Assignment   

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand how to use key information sources.
• Understand why sources are acknowledged and referenced.
• Understand a range of reading strategies.
• Understand note-making methods.
• Understand how to plan draft and produce a written assignment.

Unit 4: Cell Biology  

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the cell.
• Understand cellular metabolism.
• Understand how cells grow and divide.

Unit 5:  The History of the National Health Service

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the reasons for the rise in public provision of health care between the mid19th century and 1948.
• Understand the background to and the founding principles of the National Health Service as part of the introduction of the Welfare State.
• Understand the political trends which have shaped the National Health Service since 1948.
• Understand the ethos of the contemporary National Health Service.

Unit 6: Human Reproduction, Growth & Development 

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the structure and function of the human reproductive system
• Understand how hormones regulate the reproductive tract throughout life
• Understand the sequence of events from conception to puberty

Unit 7: The Role of the Midwife in Antenatal

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the roles and responsibilities of the midwife, within the antenatal period.
• Understand the role of the Nursing and Midwifery Council in midwifery regulation, concerning the antenatal period.

Unit 8: Introduction to Psychology   

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the importance of research in psychology
• Understand the main approaches in psychology.
• Understand ethical issues in psychological research.

Unit 9: Human Nutrition & The Digestive System  

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the structure and functions of the organs of the digestive system.
• Understand nutrients and their sources.
• Understand how diet may influence health.

Unit 10: The Role of the Midwife in Intrapartum Care

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the role and responsibilities of the midwife concerning the intrapartum period.
• Understand the role of the Nursing and Midwifery Council in midwifery regulation, concerning the intrapartum period.

Unit 11:  Social Factors in Health Care

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand sociological factors influencing the relationships between patients and health professionals.
• Understand the role of social motivational factors in health and ill health.
• Understand the significance of social support networks in health care and maintenance.

Unit 12: The Human Musculo-skeletal System

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand anatomical terminology.
• Understand the skeletal system and locomotion.
• Understand the muscular system.

Unit 13: The Role of the Midwife in Postnatal Care

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the roles and responsibilities of the midwife, concerning the postnatal period.
• Understand the role of the Nursing and Midwifery Council in midwifery regulation, concerning the postnatal period.

Unit 14: Human Disease & Prevention   

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the categories and causes of disease
• Understand the epidemiology of commonly occurring diseases/conditions.
• Understand preventative measures for a chosen disease or condition.

Unit 15: Approaches to Health   

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand how definitions of health and ill health are socially constructed.
• Understand different explanatory models of health and ill health.
• Understand the different ways in which people respond to illness.
• Understand contrasting sociological perspectives on health.

Unit 16: Cell Division & Heredity

On completion of this unit you will:

• Demonstrate a knowledge of cell division.
• Demonstrate an understanding of heredity and genetic variation.

Unit 17: The Brain & Nervous System   

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the major sub divisions of the nervous system.
• Understand the structure and function of glial cells and neurons.

Unit 18: Human Immunity

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand non-specific defences against disease.
• Understand specific immunity and the immune response.
• Understand the biology of vaccination.
• Understand how immune sensitivity may cause ill-health.
• Understand the formation of covalent bonds.

Unit 19: Equality and Diversity within Health Care   

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand equality and diversity within health care.
• Understand the rights of the individual in a health care setting.
• Understand the impact of equality and diversity legislation for health care.

What's Included

• All study materials
• Study Guide
• Full Tutor and Admin support
• The course fee includes the awarding body registration and certification fee (valued at up to £96.00).