The SHA holds the statutory responsibility for the supervision of midwives and midwifery practice in the North West. It discharges this responsibility through the appointment of a Local Supervising Authority Midwifery Officer (LSAMO).
The LSAMO is professionally accountable to the Nursing and Midwifery Council for the UK (NMC). The NMC Midwives rules and standards (NMC 2004) govern the framework in which the LSA, the LSAMO, Supervisors of Midwives and midwives meet the requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001.
The function of the LSA is to ensure that statutory supervision of midwives in the North West is carried out to a satisfactory standard and thus ensure safe midwifery care and protection of the public within its boundaries.
The LSAMO also:
- appoints supervisors of midwives and deselects when required;
- participates in the development and facilitation of programmes of preparation of supervisors of midwives;
- ensures that there is access to continuing education, training and professional development for supervisors of midwives;
- receives and processes annual intention to practise notification for each practising midwife;
- maintains a database of all midwives practising in the region;
- ensures midwives meet the statutory requirements for practice;
- investigates allegations of incompetence or misconduct;
- determines when it is necessary and appropriate to suspend a midwife from practice, in accordance with the NMC rules and standards;
- leads the development of standards and audit of supervision throughout the LSA;
- provides a formal link between midwives, their supervisors and the statutory bodies;
- provides a framework for supporting the supervision of midwives and midwifery practice within the LSA boundary;
- works in partnership with other agencies and promotes partnership working with women and their families;
- works in partnership with the other LSAMOs across the UK, to facilitate the sharing of good practice and maintain liaison with the statutory bodies
The Local Supervising Authority Midwifery Officer for NHS North West is:
Lisa Bacon
LSA Midwifery Officer, North West
Tenterfield
Brigsteer Road
Kendal
Cumbria
LA9 5EA
Tel 01539 - 797815
e-mail lisa.bacon@northwest.nhs.uk