Careers
Thank you for considering the very rewarding career of a Self Employed Community Midwife (SECM), either as a lead midwife or in a second midwife only capacity. The criteria is the same in both primary and second midwife capacity.
Here is some information that we hope will help you through the process.
Needed......
- a love of midwifery
- be happy to work both independently and as part of a team
- have good support
- be flexible
- be willing to contribute to midwifery issues
- full driving licence or chauffeur
- a full member of the CMA (membership fee €75 per annum, from May to April).
- Public Liability Insurance ( cost based on caseload)
- full tank and a charged mobile phone
- a signed MOU and Agreement with the HSE
MOU/Agreement Requirements
A signed MOU and agreement with the HSE is the means by which we access Professional Indemnity Insurance through the State Claims Agency (SCA/CIS). Presence at five births in the capacity of a second midwife is necessary prior to commencing as a primary SECM.
- Registered Midwife with NMBI, up to date registration
- Signed Patient Safety Assurance Certificate (PSAC)
- Public liability Insurance, accessed throughout the CMA (cost based on caseload numbers).
- Three years post qualification midwifery experience
- Up to date Neonatal Resuscitation certification
- Emergency Skills and Drills training (PROMPT, ALSO, Community Emergencies)
- I.V. cannulation/phlebotomy
- Suturing Skills preferable
- Car insurance indemnifying the HSE (just a matter of informing your insurance company)
- References
Upon joining the CMA you will
- participate in a community passionate about home birth and women centred care
- be engaged and informed of all communications
- be informed of the quarterly meeting, held in different venues through out the country and our AGM (in Oct) which rotates between Cork, Dublin and Galway
- get details to order your I.D. badge
- be issued with Certificate of Membership
- copies of handheld notes for women, SECMs need to keep their own notes
- advice and support
Where to start....
Contact any of the SECMs on this page for a chat and they will go through the reality and requirement with you. They will all be able and willing to speak to you any time they can. They will also give you the relevant details of the Designated Midwifery Officer (DMO) within the HSE with responsibility for the service for the HSE.
The HSE has in post Designated Midwifery Officers for the Home Birth Service who liaise between the HSE, mothers and midwives and ensure the service is facilitated in line with the MOU/agreement. Their contact details can be obtained on our ‘Midwives’ page on this website. It will be their responsibility with yourself to ensure the governance surrounding signing the MOU/agreement is fulfilled. They will do all they can to support you in the process and realities of working as a SECM.