This year, the awards are divided into 13 categories. The breadth of categories provides opportunities to recognise everyone within the midwifery profession – from whole teams, educationalists, researchers, student midwives, maternity support workers to activists in RCM branches – all of whom make the RCM an outstanding professional organisation.
Please note: The entry process must be anonymous. Do not include your name or NHS organisation name on the entry form. Your contact details can be included during the online entry process.
Eligible: Any RCM member
Entries welcomed from: Individuals
Self-entry or nominated: Both
An individual who has led a project, a change, an innovation, a service or a team of proven success or excellent performance in any maternity setting: practice, education or research at any level.
We are looking for someone who can demonstrate that through their leadership their working environment is respectful, supportive, high achieving and focused on facilitating the highest standards of care for women and their families
The judges are looking for an individual or team who are:
- A strong communicator with the ability to inspire & motivate through words and actions, embracing collaboration and creativity
- Passionate and committed to maternity care
- A positive role model
- An innovative and inclusive leader
- Able to demonstrate sustainability and change cultures
Eligible: Any RCM member
Entries welcomed from: Individuals or a team (Lead entrant MUST be an RCM Member)
Self-entry or nominated: Both
With every contact counting, maternity staff all have a role to play in influencing and maximising the health and wellbeing of women, babies, families and communities throughout pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. This award recognises a midwife, student midwife, maternity support worker or maternity team who deliver innovative, evidence based, cost-effective high-quality care aimed at contributing to the public health agenda.
The nominated individuals or teams will be able to demonstrate how they have met the challenges of reducing health inequalities through improving maternal and population health, ensuring the best start in life.
The judges are looking for:
- A clear description of the initiative/project and the rationale for its development
- The evidence base underpinning the initiative/project, and identification of any evidence being generated by the initiative/project
- A description of the implementation of the strategy/initiative
- An outline of strategy used to evaluate the impact of the project
Eligible: Any RCM member
Entries welcomed from: Individuals or a team (Lead entrant MUST be an RCM member)
Self-entry or nominated: Both
This Award will recognize a midwifery educator or a team of educators who are able to demonstrate innovation, dynamism, commitment and enthusiasm for education to benefit student midwives, midwives or MSWs. This may be demonstrated through the development of teaching and learning initiatives which have enhanced the student, MSW/MCA or midwife learning experience, fostered multidisciplinary team working and/or promoted continuing professional development.
Projects could promote education in academic or clinical settings as well as innovations in approaches to pre- and post-registration education and learning that increase students/MSWs/midwives’ capability and confidence. Projects may also prepare and equip students/MSWs/midwives to provide the highest quality care and advance the art and science of midwifery knowledge.
The judges are looking for:
- A clear description of the initiative/project and the rationale for its development
- The evidence base underpinning the initiative/project, and identification of any evidence being generated by the initiative/project to add to the midwifery education body of knowledge
- A description of the implementation of the teaching strategy/initiative
- An outline of the strategy used to evaluate the impact of the initiative/project on the learning experience of the student/MSW/midwife
Eligible: Any RCM members
Entries welcomed from: Individuals or a team (Lead entrant MUST be an RCM member)
Self-entry or nominated: Both
This Award will recognise a midwifery researcher* or a team of researchers who are able to demonstrate that they have furthered the midwifery knowledge base for the benefit of women and families, and/or student midwives, midwives and MSWs, or other maternity professionals. Research undertaken in relation to any aspect of midwifery practice is eligible.
*Midwifery researchers are defined as Research Midwives working on portfolio studies, midwives undertaking PhD level study, midwives in clinical-academic roles, and midwives who are undertaking independent research projects/roles.
The judges are looking for:
- A clear description of the research context, rational and how this work will add to the midwifery research body of knowledge [including the underpinning evidence, and the justification of the need]
- A clear summary of the research proposal [aims, objectives, methods, findings, conclusion, and implications for practice], including a summary of any challenges that were met and overcome
- A description of the implementation process / dissemination of the research findings for the benefit of the wider midwifery community
- A brief reflection on the way that undertaking this research has benefited your practice
Eligible: Any RCM member
Entries welcomed from: Individuals or a team (Lead entrant MUST be an RCM Member)
Self-entry or nominated: Both
While all midwives have a role in supporting women’s mental health through pregnancy, this award recognizes specialist midwives, student midwives, MSW’s or specialist teams who are championing, leading and advocating to ensure women and their families receive the best care possible.
The nominated individual or team will have specialist knowledge of maternal mental health, will actively support the wider maternity team and will be active collaborator with the local multi-disciplinary perinatal mental health services.
The nominated individual or team should be able to demonstrate working with local communities and or community organisations to raise awareness of perinatal mental health.
The judges are looking for an individual or team who:
- Raising awareness of the issues around maternal mental health and the impact that maternity care and support can have on outcomes for women and their family
- Demonstrate success in identifying and referring and signposting women for care and support and understands the context of local services provision
- Securing appropriate care and services for individual women and their families
- Approaches to tackling stigma, identifying risk and building trust with women implementation of pathways that strengthen emotional wellbeing
Eligible: Any RCM member
Entries welcomed from: Individuals or a team (Lead entrant MUST be an RCM member)
Self-entry or nominated: Both
This award recognizes excellence in bereavement care provision by maternity staff for women and their families when a baby dies. This award will go to a midwife, student midwife, maternity support worker or maternity team who provide high quality, parent-centered, empathic and safe bereavement care.
This is an award for someone or a team that is passionate and committed to delivering best practice in bereavement care. Perhaps they have introduced innovative guidance, structure or policies to ensure excellent care and improved parent experience when a baby dies.
The judges are looking for an individual or team who:
- Demonstrates a strong commitment to delivering excellent bereavement care
- Shows evidence of an initiative or service development which has worked in practice to improve bereavement care
- Has delivered a standard of care beyond that reasonably expected from all maternity staff
- Works in partnership with MSLCs/MVPs or other parent groups to inform and influence service change
Eligible: Any RCM member
Entries welcomed from: Individuals or a team (Lead entrant MUST be an RCM member)
Self-entry or nominated: Both
This award is for an individual or a group of midwives who have pioneered an innovative development for providing improvement in maternity care to women, their babies and families. The submitted project must address a specific problem or identify a particular area of quality improvement. It could be a new model of care or a unique way of working providing care to a particular group of women and their babies or a groundbreaking/innovative project that demonstrates improved safety and quality of care either through clinical practice or using digital innovation to drive change and improvement in any maternity care settings
The award is specifically looking for fresh approaches to existing challenges, adoption and roll out of specialist expertise developed for vulnerable, at risk or complex maternity care and will be awarded to an individual or team who are able to demonstrate innovation, dynamism and passion to ensure the women and babies receive the best possible care.
The judges are looking for:
- A clear description of the project/initiative and the reason for its development
- Has delivered an outstanding project, change or innovation to improve safety and quality of care that provides a blueprint/model of care for others to follow
- Demonstrates a commitment to delivering excellence through innovation and a determination to drive through change for the benefit of women and their families
- Can demonstrate the impact the initiative and evidencing how it works in practice
- Identifies mechanisms for review, evaluation and reflection on the care being provided
Eligible: Any RCM activist or RCM Branch
Self-entry or nominated: We will allow self-nominations for Branch Nominations (the lead entrant MUST be an RCM member) but for individuals applicants, they should be nominated and again MUST be an RCM member
Eligible to nominate: RCM Regional and National Officers, RCM Organizers and RCM members
This award recognizes RCM activism either by an individual or a group of activists who have contributed to RCM presence, activity, solidarity and community at local level. Nominations may include examples of supporting & representing members individually and collectively; campaigning; capacity building; recruiting; organizing, engaging or revitalizing their Branch
The judges are looking for:
- Details of how the nominated activist(s) makes a difference for members in the workplace
- How the nominated activist(s) contributes to the value and benefit of belonging to the RCM for members
- Evidence of initiative, enthusiasm and dedication in promoting the work of the RCM in the workplace
- Evidence of impact in promoting, supporting and influencing on behalf of RCM members
Please do not, however, include details of any personal case work handled by the representative.
Eligible: Any RCM member midwife, student midwife, maternity support worker or Higher Education Institution staff
Entries welcomed from: Individuals or a team (Lead entrant MUST be an RCM member)
Self-entry or nominated: Both
This award is looking for an individual or teams within maternity services who has provided an exemplary commitment or outstanding contributions to champion, diversity and inclusion within maternity services for service users or staff.
The individual or team has demonstrated an outstanding achievement or improvements in outcomes, inequalities, disparities or lived experiences. This can be demonstrated through professional service delivery, quality improvements, role model, research, teaching, staff networks, activism, mentoring, curriculum transformation, coaching, innovations and/or a combination of creativity in these fields for equity.
The award is particularly looking for how this work or its implementation has contributed to positive changes, improvements of racial injustice and sustainability of inclusivity of those with other protected characteristics within maternity services for workforce or service users.
The judges are looking for:
- A contribution over and above to support, nurture, inspire and assist colleagues
- Understanding of the impact that conscious bias, unconscious bias, prejudice, disparities and discrimination can have on either/or the delivery of high-quality maternity care towards those from Black, Asian Ethnic backgrounds and/or with protected characteristics
- Evidence of the respect and admiration of colleagues with lived experiences
- A champion for change in cultures, attitudes and behaviours that improve either the experiences or outcomes for Black, Asian, Ethnic maternity service users, staff or within Higher Education Institutions
- Evaluation of impact of project including sustainability, transferability and lessons learnt. There is clear evidence of the implementation process and partnership benefits for Black, Asian or Ethnic communities and/or staff
Eligible: Any RCM member Student Midwife
Nominated entries only – Entries will only be accepted where the student has been nominated by their tutor/mentor or RCM member or a Midwifery Society. Students who self-nominate without their tutor/mentor supporting entry will not be shortlisted.
This award seeks to recognize an individual student midwife who makes an outstanding contribution to their future profession and/or the experience of other student midwives through their activism, initiative and leadership. This may be through their contribution to an innovative project, to a university midwifery society or to the Royal College of Midwives.
The judges are looking for an individual who:
- Demonstrates vision and leadership potential and commitment to midwifery
- Contributes to the improvement of the student experience while studying midwifery
- Acts as an advocate and role model for fellow students
- Contributes extra time and effort to midwifery through commitment to The Royal College of Midwives or the development of a Midwifery Society.
- Demonstrates cultural humility and a desire to learn from others in different contexts
- Evidence of commitment to sharing learning with peers and the wider UK midwifery community
Eligible: A Maternity Support Worker (MSW) or Maternity Care Assistant (MCA) member of the RCM
Self-entry or nominated: Both – A MSW/MCA can apply themselves or can be nominated by a colleague
Eligible to nominate: Any RCM member may nominate an MSW/MCA; any RCM member MSW/MCA may enter. It is expected the MSW/MCA will attend and present at the judging day if shortlisted.
This award recognizes the importance and showcases the value of Maternity Support Workers (MSW) and Maternity Care Assistants (MCA) in providing holistic care to women and their families. Nominees will be positive role models and exemplars of the contribution that MSWs & MCAs make within the maternity team. The award will be made to an MSW or MCA who can demonstrate that the development of their role in supporting midwives has led to improved care.
The judges are looking for:
- Evidence of impact on service delivery, including the benefits to women and their babies and the maternity service
- Detail of how the role of the MSW/MCA has been developed and evaluated
- Evidence of how the MSW/MCA role is incorporated with the wider maternity team and the impact this has had
- Personal leadership qualities that are recognized within the team
Eligible: Any RCM member
Entries welcomed from: Teams across maternity services
Self-entry or nominated: Both – (Lead entrant MUST be a member of RCM)
This award is for the midwifery or maternity team (encompassing midwives, midwifery educators, the medical team, Maternity Support Workers, Maternity Care Assistants, allied health professionals and others) that can demonstrate attributes of dynamism, innovation, commitment and enthusiasm, and high levels of excellent inter-professional team working.
The award will recognize a team that may have designed a unique way of working or model of care within a contemporary or complex maternity service. The team will be one that has an appropriate skill mix and an innovative and consistently high-quality approach to the provision of care to women, their babies and families. It may include a team providing routine or specialist maternity care.
The judges are looking for:
- A clear description of the team composition and ways of working
- How the team members work together to enhance care provision
- Evidence of how regulated and non-regulated roles integrate for seamless care and how they work together to achieve the best possible outcomes for the women and babies in their care
- Implementation and evaluation strategies
Eligible: Any RCM member
Entries welcomed from: Individuals or a Team, on behalf of society (Lead entrant MUST be an RCM member)
Self-entry or nominated: Both
This award recognises a midwifery society that demonstrates quality and excellence in its performance, showcasing a commitment to its members and the wider midwifery profession.
This may be evidenced through events and initiatives that enhance the student or MSW learning experience, provide networking opportunities within the maternity sector and/or broader healthcare field, and promote continuing professional development. Supporting evidence may be seen through the appropriate use of digital platforms and social media.
A society’s high quality may also be reflected in efforts to rebuild an inactive network or in the smooth succession of key roles within the society, ensuring continuous improvement and positive evaluation from members. Efforts to create a welcoming environment for all members, including initiatives that support underrepresented groups in midwifery education will also be credited.
Societies should highlight events or activities that enhance students’ academic and clinical career prospects, develop organisational and leadership skills, and foster peer support throughout the student midwife journey. The ability to execute activities professionally, demonstrating a passion for midwifery, will be assessed, including evidence of key skills essential for successfully running a student society.
The judges are looking for:
- A clear overview of the society’s development, including efforts to rebuild, as well as plans for sustainability and membership growth
- Evidence of impact, demonstrating how the midwifery society has enhanced the student learning experience, provided networking opportunities and supported continuing professional development
- Signs of effective execution of activities, showcasing strong leadership, organisational skills and innovation within midwifery
- Clear efforts to promote mental health, well-being and peer mentorship amongst student midwives and within the wider education setting
