PURPOSE:
This project explores the development and implementation of a co-produced and co-facilitated birth in the community workshop aimed at enhancing midwives’ competencies in supporting home births, with a focus on informed choice and continuity of care. Grounded in the principles of The Best Start: Five-Year Forward Plan for Maternity and Neonatal Care in Scotland (2017), this initiative responds to the policy’s emphasis on person-centred, relationship-based care and equitable access to birth choices.

DISCUSSION:
Through collaborative design involving midwives, educators, and leadership teams, the programme of education fosters experiential learning in real-world home birth scenarios. It integrates simulation-based training, reflective practice, and peer-led facilitation to build confidence and clinical decision-making skills in community settings. The co-production model ensures that the needs of the midwives are listened to and educated for thus the requests of women and their families are central to shaping the learning environment, aligning with Best Start’s commitment to shared decision-making and respectful care.

EVIDENCE WHERE RELEVANT:
Evaluations indicate that there is improved midwifery confidence in managing physiological birth outside of hospital settings, enhanced understanding of risk assessment in the home environment, and strengthened relationships between midwives and the leadership team and hospital staff that support them. The co-facilitated approach also promotes professional resilience and peer support, contributing to workforce sustainability.

KEY MESSAGE:
This initiative demonstrates the value of embedding co-production in professional development to support the strategic goals of Best Start, particularly in expanding access to safe, supported home birth options. It offers a replicable model for other regions seeking to enhance community-based maternity care through inclusive, practice-oriented education. Professional development - training (including three-minute presentation competition)