PURPOSE:
To enable student midwives to feel psychologically safe, enabling them to speak out without fear and feel valued in both their placement and institutional setting.

DISCUSSION:
Psychological safety is a significant threat to midwives today. Being psychologically safe means being able to admit mistakes without fear of retribution and having the freedom to speak. To encourage psychological safety, individuals must have a sense of belonging and be in an environment where questions can be asked openly (Edmonson, 1999; Nemanick & Edmonson, 2022 ). The Advocating for Education and Quality Improvement (A-EQUIP) model (2017) was launched in England to modernise midwifery regulation and support staff to deliver women-centred care (Better Births, 2016). The model includes restorative work (usually delivered as restorative circles), which encourages connection and promotes healing via discussion and sharing experiences (Yarboi et al, 2024). Restorative circles can offer a space for support and reflection. Now integrated into our curriculum, these circles, led by PMAs, encourage students to build and maintain relationships, influence problem solving and respond to conflict by sharing ideas and ways they have managed challenging situations, helping generate autonomous, courageous and accountable practitioners.

EVIDENCE WHERE RELEVANT:
Current workplace culture impacts on learning (Young et al, 2018). Students are faced with the challenges of maternity systems; capacity issues, inefficient systems and disconnect between teams. This impacts on learning and education opportunities, fostering isolation, feeling unheard and in the way. Students should be given access to different learning modalities: both theory and in the field (Wrenn & Wrenn, 2009); before attending restorative circles, students have a theoretical overview of the PMA role and model, enabling students to recognise the PMA service in their maternity setting, enhancing the probability of them using it in practice.

KEY MESSAGE:
The restorative AEQUIP model can be integrated into midwifery education, helping promote psychological safety for student midwives. Poster session 3 (Group B)