Abstract

Student midwife caseloading was pioneered by Bournemouth University (BU) in 1996. Following a successful pilot study and further refinements of the process, it was introduced as a core element of our undergraduate pre-registration midwifery programmes in 1999. This is the first of a series of three articles in which the ideas, initiative and success of establishing this groundbreaking project are considered. The founding of the concept, the process and practicalities of setting up the scheme and the lessons learnt are documented and discussed in this primary article. The importance of effective planning, positive collaboration and effective communication have underpinned and facilitated this seminal change from traditional student placements. The second and third articles will explore how student caseloading works in practice and is sustained to form a fundamental educational strand throughout the BU pre-registration midwifery curriculum; enhancing accountability and autonomy of our students and future practitioners of midwifery.