LSA stands for Local Supervising Authority. Currently, the Strategic Health Authorities within England are designated as the LSAs. Health Professions Wales is the designated authority in Wales and in Scotland and Northern Ireland the Health Boards are the designated authorities.

The Role of the LSA Midwifery Officer

There are 16 LSA Midwifery Officers in the UK and all are practising midwives.  There are 10 in England, two in Wales, three in Scotland and one in Northern Ireland. They ensure that supervision of midwives is carried out to a satisfactory standard for all midwives practising within their geographical boundaries.

The LSA Midwifery Officers have a professional leadership role which enables them, in an impartial way, to provide expert advice on professional matters.

The LSA Midwifery Officer also:
·    appoints supervisors of midwives;
·    leads the development of standards and audit of supervision throughout the LSA;
·    provides a formal link between midwives, their supervisors and the statutory bodies;
·    provides a framework for supporting the supervision of midwives and midwifery practice within its boundary;
·    participates in the development and facilitation of programmes of preparation and ongoing development of supervisors of midwives;
·    works in partnership with other agencies and promotes partnership working with women and their families.

For full details and pictures of each of the LSA Midwifery Officers in the Autumn 2009 LSA newsletter written for the NMC Student Midwives' Conference click here

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