A locum midwife is a qualified midwife who works on a temporary or contract basis instead of a permanent role. Locum midwives fill gaps in staffing and are typically hired through nursing agencies like Your World Nursing.

“Midwives are in high demand across the UK. Locum roles give them the freedom to work where and when they want, without compromising on pay or progression.”

 - Albie Parsons, Principal on Specialist Nursing

There are several reasons midwives choose locum work. These include:

• Flexible Schedule: You choose your working hours and where you want to work.
• Varied Experience: Gain exposure to different settings, teams, and clinical practices.
• Work-Life Balance: Better control over your time and availability.

“Many of the midwives we support enjoy the variety that locum work brings. They get to build confidence in different settings while maintaining control over their schedule.”

 — Cabhan Clarke, Executive on Specialist Nursing

To work as a locum midwife in the UK, you must be registered as a Midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). You need at least 12 months of recent NHS experience and provide current clinical references.

Also, any nurse who wants to work as a locum must have a current DBS check. They must also have up-to-date mandatory training, such as Basic Life Support. At Your World, we have a dedicated compliance team who are available to you throughout your whole journey with us to ensure you are always compliant to work.

Locum midwives are in demand across various healthcare settings. Most locum midwives work at NHS hospitals on labour wards, antenatal care clinics and postnatal care units. Alternatively, roles may be available in private maternity units, community midwifery services and home birth teams.

However, the NHS in particular relies heavily on locum staff to support maternity services, especially during staffing shortages. You can read more about NHS maternity staffing via the Royal College of Midwives.

The easiest way to find locum midwifery jobs is through a trusted nursing agency. At Your World Nursing, we are a multi-framework agency that supplies nationwide across the United Kingdom. We work with midwives across the UK to match them with suitable locum roles based on preferred locations and availabily. We can also match you to roles based on your specialist skills, e.g. home birth, high-risk pregnancies.

To work for a framework agency, you must register first. This typically involves:

1. Compliance checks
2. Document submission (NMC PIN, right to work, immunisation records)
3. Interview and reference checks
4. Mandatory training updates

Albie advises, “We take time to understand each midwife’s experience and preferences. This helps us match them with shifts and environments that fit their goals and lifestyle.”

Choosing to work as a locum midwife comes with several significant advantages:

Flexibility & Control

Locum roles let you choose your shifts, locations, and availability. You can also take time off when needed without negotiating with a manager, making it easier to balance personal and professional commitments.

Higher Earning Potential

Locum midwives can earn more per hour than their permanent counterparts, especially for night shifts, weekends, or short-notice roles. This makes it a great option if you’re looking to boost your income.

Professional Growth

Working in a variety of healthcare settings broadens your clinical knowledge and improves your adaptability. You’ll gain experience with different teams, systems, and patient needs, which strengthens your CV and skills.

Travel Opportunities

As a locum midwife, you can explore new parts of the UK, work in coastal towns, rural communities, or major cities. Agency work is ideal if you enjoy change or want to see more of the country.

Less Workplace Politics

Without long-term commitments to one trust, you may avoid the common challenges of internal politics and bureaucracy. You focus purely on patient care and professionalism.

Supportive Agencies

At Your World Nursing, you have a dedicated, one-to-one consultant who is on hand to assist you 24/7. As well as support for finding work, you have a designated compliance officer to ensure you stay compliant.

Cabhan says: “At Your World Nursing, we’re not just filling shifts. We’re building lasting relationships with midwives who trust us to support their careers with consistency and care.”

Even as a locum, you must meet NMC revalidation requirements every three years. This includes:

• 35 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
• 450 practice hours
• 5 written reflective accounts
• A reflective discussion and confirmation

Your World Nursing offers ongoing support to help you meet your revalidation needs. Our clinical advisory team is here to help. They can assist with revalidation and any problems you may have while working with us.

Working with Your World Nursing means more than just great shifts; it also gives you access to Your Loyalty, our exclusive rewards programme. From milestone celebrations to our Random Act of Kindness prize draw, Your Loyalty is our way of saying thank you.

Locum midwifery offers flexibility and the chance to work on your terms. If you're a registered midwife looking to try something different, Your World Nursing is here to guide you every step of the way.

Register your interest with Your World Nursing or contact our recruitment team to explore the latest roles.

• Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) – Join the Register
• NMC – Revalidation Guidelines
• UKCRBS – DBS Check
• NHS Careers – Midwife Role
• Royal College of Midwives