Set Professional Standards
We set clear expectations for education, competence, conduct, insurance and continuing professional development.
Our Work
Our Work
Protecting the public and supporting professional standards
FEDANT supports and oversees those working in the antenatal and postnatal sector, including Antenatal Educators, Breastfeeding Counsellors, Infant Feeding Practitioners, Doulas and Postnatal Practitioners across England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Islands.
Our work helps parents, co-parents and families identify appropriately qualified and, where applicable, insured professionals while promoting safe, ethical and competent practice across the sector.
What We Do
Maintain the National Register
We assess applications and maintain a searchable public register showing each registrant’s approved category or categories.
Protect the Public
We provide information that helps families make informed choices and check the registration status of a professional.
Consider Concerns
We consider complaints and serious concerns about whether a registrant continues to meet FEDANT’s standards.
Support Education Quality
We assess relevant education through the applicable NCAV, NRSA and CPD accreditation processes.
Work With Stakeholders
We communicate with professional bodies, charities and other organisations whose work relates to pregnancy, birth and early parenthood.
Professional Regulation
FEDANT’s regulatory approach is informed by principles described in the government white paper Trust, Assurance and Safety: The Regulation of Health Professionals in the 21st Century.
Every registrant must follow the FEDANT Code of Ethics and Practice. This sets expectations for conduct, competence, confidentiality, professional boundaries, public statements and the safety and dignity of clients.
Professional membership and professional registration serve different purposes. A person may belong to several membership organisations, but FEDANT maintains one National Register entry for each registrant so that their approved categories can be checked clearly.
The FEDANT National Register
The National Register allows the public to check whether a professional is currently registered and to see the category or categories for which FEDANT has granted admission. Registrants must renew annually and provide evidence that they continue to meet requirements, including professional development and insurance.
Families should check the individual register entry carefully. A qualification or service mentioned on a professional’s website is not necessarily an approved FEDANT register category.
Standards for Education and Practice
FEDANT sets entry routes and professional requirements to help ensure that applicants have appropriate knowledge, skills and qualities before admission to the National Register. Applicants are assessed only for the category or categories supported by their qualifications and evidence.
Once registered, professionals must continue to meet FEDANT’s requirements. This includes maintaining suitable insurance where applicable, working within their competence and approved register categories, and completing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) so their knowledge and skills remain current.
Course Accreditation and Verification
FEDANT provides information for people seeking education and training through its list of accredited education and service providers. FEDANT accredited courses and services have completed the applicable National Course Accreditation and Verification (NCAV), National Relative Sector Award (NRSA) or CPD accreditation process.
The applicable accreditation process checks that the exact course or service operates within agreed parameters and includes the core elements required for its approved scope. Where relevant, content is mapped to applicable competencies within National Occupational Standards and appropriate guidance such as the NICE Quality Standard for Antenatal Care (QS22).
Important
Accreditation relates only to the exact course, service and scope assessed through the applicable process. A learner must still satisfy the requirements for personal admission to the FEDANT National Register.
Complaints and Serious Concerns
Where information suggests that a FEDANT registrant may not meet the required standards of competence, conduct, education or professional practice, FEDANT can consider the matter under its relevant procedures. Depending on the circumstances and findings, action may include conditions, suspension for a defined period or removal from the National Register.
Anyone wishing to raise a concern should provide clear information and any relevant supporting evidence. FEDANT will handle information appropriately and explain the applicable process.
Information for Parents and Families
Antenatal and postnatal education and support are available in many formats. Some courses provide broad preparation for pregnancy, birth and early parenthood, while others concentrate on particular subjects or approaches. FEDANT provides general information to help families compare options, ask appropriate questions and make an informed choice.
Read about choosing classes and supportCommunication and Stakeholder Engagement
FEDANT communicates with professional bodies, charities and other relevant organisations to support the exchange of information between the professions represented on the National Register and stakeholders in the sector.
FEDANT is a non-profit body, and its services for parents and families are provided free of charge.