Helen Recchia
Senior Lecturer in Midwifery

Profile

Biography

Helen qualified as a registered (adult) nurse in 1999 at the University of Leeds. After working in orthopaedic nursing Helen commenced the BA (Hons) Midwifery Practice Programme at the University of York. She spent the majority of her practice as a midwife working in York Hospital rotating between the antenatal, postnatal and labour wards.

Helen was regularly involved in mentoring and supporting student midwives in practice. In 2007 she became a Supervisor of Midwives; a mechanism to protect women and babies by actively promoting a safe standard of midwifery practice.

Helen joined the Midwifery Education Team at the University of York in 2009, initially on a two year secondment and later as a midwifery lecturer. She has studied Health Sciences at Masters Level and enjoys all aspects of midwifery education and practice; although her particular interests are professional and legal issues and intrapartum care. 

Helen has undertaken programme leadership and curriculum development roles for pre-registration midwifery.

Helen is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, an experienced external examiner for midwifery and a Professional Midwifery Advocate (PMA).

Helen's PhD explored the influence of resilience on midwives' and student midwives’ career-related decisions.

Helen is currently the Director of Midwifery Education and Lead Midwife for Education (LME) within the Department.

Qualifications

• PhD
• MSc Health Sciences
• NMC Registered Lecturer
• BA (Hons) Midwifery Practice
• Registered Midwife
• Registered (Adult) Nurse (lasped)
• Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP)
• Professional Midwifery Advocate (PMA)
• Senior Fellow of the the Higher Education Academic (SFHEA)

Departmental roles

• Director of Midwifery Education
• Lead Midwife for Education (LME)
• Admissions Lead (for Midwifery Programmes)

University roles

• Mentor for University of York mentoring scheme
• York Professional and Academic Development Scheme (YPAD) facilitator and supervisor 
• External Examiner- University of Manchester

Teaching

Undergraduate

• Module Lead for Evidence Based Midwifery Care (Stage 2)

Publications

Selected publications

• Recchia, H. Galdas, P. Bedford, H. Kanaan, M. (2026) Exploring the influence of resilience on midwives’ and student midwives’ career-related decisions: Findings from a constructivist grounded theory study from the UK. Midwifery 23:161:104901 Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2026.104901. 
• Recchia, H. (2025) Embedding Restorative Clinical Supervision (RCS) into a Midwifery Curriculum. Maternity & Midwifery Forum, November 2025. 
• Recchia, H. (2025) Embedding Restorative Clinical Supervision (RCS) into a Midwifery Curriculum. Educating Future Midwives Festival, De Monfort University, Leicester PRESENTATION 12 November 2025.
• Recchia, H. Bedford, H. Kanaan, M. Galdas, P. (2023) Exploring the influence of resilience on midwives’ career-related decisions. Royal College of Midwives (RCM): Annual Education and Research Conference, March 2023 Birmingham. 
• Recchia, H. Bedford, H. Kanaan, M. Galdas, P. (2023) Exploring the influence of resilience on midwives’ career-related decisions. Virtual International Day of the Midwife (VIDM): 15th Annual Virtual International Day of the Midwife 5th May 2023. 
• Recchia, H. Galdas, P. Bedford, H. Kanaan, M. (2020) Using Grounded Theory to Explore the Influence of Resilience on Midwives' Career Related Decisions. Royal College of Midwives (RCM): Annual Research Conference, March 2020 Leeds.
• Recchia, H. (2020) Promoting student engagement: Using breakout rooms in synchronous online teaching for undergraduate student midwives. FORUM University of York 47: 7.
• Recchia, H. (2019) Increasing student midwives’ knowledge and understanding of the professional regulation of midwifery practice: Learning in the moot court. FORUM University of York 45: 20-21.

External activities

Memberships

• Registrant of the Nursing and Midwifery Council 
• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)
• External Examiner for the University of Manchester

Invited talks and conferences

• Presentation: 'Developing the 'Future Midwife' curriculum at the University of York: opportunity, challenge & resilience' Faculty of Science pedagogy and practice event, 13th Jan 2022, University of York, with co-presenter Helen Bedford (online)
• Poster: Using Grounded Theory to Explore the Influence of Resilience on Midwives' Career Related Decisions. Royal College of Midwives (RCM): Annual Research Conference, March 2020 Leeds. with co--authors Galdas, P. Bedford, H. Kanaan, M. (2020)