When they say the cervix is at the back it means its posterior and can be hard to find/feel without abit of effort. Often makes a more difficult examination. As your labour progresses and you get closer generally the cervix thins and dilates more and starts to come mid-line so as a midiwfe you don't have to reach as far back to feel the opening of the cervix. Sounds very normal. Even when your in labour and are several centimeters it can remain at the back and take some time before its in the middle (just think if you were going to do it yourself and if it was midline you would insert your finger and literally have your finger in the opening of the cervix. If posterior you yourself would be unlikely to feel the opening of the cevvix as its sort of around the back of the babies head)
Been 1cm basically says that things are starting to happen although you could sit at 1-2-3cm for weeks before established labour commences. It does show that your body is preparing for the birth and in another week if you go that long it would be unlikely that you would need the gel to induce labour. By another week or a few days they could probably induce your labour by breaking the waters through the slightly opened cervix without the need for the gel first to do this for you if that makes sense.
If your bubs aren't your first baby/s then you can sit around 1-2cm even months before labour starts and its often known as a mutli-os (meaning you have had child/ren before) Even when the cervix is closed if you have had a baby vaginally before you can generally admit a finger becuase things have been used before and abit bigger then a woman having number1.