Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting or School Nursing)

PG Dip

Part-Time

This course is available in Clearing, call us on 0845 271 3333 for more information

Course overview

This innovative course has been designed to develop knowledge and skills in evidence based public health practice in order to meet the professional standards laid down by the NMC for registration on Part 3 of the register.

The course provides education and training for a child and family centred public health role to enable you to work with individuals, families and populations. It focuses on the prevention of ill health, health improvement and the reduction of health inequalities.
The qualification is recognized nationally, and is registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

After gaining your Postgraduate Diploma you can undertake a top-up to progress to an MSc which incorporates a research module and dissertation. You will have the opportunity to pursue research in specialist community public health nursing and thus be in a position to influence public health services and practice.

On successful completion of the course you will be able to:
  • register as a specialist community public health nurse
  • Enter a career in public health
  • Register to prescribe from the community practitioners' formulary.

Additional course information

The course runs over one year and is 50% theory, 50% practice and is modular in nature. Modules need to be taken in a set order, as those which take place early in this course underpins those which are covered later on in the course. You will experience teaching both in the University and in the practice setting. We use innovative teaching methods, a major one of which is The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). This requires you to have access to a computer and the internet and will provide you with a range of learning materials which you can access flexibly, from a distance and at any time. Your learning will be supported and guided by university lecturers.

In the practice setting you will be supported by experienced practice teachers who will facilitate your knowledge and skills development. You will have a continuous period of 10 weeks practice at the end of the course. This will allow you to draw together the knowledge and skills that you have gained during the course by working with a case-load under the supervision of a practice teacher.
Level one core modules
  • Universal Work with Children and their Families (Theory)

    This module focuses on working with children, young people and their families. The module starts from early pregnancy, through childhood and into early adulthood, as described in the Healthy Child Programme (DH 2004). It also looks at broader public health issues and enables you to understand how an individual's social context impacts on their health and that of their family.

  • Universal Work with Children and their Families (Practice)

    This module is taken alongside the Universal Work with Children and their Families (Theory) module or after its completion. This is a practice-based module and is assessed by a specialist practice teacher using a competency based portfolio. This module is integral to the SCPHN (Health Visiting or School Nursing) course and cannot be taken as a stand-alone module.

  • Working with Children and Families with Complex Needs

    This module will enable you to develop the knowledge and skills required to assess and manage vulnerability and risk to children, adults, families and communities. The module will enable you to develop competence and confidence in working proactively with this client group in a health visiting or school nursing context.

  • Community Practitioner Nurse Prescribing

    This module will prepare nurses, midwives and specialist community public health nurses to prescribe safely, appropriately and cost effectively from the community practitioners formulary for nurse prescribers. The module forms an integral element of this course, but can also be accessed as a stand-alone module for students who already hold a specialist community public health nursing (SCPHN) qualification.

Level two core modules
  • Strategic Leadership and Commissioning

    This module will develop leadership skills to a strategic level, enabling practitioners to become effective advocates on behalf of children and families. Furthermore, this module will develop the practitioner's knowledge base with respect to the commissioning of services in order to ensure that a quality service is provided to children and their families.

  • Critical Policy Review (Postgraduates)

    This module is designed to help students develop a strategic, political and ideological grasp of contemporary public health policy in relation to professional and ethical health care practice. The review enables practitioners to critically analyse existing health and/or social care policy and its impact on the planning and delivery of local services to children and their families.

Assessment

Students will be assessed against the specific learning outcomes for the course on which they are registered. There are a range of assessments including essays, examination, case study, competency based portfolio, critical incident analysis and extended literature review.

Linda Flack

“I have enjoyed the course so far. Despite some rocky moments, I have gained new knowledge and skills and am now have evidence on which to base my future practice on. I have enjoyed the self directed learning style of Virtual Learning Environment and the face to face tutorials. This course has enabled me to focus specific aspects to further my knowledge and skills for practice.
Our pathway leader has always been on the end of the email system for any queries and has always answered promptly or has given details of who to contact for the best answer. She has always offered face to face contact as an option and has arranged extra sessions for us to help with our learning. She has also been accessible at the Peterborough and Fulbourn”

Facilities

It is no surprise that the largest provider of health and social care education in the east of England offers its students state-of- the- art simulated clinical skills laboratories; you therefore have the opportunity to gain the hands-on experience you need. The building in Chelmsford was built in collaboration with the Essex Workforce Development Confederation. All of our students are able to use these facilities including nurses, midwives, operating department practitioners, counsellors and social workers.

Our other facilities based in Fulbourn, Cambridge and Peterborough have wall mounted audio visual capture equipment to improve learning and teaching, with the clinical skills laboratories for undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing professional development courses.

Moreover the clinical skills facilities are fitted with a range of healthcare equipment that mirrors real life clinical situations. The opportunity to observe and then to practice techniques within the clinical skills laboratory is fundamental to the overall learning experience of students before they transfer to direct patient care. Moving and Handling hoists and standing aids, ECG monitors, interpretive and cardiac arrest systems, pain relief delivery systems and a range of diagnostic and patient monitoring systems are just some of the equipment available. Our innovative style of health education delivery means that our students are working ready from day one in their new job.

Students undertaking this course will have a variety of previous experience and skills to bring to this course. Shared learning between the different fields of community nursing will ensure that knowledge and understanding is contextualised to community practice.

Teaching and learning strategies include fixed resource sessions, tutorial support, student directed learning, clinical placement, facilitation by Practice Teacher and Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). This will enable the student to critically examine and explore their own their knowledge and understanding of practice and role within the clinical setting.

Special features

Applications should be made to local Primary Care Organisations (PCOs) who will undertake joint selection with the University. Successful candidates will be funded by the PCOs.

Staff quote


"The Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Community Public Health Nursing seeks to enable students to move from the position of knowledgeable participant to independent, competent practitioner within the field of contemporary public health practice. Further, it will encourage students to be proactive in generating theory around Specialist Community Public Health Nursing practice. "

Yvonne Crome
Senior Lecturer in Health Visiting

Associated careers

Practice placement are provided. You will learn the art and skill of Health Visiting or School Nursing. Placement ranges from 1-3 days per week during the course and there is a further period of consolidated practice on 5 days per week for 10 weeks at the end of the course.

To learn more about career opportunities in the NHS, visit the Health Visitor Programme pages on the NHS East of England Multi-Professional Deanery website.

Links with industry and professional recognition

The course is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Work placements

Practice placement, where you will learn the art and skill of health visiting or school nursing, ranges from one to three days during the course and there is a further period of consolidated practice on two to three days per week for 20 weeks at the end of the course.
Entry Requirements: Applicants should be registered on part 1 or 2 of the NMC Register. Applicants normally will have an honours degree in Nursing or Midwifery or a related subject. All applicants must currently be working in a nursing role or one relevant to public health nursing. In addition, candidates who have already completed the two modules:. DN415029S Universal Work with Children and Families (Practice) and DN415028S Universal Work with Children and Families (Theory) through the Band 5 staff nurse preparation programme are able to transfer in this additional credit in accordance with Academic Regulation 4.35.

International Students

This programme is not available to international applicants because of restrictions in the availability of placements in the NHS (UK National Health Service).



How to apply

Locations

Duration

2 years

Teaching times*

Theory -1 day per week, 9.00-4.00pm
Practice - Year 1 - 1 day a week from 9.00-5.00pm
Year 2 Semester 2 onwards 2 days a week from 9.00-5.00pm.

Available starts

September

Student finance

Visit our student finance pages for advice on funding your studies.

Open Day

Saturday 13 July
Postgraduate Open Day

Faculty

Health, Social Care & Education

Department

Primary and Public Health

Contact us

UK and EU applicants:International applicants:

 

*Teaching days and times are for guidance only and are subject to change each academic year. We advise all applicants to wait until they are in receipt of their timetable before making arrangements around their course times.

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