Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting or School Nursing)
PG Dip
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 Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for registration on part three of the register.The course provides education and training for a child and family-centered 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.
After gaining your Postgraduate Diploma you can undertake a top-up course to progress to a Masters award, 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 this 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
This course runs over one year and is structured as 50% theory, 50% practice, and is modular in nature. Modules need to be taken in a set order, as those take place early in this course underpin those which are covered at a later stage.You will experience teaching both at Anglia Ruskin 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 this course. This will enable you to draw together the knowledge and skills that you have gained during your studies by working with a case-load under the supervision of a practice teacher.
Module guide
Core modules
Universal Work with Children and 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 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 (Health Visiting or School Nursing)
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.
Strategic Leadership and Commissioning
This module will develop leadership skills to a strategic level, enabling you to become effective advocates on behalf of children and families. Furthermore, this module will develop your knowledge base with respect to the commissioning of services in order to ensure that a quality service is provided to children and their families.
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.
Critical Policy Review
This module is designed to help you develop a strategic, political and ideological grasp of contemporary public health policy in relation to professional and ethical health care practice. The review enables you 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.
Consolidated Practice (Health Visiting or School Nursing)
Assessment
You will be assessed against the specific learning outcomes for this course. There are a range of assessments, including essays, examination, case study, competency based portfolio, critical incident analysis and extended literature review.Special features
Applications should be made to local Primary Care Organisations (PCOs) who will undertake joint selection with us. Successful candidates will be funded by the PCOs.Linda Flack
Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting or School Nursing) student
“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 sites as well as Chelmsford to enable choice and to make travelling easier for us. I wouldn't have been able to come this far in the course without her support.
”
Danniella Goodger
Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting or School Nursing) student
“The support during this course has been exemplary. The whole team, lecturers and administrators, have always been willing to assist myself and other students with any problems, answer questions, and provide personal and academic support to us and colleagues in the Trusts.
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Associated careers
The majority of our graduates have entered jobs within the local and regional primary care employers as Specialist Community Public Health Nurses. This qualification also enables you to develop a career in public health, safeguarding, or in a range of primary care and community agencies.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
This course is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.Work placements
Practice placements are provided. You will learn the art and skill of health visiting or school nursing. Placements range from one to three days per week during the course and there is a further period of consolidated practice on five days per week for 10-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. |
We welcome applications from International and EU students. Please select one of the links below for English language and country-specific entry requirement information.
How to apply
Locations
Duration
1 yearTeaching times*
Theory: one to two days per week, 9.00am-4.00pmPractice: one to three days per week, 9.00am-5.00pm
Available starts
SeptemberStudent finance
Open Day
Saturday 13 JulyPostgraduate Open Day
Faculty
Health, Social Care & EducationDepartment
Primary and Public HealthContact us
UK and EU applicants:- Call 01245 686868
- Complete enquiry form
- Call +44 (0)1245 493131 ext 2609
- Complete enquiry form
*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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