Community Nursing Specialist Practice Qualification in the field of District Nursing PGDip
Employer Information
Information for employers
Welcome to our information for employers of Community Nursing Specialist Practice Qualification in the field of District Nursing PGDip apprentices. If you require further information, please contact the Apprenticeships Unit or call (+44) 0161 247 3720 (9:00am - 4pm Monday to Friday).
You play a crucial role in supporting your apprentice’s learning and identifying opportunities for the development of their skills. We are keen for you to play an active role in the apprenticeship. Please bookmark this page as it is regularly updated.
Practice Assessor and Practice Supervisor Workshops
We provide a number of workshops to help you understand your role in supporting an apprentice’s development, find out more about the course, and ask questions.
Our Practice Assessor and Practice Supervisor Forums will be held on:
- 15 October 2024, 13:00 – 15:00
- 4 February 2025, 13:00 – 15:00
- 6 May 2025, 13:00 – 15:00
You will be sent information about these sessions by the Academic Assessor - Louise Derham, but if you have any questions or queries, please contact us.
Practice Assessor and Practice Supervisor Handbook
Progress reviews
Your apprentice’s enhanced skills coach will be contacting them to arrange regular tripartite review meetings. These are opportunities to discuss future development goals and reflect on past targets. Reviews require an employer representative – either the practice assessor, supervisor or both to attend and approve the reviews through the e-portfolio system.
Skills Coaches for this programme are:
- Helen Rigby: [email protected]
- Andrea Keppie: [email protected]
Apprentice timetables
Your apprentices will access their timetables through their Virtual Learning Environment, once they have enrolled.
Apprenticeship standard and assessment information
The apprenticeship standard provides the building blocks of our District Nursing Apprenticeship and is the blueprint for the development of our apprentices across the duration of the course. The standard will help you to understand parts of the apprenticeship that may pose challenges for your apprentice’s development or provide opportunities for them to expand their horizons.
The standard also provides information on the end-point assessment, which is where your apprentice’s grades will be ratified following completion of all units and consolidation. This will take place within a one-month period after the completion of the 12-month academic programme.
Programme Handbook
Unit descriptions
Advancing Practice Using Research
Learners are provided with the opportunity to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the research process, apply related skills to an area of practice and make valid proposals regarding the value of knowledge gained.
Assessing Adults in Specialist Practice
Equips learners with the necessary skills and knowledge to take a clinical history, perform a clinical examination of the main body systems and arrive at a clinically reasoned differential diagnosis using a red flag approach.
Empowering Populations to Enhance Health and Wellbeing
This unit explores factors that affect health, how this influences work to promote health in general, and how this might shape learners’ own practice.
Independent Study Project in Specialist Practice
Learners who already have V300 will undertake an independent study unit to develop their research skills for the advancement of professional knowledge and practice development. As research underpins all specialist practice, school nurses, health visitors and district nurses will be taught together. However, each pathway will be guided throughout the unit to focus on their own area of specialist practice.
Influencing District Nursing
Learners will explore the leadership role of the District Nurse in relation to care management, provision, and service development. It offers opportunities for learners to examine the evidence base of district nursing interventions, pertinent to the management of care for patients with long-term/life-limiting conditions, end of life and mental wellbeing and to explore the role of the District Nurse in service development/innovation.
Non-Medical Prescribing
This unit prepares suitably qualified nurses (NMC registrants*) to become safe and competent independent/supplementary prescribers. It enables nurses to be recommended to the NMC for the V300 qualification. Learners who already have V300, will be required to undertake an Independent Study Unit
*NMC registrants: all applicants must meet the admission and selection criteria in the NMC (2018) Standards for Prescribing Programmes.
All elements of the assessment must be passed in order to pass the unit and the apprenticeship.
Responding to Contemporary Issues
Learners will explore contemporary issues of relevance to district nursing practice. It locates district nursing work within a context of evolving models of service delivery and examines District Nurses’ contributions to the implementation of government and professional policy and initiatives.
Specialist Practice of District Nursing
Working closely with their practice assessor/practice supervisor, learners will achieve the knowledge, skills, and clinical competencies to practise safely and effectively in their area of community specialist practice.
Quality Leadership in Action
Learners will critically explore how specialist practitioners enhance their own practice, develop quality services, and lead effectively. As leadership underpins all specialist practice, school nurses, health visitors and district nurses will be taught together. However, each pathway will be guided throughout the unit to focus on their own area of specialist practice.