Advancing Practice Using Research
Provides the opportunity for learners 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 Infants and Children (0–5 Years) - Health Visiting
Learners develop the knowledge and skills to undertake holistic assessments of infants and children, make accurate decisions and plan appropriate care.
Assessing Children and Young People (5-19 Years) - School Nursing
Learners to develop the knowledge and skills to undertake holistic assessments of children and young people, make accurate decisions and plan appropriate care.
Empowering Populations to Enhance Health and Well-Being
Considers how leaners can enhance the health of individuals and populations via public health approaches. As empowering populations is a key aspect of the school nurse, health visitor and district nurse role, the unit delivery will consist of joint teaching and learning for all three apprenticeships / pathways as well as role specific training.
Foundations of Health Visiting/Foundations of School Nursing
Learners explore the underpinning foundations of their pathway and develop their knowledge of their role and gain a grounding for their field of practice.
Independent Study Project in Specialist Practice*
For SCPHNs not undertaking the V300 Prescribing route, learners will undertake an individual project agreed between the learner and the Programme Lead. The learner will use this unit to critically explore specific issues related to their area of specialist practice, undertake in-depth analysis of the theoretical aspects and consider how specialist practice could be further developed.
Non Medical Prescribing*
For SCPHNs undertaking the Independent and Supplementary V300 Prescribing route, 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. All elements of assessment must be passed in order to pass the unit.
Quality Leadership in Action
Critically explores how specialist practitioners enhance their own practice, develop quality services and effectively lead. 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.
Responding to Contemporary Health Needs in Health Visiting or School Nursing
Enables learners to explore how health visiting/school nursing practice can be developed. There will be an emphasis on contemporary issues, the effectiveness of interventions and working collaboratively with client groups and service providers.
Safeguarding in Public Health Nursing
Explores the issues relevant to protecting children and young people from harm in the home, and wider socio-environmental contexts. School nurses and health visitors will be taught together for this unit, to ensure sharing of knowledge and expertise.
Specialist Practice of Health Visiting or School Nursing
Allows learners to achieve the knowledge, skills and competencies to practice safely and effectively in their area of Specialist Community Public Health Nursing. In order for the learners’ practice placements to meet the NMC (2022) standards a wide range of practice experiences are required. Learners must be supported by appropriately qualified practice supervisors, practice assessors and academic assessors (NMC, 2019). Learners must be enrolled on the PgDip Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (SCPHN): Health Visiting programme.
*The SCPHN route with either Non-Medical Prescribing (V300) OR with the Independent Study Unit in Specialist Practice, is decided by the employing Trust at the point of application.
**NMC registrants: all applicants must meet the admission and selection criteria in the NMC (2018) Standards for Prescribing Programmes.