PG Dip Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (SCPHN)

Admissions to the programme enables all nurse level 1 and midwife registrants (including NHS, Self-employed or non-NHS employed registrants) to apply for entry to the programme.  Admission to the programme is dependent on the following minimum criteria:

• The applicant must be an NMC registered nurse (level 1), midwife or a SCPHN for at least 12 months before applying to the programme.
• Hold a first or second class honours degree.
• Have employer support and protected learning time whether NHS or Non -NHS funded.
• Have access to a suitable SCPHN Placement and SCPHN Practice Supervisor and Assessor who all meet the quality governance aspects of the programme.

As part of the application process you will be asked to provide the following documentation with your application:

• Personal Statement: please include information about your funding, e.g. whether you are going to be NHS or Non-NHS funded.
• If being funded by NHS organisation: evidence of sponsorship from Provider Services prior to commencing the course, you will receive this information as part of your employment confirmation. University applications can be made prior to obtaining an offer of sponsorship.
• If you are being funded by a NON -NHS organisation: evidence of commitment to funding support and completed CSCPHN SIF form for Non-NHS organisation funding.
• If self-employed or self-funding: completion of SCPHN honorary contract and completed SCPHN SIF form for self-funders and self-employed.
• A full copy of your current Enhanced DBS Child and Adult Certificate.

The Admissions Policy for the SCPHN programme is in accordance with the University’s admissions for students, Equality and Diversity policies. It seeks to select students from diverse educational and social backgrounds who can benefit from and have motivation to complete the programme. As per the University of Northampton Academic Regulations where an applicant for admission to a programme is unable to present evidence relating to the general entry requirements, they may be considered for ‘special admission’. In such cases the Special Admissions Policy must be followed and these applicants will be referred to the programme leader to discuss suitability for ‘special admission’. If you do not have the above required entry qualifications but can demonstrate its equivalent in terms of experience relevant to the programme of study, or successful recent level 7 study, you may be able to use the APL process to gain access the course.

For more information regarding this, please contact the Programme Leader Helen Kimble at helen.kimble@northampton.ac.uk

For fees and funding options please visit website to find out more

The specialist nature of this award will enhance your opportunities to extend your responsibilities and take on new roles in practice within clinical teams.

On successful completion of the course, you will be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) on the third part of the register and will be able to apply for band 6 and 7 posts as Specialist Community Public Health Practitioners.

This post-registration award prepares you for a career in Specialist Community Public Health Nursing at both strategic and operational levels. The postgraduate diploma consists of six compulsory modules, two of these modules are practice focused and incorporate key theoretical concepts enabling theory to inform practice and vice versa.

There is a balance of theoretical and practice learning within the programme and the third term (for full-time students) is a period of focussed learning in practice to consolidate and apply learning and demonstrate achievement of core and field-specific SCPHN Proficiency outcomes as Health Visitor (HV) School Nurse (SN).

All modules are linked to service delivery and developments within contemporary Public Health practice and are intended to develop your core skills in protecting health, promoting wellbeing and preventing ill health for individuals, families, communities and populations. A balance of the programme occurs in a SCPHN HV or SN practice environment which is commensurate with the specific annotation you are following: for example, Health Visiting or School Nursing. This element of the programme is supported by designated practice assessors who hold a SCPHN annotation in the same chosen field and have undertaken a formal education programme to fulfil this role. There is a focus on work-based learning throughout this course which ensures clear integration of practice-based learning, assessment and university-based work.

The course will be delivered using a range of active blended learning approaches with teaching methods such as core lectures, group work, online activities, use of case studies and directed learning approaches. There is also a balance of practice learning via a field-specific SCPHN placement across the programme. Shared learning with other professionals may be available on this course and you will be encouraged to develop a critical, evaluative approach to the knowledge which underpins current specialist community public health practice.