Graduate Diploma / BSc Post Registration Specialist Community Public Health Nursing

Modules

There are seven modules you will study reflecting the knowledge and understanding as well as skills required to practice safely and effectively in either the Health Visiting or School Nursing pathway.

This will include:

• Perspectives of contemporary public health and the application to the SCPHN role;
• Research methods and the evidence base for practice which will develop skills for searching and applying data and information in your future career.
• Studying child development theories will prepare you to understand how children and young people grow and develop and the life experiences which can interfere with their development including emerging evidence of the contribution from neuroscience.
• Safeguarding children and young people you will build on your knowledge of assessment and observation skills from child development to study the importance of partnership and collaboration with families, professionals as well as the voluntary sector in the prevention of child abuse and neglect.
• Leadership and the facilitation of change and working with teams will be explored as part of the programme.
• Skills of advanced communication including the ‘family partnership model’, motivational interviewing, self-efficacy and solution focussed helping strategies are also part of your studies.
• You will be able to study the Community Practitioner Nurse Prescribing module as an optional part of the programme.

Associate Students

Those who are working in a community placement can take modules as stand alone, and should contact the Programme Administrator with their request.

When you have successfully completed the programme you will have achieved the knowledge and skills required for Specialist Community Public Health Nursing practice, in either the HV or SN pathway through your academic study combined with learning from your practice placement.

On successful completion of all compulsory elements of the programme you will be able to apply to Part 3 of the NMC register as either a Health Visiting or School Nursing having met the academic standards.

Students who successfully complete the Community Practitioner Nurse Prescribing module will be able to apply to the NMC to have their qualification recorded on the register.

Fees

2017/18 tuition fees for this course

Tuition fees for all courses which last more than one academic year are payable on an annual basis, except where stated.

There will be an annual inflationary increase in tuition fees for this course where the course lasts more than one academic year. The increase will reflect cost inflation in the University. Any inflationary increase will be no more than 3.5% for each year of your study. The increase will be calculated on the previous year’s tuition fees and not the tuition fees at the start of the course. 

Students may self-fund their course or a sponsor may fund or part-fund. Bursaries, scholarships and fee discounts may also be available.

Further information

• See information about financial support available for postgraduate studies
• If you would like information about paying your fees, please contact finance@canterbury.ac.uk
• For specific fee queries, please contact fees@canterbury.ac.uk

Additional course costs

Although we aim to minimise any additional costs to students over and above the course tuition fee, there will be some additional costs which students are expected to meet.

Costs applicable to all students

General principle policy

The University’s general principles policy for additional course fees are set out here

The programme will prepare you to become an independent lifelong learner by supporting your personal professional journey; providing teaching and learning experiences using a variety of active learning methods. Active learning is designed to enable you to interact with other students in and out of the classroom in activities directed by tutors as well as in self­directed study with your peers. Active learning encourages you to become a critical thinker capable of finding solutions to manage complex professional practice issues and to develop critical reflection skills to equip you with the skills to question your practice and the context and culture of practice. The programme uses clinical supervision, action learning sets, tripartite practice reviews, reflection activities, skills workshops, seminars to enable you to develop these skills. 

You will be allocated a practice placement where 50% of your learning will take place and be supported by a suitably qualified Practice Teacher and Specialist Community Public Health Nursing Mentor.

The programme uses a variety of different assessment techniques including examination and essays. You will be assessed by: undertaking group and interprofessional seminars, reflecting on case studies from practice and complete an video recording of an interview with a client.

The Community Practitioner Nurse Prescribing V100 optional module will be assessed by an examination and portfolio. You will be allocated a Practice Teacher in your placement who will be responsible for your practice assessments and as part of this assessment you will compile a reflective portfolio from your practice experiences.

All students will organise and participate in a mini conference in the Leadership Module.

You need to have current registration with the NMC as either a Nurse or a Midwife and hold a diploma in Nursing or Midwifery or have the equivalent academic credits (i.e. 240 level 5 credits). Your current NMC registration must be maintained for the duration of the programme and as part of professional registration.

If you don't have the academic credits to enter the course we would advise you apply to undertake the Portfolio for Entry to Degree qualification in the CPD Scheme. Your application essay must demonstrate ability to study at degree level as advised by the Admissions tutor.

Applicants will apply through local NHS Trusts who will sponsor you, or if you are currently employed in the Trust they may second you to study on the programme.

You must be prepared to undertake any other employment assessments as required by the employing Trust. You will also need to give the names of referees who will supply satisfactory professional and employment references; DBS checks and Occupational Health clearance will be completed as part of the employment process.

You can apply to the programme even if you are only just completing your Nursing or Midwifery initial training. However, on commencing, you must confirm you have successfully completed and passed your learning programme and confirm your registration with the NMC within 2 months of commencing.

Recruitment for this course considers not only the values of the specific profession you are wishing to join, but also the values of the wider NHS. You can expect to be shortlisted and interviewed based upon these values as well as course/profession specific requirements. More information on values can be found here.

The application process:

STEP 1: The programme is advertised on NHS Careers website and you should apply to the Kent Community Healthcare Foundation Trust or Medway Community Healthcare as the main in the first instance, as they will be employing you while you are on the programme through secondment or sponsorship depending on whether you are currently employed by them. You are advised to ensure you read their values statement as part of their advertisement as it will give you information about their expectation in recruiting applicants based on the values of the NHS.

STEP 2: You must complete the personal statement in the application form informing the Trust why you want be a Health Visitor or School Nurse, what attributes you will bring to the role; what knowledge and experience you have that would be transferable to this new role demonstrating application of the NHS values as part of your current work ethos but also how this applies to the new field of practice you are planning to enter.

STEP 3: If you are successful at this stage, the Trust managers will shortlist you and your name and details will be sent to the Programme Administrator who will send you an electronic University application form to complete and return to us.

STEP 4: The University application pack should be completed electronically. You can write a covering letter if you wish to. You will be given the title of an essay to complete and return with your application. You should type this essay and present it in academic style you are used to, with references making sure you have answered the question, numbered the pages and written your name on it. You are advised to review NMC professional values, the CNO Six C’S as well as the NHS Constitution as part of this written application to the University. Incomplete or inadequate applications will not proceed any further.

STEP 5: If you are successful at the next stage, you will be invited to an interview; we are looking for applicants to demonstrate potential, enthusiasm and commitment for this new role. The interview will consist of a group exercise where you will negotiate and discuss a key public health issue in society. You will watch a video recording based on service user needs and you will write about your thoughts and feelings on this scenario as well as those of the service users in the film clip. Finally, you will attend an individual interview and be given the opportunity to debrief these activities. Central to our interviews for this programme is the collaboration with service users who contribute in a range of ways.  The questions in the individual interview are based on the values of the NHS Constitution and you are advised to prepare for the interview by accessing and reading this document prior to attending your interview.

STEP 6: The interview comprises a group exercise and individual interview; these will be conducted with representatives of the Trusts, Service Users and the Academic teaching team. We would aim to inform you on the day of interview if you are successful as well as information to support your future career and or re-application to the programme.

Links to key documents to access prior to interview

https://hee.nhs.uk/about/nhs-constitution/

http://www.england.nhs.uk/nursingvision/

http://www.nmc-uk.org/media/Latest-news/Revised-Code-for-nurses-and-midwives-/

The programme is designed to be delivered flexibly at the Canterbury campus and the Medway campus. You will be allocated a practice placement, which will not necessarily be near your home and you must be able to travel to the placement during the programme in a timely manner.

The programme is taught over 52 weeks (one calendar year) for full­time students and over 104 weeks (two calendar years) for part­time students. As part of the NMC Standards, if you are a full­time student you must complete your studies within 156 weeks of commencing the programme and for part­time students within 208 weeks of commencing the programme.