Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (School Nursing) (Degree Apprenticeship) PgDip

They become autonomous practitioners with the skills, knowledge, behaviours and experience to lead, influence and collaborate. They drive sustainable, inclusive and evidence-based changes to the health and wellbeing of children, young people, parents, families, communities and populations.Apprentices build on their prior knowledge, skills and experience in a supportive and student-centred environment.Approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), this course is structured to meet the NMC’s Standards of Proficiency for Specialist Community Public Health Nurses (2022). It leads to Part 3 registration as a specialist community public health nurse (school nursing).Apprentices become autonomous, resilient and dynamic practitioners. They promote a critical enquiry of specialist community public health nursing practice, leading and delivering safe and effective interventions. They develop confidence and independence in learning, while networking with other professionals to support interdisciplinary working.They explore the changing and expanding role of the school nurse, including the bio-psychosocial needs of infants, children, parents and families. They develop a high level of cultural competence and advanced communication skills, to support holistic assessment and develop shared goals.Apprentices gain skills and confidence to critically analyse and actively contribute to the public health agenda. They examine the protection and promotion of health and wellbeing, debating the challenges to service delivery in a theoretical, legal and ethical context. They understand the determinants of health, addressing health inequalities across diverse communities and the life course.Developing leadership skills is integral to the role. Apprentices assess theories and enhance their leadership philosophy. They collaborate with vulnerable populations and address the legal, ethical and professional issues associated with safeguarding. They evaluate personal leadership skills and ensure the safety of vulnerable individuals and families, with an inclusive and culturally safe approach.

Apprentices must have:

• NMC-valid registration as a Level 1 registered nurse or midwife capable of safe and effective practice at a level of proficiency for the intended field
• an honours degree of 2:2 or above
• employer support and protected learning time
• a successful interview
• a suitable Specialist Community Public Health Nursing placement, and a practice assessor and supervisor, who all meet the quality governance aspects of the programme and can contribute to the teaching and assessment process by providing practice learning opportunities
• evidence of a current satisfactory enhanced DBS carried out by the employing organisation.