PGDip Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (School Nurse)

This award acknowledges that students are being prepared to enter a practice-based profession at a level beyond first registration as a nurse and or midwife. This award is practice centred. This award is both an academic and community practice-based learning programme that combines practice learning and development throughout all the core modules. This will enable you to acquire new knowledge, skills, and behaviours in a distinct profession (SCPHN SN). As you progress through the programme you will apply,
strengthen, and consolidate new and existing knowledge via university attendance or via virtual online synchronous and asynchronous learning, with the remainder of time completed in the practice environment (Community / Primary Care Setting) (detailed further in the course calendar). A distinctive feature of a PGD SCPHN award is that it is led and co- designed by employers / service users, stakeholders, and commissioners to reflect employer and regional needs. At the University of Wolverhampton, we are committed to working in partnership with local employers / commissioners / service users to ensure that our SCPHN (SN) programme provides the opportunity to develop the workforce and Specialist Community Public Health Nurses, School Nurses of the future. Whilst ensuring that our programme development responds to diverse and emerging employer priorities, we also ensure and satisfy the requirements for assuring academic standards and any legal requirements, meeting the professional, statutory, or regulatory body requirements (NMC, 2022). The SCPHN award does have several benefits for employers, prospective students, and universities: Employers can develop experienced staff and attract prospective registrants in a practice (work) based environment. The PGD SCPHN student will be employed and paid a wage throughout and will gain a university, and professional qualification. The PGD SCPHN award combines academic study with practice (work-based) experiences, which strengthens the learning experience (journey) as it provides opportunities for students to evidence theory application in public health settings. Throughout the programme, the student will receive support from a network of professionals at the university and in community / primary health care setting (practice placement). On completion of this award, learners will gain: A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits at Level 7). The knowledge, skills and behaviours required to meet the Occupational Standard for Specialist, Community Public Health Nurse (School Nurse), PSRB eligibility for SCPHN NMC registration, Evidence theoretical and practical competency and proficiency in practice, Eligibility to undertake the MSc Primary Health Care (Top-up) Award.

The student wishing to complete the SCPHN (SN) PGD must be able to evidence a degree in either nursing and/or midwifery and be (live) on the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register. Ideally applicants will be required to demonstrate a period of consolidated practice following initial registration as an NMC registrant. Consideration will be given to applicants who have an appropriate degree and only hold a nursing Diploma. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will be considered in line with professional body requirements (NMC, 2022), consequently an inclusive approach to recruitment, selection and progression will be adopted to ensure underrepresentation is considered. Students who do not meet these requirements must satisfy the university that by virtue of their professional standing, qualification and training they are fit to register for and to benefit from their proposed programme of study. This would include evidence of recent successful modular study at level 6 or above.

The student must be able to evidence sponsorship or secondment from a 0-19 service provider (NHS Trust or equivalent employer) within a community / primary health care setting providing school nursing (SN) for the duration of the award. If students are self-funded, they must secure an appropriate and approved school nurse placement and confirmation that the proposed 0-19 years public health practice provider can, and will, support practice learning (with an appropriately qualified practice assessor and supervisor).

Key Points:

Applicants will be required to undertake an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance check and occupational health assessment which will be organised and verified by your employer. This will be ratified by university tutors during admission and recruitment processes.

During the course you will be required to attend placement/s, so it is essential that you are able and willing to travel to placement and to other setting/s. This will be verified by the employer – driving licence preferred.

At the point of recruitment, applicants must have all the requisite qualifications.