This course is 'Subject to Approval' and has not yet completed the University’s approvals process. Whilst we are confident that the course will be approved, there is the possibility that the course may not run or may be subject to alterations. This course is due to be validated by July 2024 after which we will write to all applicants who have applied for the course to let them know the outcome and of any changes. In the event that a course is not approved the University will make reasonable efforts to offer an alternative course at the University.

PgDip Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (School Nursing)

Are you seeking to train as a School Nurse and build the knowledge and skills to achieve your career ambitions? The University of Bolton's PgDip SCPHN (School Nursing) programme is pending NMC approval and delivered by our expert academic team working in partnership with several local practice organisations.

Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (School Nursing)

Key information

Award:

PgDip

Mode of Study:

Full-time

Duration:

53 weeks

Location:

University of Bolton

Start date:

To be confirmed

Course Details

The PgDip Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (SCPHN) (School Nursing) course offered by the University of Bolton is designed to provide you with a comprehensive overview of the School Nursing profession and equip you with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to succeed in your career. Our SCPHN Health Visiting programme was the first in the country to be accredited by the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI), which recognises programmes that focus on supporting all families to develop close and loving relationships with their newborns and to understand the importance of this for their baby's development. BFI content is incorporated into the School Nursing Programme to enhance understanding of the importance of early relationships. We also provide training in the Solihull Parenting Approach, which supports practitioners in promoting emotional health and wellbeing in children and families.

Studying a course curriculum developed in line with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) standards of proficiency for specialist community public health nursing (2022), you'll cover subjects like sustainable population health, collaborative working for health improvement, advocating for children, young people and families at risk, early intervention for improving outcomes across the lifespan, synthesising the evidence-base for innovative specialist practice, and promoting mental health and wellbeing across the lifespan. You can also get hands-on and build your practical skills in partnership with us and our practice learning partners.

Upon successfully completing this course, you'll be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (School Nursing), and have your name registered as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (SN) on the NMC's professional register*.

*Subject to approval

Highlights
  • We've successfully delivered healthcare programmes for decades, and our Nursing courses have a longstanding, excellent reputation.
  • Our dedicated academic team has a wealth of experience working in NHS settings and engages in relevant research, bringing their expertise and passion for service excellence to their teaching.
  • Our students have the opportunity to benefit from supportive learning opportunities in partnership with our practice learning partners.
Key Features
  • This course is designed to take account of the changing healthcare climate with a curriculum that combines flexible learning with the knowledge and insight to respond to industry developments.
  • Our teaching team has many years of experience working in healthcare and NHS settings, particularly in the fields of public health, early intervention, and safeguarding, incorporating relevant legislation.
  • The course curriculum is regularly reviewed to ensure that contemporary theories are adopted.
  • We offer a supportive learning environment, including small group lessons, one-to-one sessions, cross-programme workshops, and access to IT facilities and WiFi across campus.
Professional recognition

The University of Bolton's PgDip Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting) programme is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)*.

After successful completion of the course, you'll have your name registered on part 3 of the NMC's professional register*.

*Subject to approval


  • Application to this programme is open to NMC registered nurses (level 1) or NMC registered Midwives who have an active entry at the time of application. Applications can be made through various methods, including NHS recruitment sites, NHS organisation websites, other partner organisations, and independent enquiry. Please contact the programme leader for details of the application procedure. You can find their name, email address and phone number in the Programme Contacts section of this page.
  • You're required to hold a degree qualification or evidence equivalent experience and have the ability to work at postgraduate academic level HE7.
  • Experience in this specialist field is beneficial, although not essential.
  • You'll be asked to attend an interview if your application is successfully short-listed. The interview process will involve an individual interview with a university member of staff, a representative from the partner organisation and a service user. You'll also be assessed on your values, behaviours, communication and problem-solving skills, and undertake a presentation or written assessment.
  • You'll be required to produce satisfactory professional and academic references, pass occupational health screening and a DBS.
  • RP(E)L for exemptions from modules in this course. Any applications for accreditation of prior learning will be considered before admission, on an individual basis, by the RPL panel. Claims need to demonstrate achievement of learning outcomes in theory and practice as defined within the specific module specification.
  • This course involves regulated activity so you must gain an Enhanced Disclosure certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) before starting your studies. Charges are payable to cover the cost of the DBS Enhanced Disclosure application and annual registration with the online (Normally your sponsoring organisation will organise this.) Please note that your DBS must have been completed within three years of the course start date.Update Service.
  • If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 7.0 with normally no less than 6.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
  • Please note that this course is subject to the University of Bolton's Fitness to Practise procedure.

Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.


This PgDip Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (School Nursing) course is designed to prepare practitioners for registration with the NMC as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (School Nurse). If you're a nurse or midwife and wish to further develop your career by working with children, young people, and their families to improve health, it should interest you.

School Nursing consists of developing, leading, and managing activities that aim to promote health and wellbeing, prevent health breakdown, and improve ill health through working with individuals, families, and communities. School Nurses seek to help individuals and families take control of their lives and protect vulnerable members of society by promoting social inclusion and reducing inequalities.

The course aims to help you gain a wide range of skills and supporting knowledge, including leadership, communication, enquiry, advocacy, critical reflection and analysis skills. We'll support you as you learn how to think, read and write critically about contemporary issues in order to become a flexible, autonomous and highly skilled practitioner.

What can I do with this qualification?

This course is designed to support the development of future School Nurses. As a successful graduate, you'll have your name and qualification registered on the NMC's professional register*.

School Nurses are employed mainly by the NHS. School Nurses advocate for school-aged children and their families, providing early intervention to promote positive choices. The role involves collaborative working across a range of organisations including health and education.

Universities and other academic institutions employ experienced School Nurses to work as lecturers or tutors. Some School Nurses decide to go into clinical academic research, which is a fast-growing career pathway for healthcare workers. Types of clinical research programmes include master's in clinical research, clinical doctoral research fellowships and clinical lectureships.

Upon successfully completing the PgDip, you'll be eligible to progress to a top-up to MSc Community Public Health Nursing (top-up).

*Subject to approval

Alternative career options

Graduates can also use the qualification as a stepping-stone into a range of other careers. Some of these roles may require relevant experience and/or postgraduate study. Some possibilities include:

  • Children and families social work
  • Teaching and education
  • Research
  • Health Visiting
  • Voluntary sector
  • Health promotion
  • Health service management
  • Community development
  • Counselling
  • Mental health
  • Probation

Course fees

Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2023-2024 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.

The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.

Additional costs

There may be some additional or optional costs associated with this course. These will be published after approval of the programme.


For details of how to apply for this course, please choose your status from the options below:

Please contact the programme leader for details of the application procedure. You can find their name, email address and phone number in the Programme Contacts section of this page.

Please contact the programme leader for details of the application procedure. You can find their name, email address and phone number in the Programme Contacts section of this page.

Course application details are unavailable at present


This course is split equally in terms of theoretical and practical learning. We'll expect you to attend timetabled lectures and other sessions, where we'll explore concepts and principles through presentations, discussions, and group work. We'll help you build on this core content in workshops and sessions incorporating simulation. We use a blended learning and teaching style, including online delivery and engagement where appropriate. You'll also need to complete self-guided learning, such as background reading and preparation for lessons. Our virtual learning environment is another tool you can use to your full advantage, with resources available 24/7.

You'll also attend seminars, where you'll have the opportunity to engage in group discussions and debates. Occasionally, we may ask you to lead the discussion or prepare a presentation. Group and one-to-one tutorials may also be arranged. These sessions can be used to discuss your development and any issues you may have.

Several assessment strategies will be used to measure your progress and ensure you're meeting the expected learning outcomes. These techniques include essays, practice-based assessments, portfolio entries, observed structured clinical examinations (OCSEs), time-constrained examinations, and a viva voce. At the beginning of the course, you'll be given access to a module handbook where you can find out more about the assessments specific to each module.

Disclaimer

The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.

Meet the team

The academic staff detailed above teach across a range of courses in this subject area and may not teach on this course specifically.

Programme Contacts

Sheryl Halliday
Programme Leader, Senior Lecturer and Admissions Tutor

S.Halliday@bolton.ac.uk

Enquiry Team
University of Bolton

enquiries@bolton.ac.uk

+44 (0)1204 903903

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Help Centre

We have the answers to your questions, find all the advice and support in one place.

Part of the University of Bolton Group

Bolton college
Alliance learning
Anderton centre2
QQA Scheme Participant