Successfully completing the postgraduate diploma allows you to register as a specialist community public health nurse Ð health visitor or school nurse. You develop your knowledge and skills to work with children, young people, their families and carers to improve health and wellbeing.

If you complete the postgraduate diploma award you gain a Postgraduate Diploma Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting / School Nursing). You then have the option to complete a dissertation and graduate with an MSc Nursing (Public Health).

As a student health visitor or school nurse, you study changes in public health policy and legislation, and learn how to meet the needs of the local population in ways that value and respect the dignity of individuals and communities. Student health visitors and school nurse work in partnership, using strengths-based approach to understand priorities and need of patients, families and colleagues.

During the course you ¥ develop a pragmatic public health philosophy for family healthcare and an evidence-based skill set that you can apply to the challenges of contemporary practice¥ build an understanding of the levels of accountability and responsibility you take on in these roles¥ learn how to ensure public protection is developed to deliver safe and effective health improvements to individuals, groups and communitie.

¥ gain a deeper awareness of the need to maintain and develop your own competence, and that of others, focussing on the leadership needed to ensure high quality care and enhance service user experience.

You complete a research-based module which potentially leads to the dissertation. This equips you to use policy and research to underpin and develop innovative practice and gives you the skills to frame a research question, take empirical research and write up an academic dissertation.

To meet the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) standards, your studies consist of 50% practice and 50% theory. We structure the postgraduate diploma to reflect the important balance of the practice elements, which are designated practice days or work-based learning. Consolidated practice enables you to work independently while remaining under the supervision of a practice teacher. The theoretical elements involve a mix of learning approaches including self-directed study days.

There are many opportunities within the course to share learning from your peers and other disciplines from across the primary and community care teams and services that work with children, young people and families.

To gain the NMC recognised qualifications, you need to be sponsored by an employing organisation and jointly have organised an appropriately qualified mentor or practice teacher to guide and assess your practice experience.

Experienced course teaching team

Experienced health visitor and school nurse lecturers deliver the course. As a student you learn from a highly motivated and proactive teaching team aiming to improve lives through excellence in professionalism. We ensure our students and the public benefit from a commitment to evidence-based education, application to practice and impact on quality of care.

Some lecturers are engaged in ongoing research and are publishing in peer reviewed journals with areas of expertise that include safeguarding, the child and families agenda, behaviour change and community development.

Four members of our teaching team are also Fellows of the Institute of Health Visiting (iHV), a professional body which strives for excellence in the health visiting profession.

Study individual modules

You have the option to study individual modules from this course and gain academic credit towards a qualification. Visit our continuing professional development website for more information.

Assessment¥ critiques/critical reflection ¥ reports ¥ essays ¥ objective structured clinical assessment and examination ¥ examinations ¥ portfolio including prescribing workbook, reflection and practice assessment document ¥ research ¥ dissertation (MSc only)