London South Bank University has an established and highly regarded reputation for the delivery of health visiting courses. Student outcomes are good and feedback from our practice partners states that graduates are competent and confident employees. The PGDip SCPHN health visiting course is designed to meet the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) standards for post-registration programmes, published alongside the standards of proficiency for specialist community public health nurses in June 2022.

Following completion of the PGDip SCPHN health visiting course, graduates can apply for the MSc Specialist Community Practice (Health visiting) (Top up). 

Who should apply:
The course will be of interest to Registered nurse or Midwife graduates who would like to develop their career in the field of community public health nursing (SCPHN). 

Application process
The course is available to applicants who have secured NHS funding or are self-funding. In addition, applicants may be NHS or non-NHS employees or self-employed. Applicants seeking funding via NHSE should apply via NHS jobs in the first instance where places on the course are usually advertised. Applicants seeking to self-fund, who are self-employed or whose employer is non-NHS should contact the course leader – newlandr@lsbu.ac.uk - in the first instance for further advice and guidance. 

Assessment
During the course students will complete a range of assessments including:
•    Written reports and essays
•    Case studies
•    Practice assessments
•    Group work and presentations

Course Structure
The course runs full time over one year. It offers an academic award at level 7 (PGDip) (National Qualifications Framework 2024), alongside the professional award of specialist community public health nursing health visiting. The course comprises four modules, which run during the year. Students take two 20-credit modules during semester one. In semester two, students take one 40-credit module. 

Students complete a balance of theory and practice learning during the course. During the practice learning placement, they work alongside a practice assessor and supervisor with direct and indirect supervision to deliver the care and service requirements of an active health visiting caseload.

Core Modules
Semester one
•    Research in health and social care module (TAR-7-011) [20 Credits]

•    Advancing children’s health, safety, and wellbeing within the family context. [20 Credits] 

Semester two
•    Quality improvement for public health practice and service delivery (SPQ_7_003) (40 credits) [Option module] 

Semester one and two
•    Leading and managing professional practice (SPQ_7_001) (40 credits) 

Recruitment and Selection
All recruitment is conducted in partnership with the practice partners and the University. Recruitment decisions are made jointly between the University and practice learning partners. 

All applicants for LSBU post-registration courses are required to complete an online application via the Wozzad system (weblink). As part of the completion process all applicants are required to provide confirmation of the source of funding. Funding sources for this course will typically be self-funding, employer funded or NHS England funding.

Applicants to the PGDip SCPHN health visiting programme must have achieved a first degree of 2:2 or above. Applicants must also have gained first level registration as a nurse or midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and have active nurse registration with no restrictions to their practice (NMC, 2022). 

In line with the NMC (2022) standards for registration, to commence the programme applicants with English as an additional language must also show evidence that they have achieved the required level of competence in speaking, listening, reading, and writing in English. Evidence should include for International English Language Testing System (IELTS), a minimum score of 7 in reading, listening, and speaking, and at least 6.5 in writing. Alternatively, for the Occupation English Test (OET) the applicant must achieve at least a grade B (350 to 440) in reading, listening, and speaking, and at least a grade C+ (300 to 340) in writing (NMC, 2023). 

The recruitment process for this course is completed in collaboration with the practice learning partners (PLP). Applicants meeting the academic and practice requirements for the course will be invited for a formal interview. The panel members will include a representation from the funding organisation, the practice learning partner, a practice assessor, a member of the university or course team. The process will also include input from an expert with experience (also known as a service user). 

Success at formal interview results in a conditional offer from the University. A typical condition of entry will require the applicant to provide written confirmation that they have secured all elements, including an Honorary contract of the practice placement requirements. 

Once the applicant has addressed all elements of the conditions, an unconditional offer will be made by the University.

The applicant will be supported throughout the process by the University online applications process. As part of the process the applicant will be guided to set up an online account from which they can access information about the progress of their application. 

Additional information to support applicants who are self-funding or self-employed
Self-funding applicants wishing to discuss the course and the application process can contact the course leader (newlandr@lsbu.ac.uk) via email and request an initial meeting to discuss the application process. 

For applicants self-funding and those who are self-employed, in NHS and non-NHS employment, the applicant must confirm the practice placement including the allocation of a practice assessor and supervisor(s) for the duration of the programme. The placement agreement should also include strategies to manage extended periods of learning to accommodate the need for resubmission, and programme interruption. 

Success at formal interview results in a conditional offer from the University. A typical condition of entry will require the self-funding applicant to provide written confirmation that they have secured all elements, including an Honorary contract of the practice placement requirements. 

Information for self -funding applicants - how to secure a practice placement
The course requires all students to complete a balance of theory and practice related learning (NMC 2022 Part 3: Standards for post-registration programmes). To do so you will need to arrange a practice placement. While the course is delivered on a full-time basis over one year, it is recognised that events may happen which lead to a delay in the course end date. To meet the NMC requirements for course completion you should ensure that you discuss and have written confirmation that the placement provision will be for the full duration of the course, including any additional time to accommodate unforeseen delays. 

To secure the practice placement the organisation may require the applicant to complete an application via the NHS Jobs online system or equivalent. 

The PGDIP SCPHN health visiting programme at London South Bank University is delivered in collaboration with practice learning partners (PLP). The partners are typically although not exclusively NHS employers. 

London South Bank University currently works with the following NHS organisations to deliver the PGDIP SCPHN Health visting course. These include:
•    Guys and St Thomas’ NHS foundation trust (GSTT)
•    Central London Community Healthcare Trust (CLCH)
•    Lewisham and Greenwich

In addition, the University will work with new practice learning partners once they have completed the agreed set-up process. 

When making enquiries about the availability of a practice placement you should contact the person responsible for education in the SCPHN health visiting service. This information will usually be available via the organisation’s Human Resources department.

In line with NMC standards (NMC 2023 Part 2: Standards for student supervision and assessment), the placement requirements include all the following elements: 

1.    Suitable and effective arrangements and governance for practice learning
Including the provision of a: 
•    Practice Assessor
•    Practice Supervisor
•    Placement Audit 

2.    Governance Structures to Support Learning, including:
•    Honorary Contract in Place
•    Disclosure & Barring Service Checks (including the certificate illustrating the outcome)
•    Occupational Health Clearance (if requested)
•    Indemnity Insurance
•    Commitment to Student Support
•    Protected Learning Time
•    Mandatory Training / Induction
•    Written Signed Agreement (of provision of the practice placement)
(NMC 2023 Part 2: Standards for student supervision and assessment, NMC 2022 Part 3: Standards for post-registration programmes).

This programme has the following core/optional modules

TAR_7_011: Research in Health and Social Care

SPQ_7_001: Leading and managing professional practice

SPQ_7_003: Quality improvement for public health practice and service delivery.

SPQ_7_004: Advancing Children's Health, Safety and Wellbeing within the Family Context