Option for Placement Year
Option for Study Abroad
Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (SCPHN) Health Visitor or School Nursing Open Evening at 16:30 on 4 March 2025 at Coach Lane Campus, Benton Road NE7 7XA.
Northumbria University has an established reputation for excellence and innovation in nursing education to build on the future nurse standards in meeting the SCPHN standards Standards of proficiency for specialist community public health nurses (SCPHN) - The Nursing and Midwifery Council (nmc.org.uk).
As an registered nurse or midwife from the NMC standards, you will graduate from the Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting / School Nursing) post registration programme and you will build on existing nursing knowledge to advance evidence-based practice, and it will enable you to make a genuine impact on the health and wellbeing of your clients and patients. You will be able to apply critical thinking and synthesis in the expert learning within the field of health visiting and will learn specialist skills for public health and community working and be supported to develop effective leadership skills and advanced partnership working across all areas of practice.
SCPHN school nurses (SN) are autonomous practitioners who uphold the rights of school-aged children and young people at all times, Working collaboratively across health, education and other agencies, and as an integral part of a broader public health service, school nurses advocate for optimum health for all school-aged children and young people.
After successfully completing this post registration programme, you will be recognised as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse, on the third part of the Nursing and Midwifery Council register. You will also receive a Postgraduate Diploma from Northumbria University.
You will study partially at our Coach Lane Campus, and partially on placement, with both strands running alongside each other to give you an integrated approach to theory and practice.
If you're looking for something else in nursing then take a look at our wide range of NHS Funded Nursing Courses
How to Apply
This course is open to Nurses and midwives on part 1 of NMC register only. Those wishing to study the course will be required to complete a university application once they have undergone an interview with their employing Trust and secured a place. Places on this course are advertised via partner trusts at the beginning of each calendar year. The University holds Open Events throughout the year which will and allow you to ask questions and meet some of the postgraduate academics you will be taught by. Details of these events will be published on this webpage and on the University's social media accounts.
To find out more about the course or for assistance with the application process contact us via email.
Level of Study
Postgraduate
Mode of Study
2 years Part Time
1 other options available
Location
Coach Lane Campus, Northumbria University
City
Newcastle
Start
September 2025
Fees
Fee Information
Modules
Module Information
Watch Chief Executive Officer of the International Council of Nurses and recent honorary degree recipient, Howard Catton, as he visits our healthcare facilities and discovers the benefits of studying Nursing at Northumbria.
NMC are the nursing and midwifery regulators for the UK. Watch the videos below to help you understand what is expected of nurses and the key aspects of the role.
Caring with Confidence is a series of bite-sized animations about key aspects of your role as a nursing or midwifery professional, and how the Code can support you. In this animation we look at professionalism and what this means for you as a registered professional. Visit our website to find out more: https://fal.cn/3axu6
It's important that everyone feels confident about the care they can expect from the nurses and midwives on our register. We've introduced new standards for nurses and midwives in the UK, supporting them to deliver kind, safe and effective care now and in the future. As a result, our nurses and midwives are at the forefront of improving people's health and wellbeing. We've made two short animations to help you understand what you can expect from your nurse or midwife.
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Full UK Fee: £4,850
Full International Fee: £9,675
Scholarships and Discounts
ADDITIONAL COSTS
On completion of the programme you will be eligible to record your additional qualification with the NMC. There may be a cost associated with this in addition to your current registration fee.
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Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.
AC7125 -
Public Health Practice Across the Life Course (20 Credits)
You will learn how to develop critical knowledge and appreciation of the changing patterns of populations, communities and people through adopting a life course approach to meet the public health agenda.
You will conduct, interpret and evaluate health assessment and screening programmes. You will undertake evidence-based analysis and synthesis from a variety of public health data and informatics, exploring intergenerational cycles of deprivation and health inequalities by determining a community profile from your area of specialist public health practice, assessing the public health needs of this community and their related determinants of health utilising a range of resources and based upon current legal, ethical and professional guidance to inform your decision.
You will develop skills to improve health and determine strategies for health preventative interventions and the promotion of health, social prescribing and health innovation to address the health status, health literacy, communicable diseases and emergency planning in relation to your specialist public health practice through entrepreneurship and innovation and understanding of how new and existing sciences and technology can influence health attainment within a diverse range of communities.
You will learn to recognise critically evaluate and monitor trends in strategies for prevention and promotion of health to inform public health practice, locally and nationally differentiating between availability of resources across devolved legislatures of the UK and globally. You will adopt a culturally appropriate life course approach to assess public health needs of individuals, families, communities and populations utilising community assets and resources in partnership with other agencies and services.
Through field specific Action Learning Sets you will critically analyse, evaluate and synthesise data related to:
Health Visiting- you will critically analyse, evaluate and synthesise data related to community health needs and assets which will enable you to develop sustainable and innovative strategies that contribute to complex place-based interventions and improve public health outcomes for children and families.
School nursing- you will critically analyse, evaluate and synthesise data related to home, school and the community which will enable you to design, lead and evaluate school nursing services, educational campaigns and interventions to promote the health and wellbeing of school aged children and young people.
AC7134 -
Assessment, Surveillance, and Intervention for Specialist Public Health Practice (40 Credits)
You will learn how to conduct assessments, surveillance, and interventions utilising validated tools in specialist practice and explore and apply contemporary theory to a range of biopsychosocial and challenging situations surrounding infant/child, parents and carers. Utilising a range of knowledge, understanding and skills, you will learn to identify both normal and atypical patterns of infant/child development or anomalies, applying strategies to manage identified risks. Through risk management and family approaches, you will learn to take strength based and trauma informed approaches to evaluate the effects of childhood trauma. You will learn to be adaptable to different cultures and environments and appreciate intergenerational cycles of deprivation and vulnerability. You will have the opportunity to demonstrate, and apply advanced- level communication, motivational interviewing, and interpersonal skills within theory and practice to address the wider determinants of health. Using the evidence-base from contemporary research, policy, and new and emerging technologies, including genetics, genomics and epigenetics, you will learn how to make effective observations and intervention plans which positively influence health and well-being, providing effective health promotion and prevention strategies.
Through field specific Action Leaning Sets (ALS) you will critically analyse, evaluate, synthesise and apply the evidence related to:
Health Visiting - the health and wellbeing of parents, carers, families, infants and children. This will include topics such as the mental health in the perinatal period, promote healthy development of infants/children, initiate person-centred interventions appropriately to minimise risks through promotion of healthy relationships.
School Nursing - home, school and community life of school aged children and young people. This will include topics such as addressing the intergenerational cycles of dependency and adversity through identifying protective factors, early help and interventions, recognising assumptions, biases and stigma that have an impact on school aged children and young people, mental health and wellbeing, sexual health
and the impact of social media in cyber-bullying, sexting and exploitation.
RV7000 -
Academic Language Skills(ALS) for PG Nursing and Midwifery students (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)
Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.
The topics you will cover on the module include:
• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.
• Discussing ethical issues in research, and analysing results.
• Describing bias and limitations of research.
AC7124 -
Transforming Community Specialist Practice through Research, Policy, Evidence and Evaluation (30 Credits)
You will develop the ability to interpret and apply critical knowledge and appreciation of epidemiological research, informatics and contemporary public health policy to assess impact and identify evidence gaps in specialist practice knowledge. You will critically evaluate specialist practice, using data, analysis and synthesis from a range of specialist practice research using both qualitative and quantitative approaches. You will learn to determine strategies to critique, evaluate and disseminate evidence and research from local, national, and international sources which contribute to global and local innovation and improve the health of people, communities, and services. You will learn how to critique and identify where insufficient information and data is available to inform specialist practice and develop strategies to address or recognise areas for further research. You will identify social structural factors from empirical and narrated data, which influence health and promote sustainable development and intervention goals. You will utilise and effectively participant in critique of evidence strategy across interdisciplinary and interagency teams to address public health priorities and evaluate interventions. In addition, you will generate new theory by applying evidence and data from research and policy to design services, applying an evidence-based approach to optimise public health outcomes. Finally, you will learn how to disseminate evidence from research and evaluation, sharing outcomes and lessons learnt locally, nationally, and globally through professional and peer reviewed processes. Through field specific Action Learning Sets you will critically analyse, evaluate and synthesise data related to: Health Visiting- this will be related to the lived experiences of children, parents, carers and families which affect their physical, mental, cognitive, behavioural, social and spiritual health and wellbeing. School Nursing- you will critically analyse, evaluate and synthesise data that recognises the impact of the school environment and its culture, the lived experience of school aged children and young people’s behaviour, health and wellbeing and identify gaps in service and policy provision related to school aged children and young people.
More informationAC7133 -
Advancing Public Health Services Through Leadership (30 Credits)
You will develop the ability to advance public health services through monitoring, reporting outcomes and triangulating data to evaluate service provision efficacy. You will focus on leadership and service improvement as the learning gives you an opportunity to explore an area of contemporary specialist practice to draw upon. During the module the data emerging from an audit in your area of specialist practice will provide the basis to develop the skills to critically assess service requirements, appraise strategies and business financial acumen and to create a poster for presentation outlining a business case for a service improvement. You will learn and be able to apply leadership theory, tailored to a range of stakeholders in practice such as service commissioners, community populations, families and peers. You will also gain knowledge about the development of sustainable practice-based interventions and the principles of risk stratification, that would improve health outcomes for your population. Specialist Community Public Health Nurses (SCPHN) (Health Visitor or School Nurse) are required to demonstrate a proactive, autonomous approach to their practice, presenting and building a business case will enable you to develop knowledge, understanding and skills related to business acumen, that promotes sustainable relationships through practice-based interventions and creates a culture that is inclusive and equitable for diverse populations. You will have recognised the need for action, entrepreneurship, and innovation in public health practice and have embedded techniques to lead, influence and challenge local services and/or health policies in your area of specialist practice.
Through field specific Action Learning Sets you will critically analyse, evaluate and synthesise data related to:
Health Visiting- you will lead, discuss, collaborate and co-produce flexible and creative services that engage parents and carers in infant and child health promotion. Through interdisciplinary and interagency collaboration, you will develop skills to develop services for infants and children with high impact health and care needs.
School Nursing- you will lead, discuss, and co-produce interventions so that the voice of school aged children and young people is heard. You will use your professional judgement to lead, discuss and co-produce services that positively influence policy and strategy to improve school aged children and young people's health and wellbeing.
RV7000 -
Academic Language Skills(ALS) for PG Nursing and Midwifery students (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)
Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.
The topics you will cover on the module include:
• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.
• Discussing ethical issues in research, and analysing results.
• Describing bias and limitations of research.
The following alternative study options are available for this course:
Sep start
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Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.
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