PgDip
Specialist Community Public Health
Nursing Health Protection (SCPHN)

Location
Southwark

Duration
1 year/52 weeks (full-time - 52 weeks)
2 years/104 weeks (part-time)

Start date
September

Number of places
20

Simple timetable info

Full-time: 2 days a week, part-time 1 day per week. NMC requires students registered on these pathways spend a further period each week undertaking pathway specific professional practice, equating to 2 days for full-time students, 1 day for part-time students. No practice requirements for students registered on the HP pathway.

How to apply
Direct to the course administrator at LSBU
020 7815 8012

LSBU code

Health visiting: Full time: 3329, Part-time: 3330
School nursing: Full time: 3325, Part-time: 3326
Health protection: Full time: 3337, Part-time: 3338
Occupational Health Nursing: Full time: 3333,
Part-time: 3334

Course contact
School Nursing:
Maxine Jameson, Course Director
jamesom2@lsbu.ac.uk – 020 7815 8379

Health Visiting:
Joy Power, Course Director
powerjd@lsbu.ac.uk – 020 7815 8396

Sandra Horner, Senior Lecturer
horners@lsbu.ac.uk – 020 7815 8032
Occupational Health Nursing:

Anne Harriss, Course Director
harrispa@lsbu.ac.uk – 020 7815 6735
Health Protection:

Valerie Ward, Joint Course Director
wardv@lsbu.ac.uk – 020 7815 6746
Linda Taylor, Joint Course Director
taylorlj@lsbu.ac.uk – 020 7815 6748

Course units

You will study three core and five pathway specific units on this programme

Core units taught across the pathways:

– Evidence-based Practice

– Introduction to Public Health

– Leadership and Management in Public Health Practice

Pathway specific units:

– School Nursing and Health Visiting

– Assessing the Health Needs of Populations

– Promoting the Health of Children and Families

– Developing Practice through Work-based Learning

– Safeguarding Children and Families

– Practice Unit

– Occupational Health Nursing

– Risk Assessment 1

– Risk Assessment 2

– Occupational Health Pathology

– Managing the Working Environment for Health

– Role of the Occupational Health Nurse

– Health Protection

– Epidemiology

– Surveillance, Prevention and Control

– Principles of Infection Control

– Threats to Health

– Professional Development

The order in which units are studied depends on the pathway on which you register.


Course description

You may access these role-preparation programmes if you are working in, or wishing to make a career move into, School Nursing (SN), Occupational Health Nursing (OHN), Health Visiting (HV) or Health Protection (HP). Entry to the first three pathways is restricted to registered nurses, other professionals may access HP.

You can complete the taught component of these programmes in two or four semesters, dependant on whether you are studying on a full or part-time basis. If you enrol on any pathway other than HP you will conclude your studies with a period of consolidated practice which takes place on successful completion of the taught component of the programme.

You will experience a range of assessment strategies designed to assess both your academic learning and professional practice. The assessments employed are dependant on the pathway. These comprise of
one examination common across all programmes in addition to a range of written assignments including risk assessments, case studies and submission of a professional portfolio demonstrating your learning and
development in your area of practice.

HV, SN and OHN pathways are validated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and confer registration as an SCPHN. NMC requires students registered on these pathways spend a further period each week undertaking pathway specific professional practice, equating to two days for full-timestudents, one day for part-time students. No practice requirements exist for students registered on the HP pathway.

Career opportunities

On graduation from this programme you can expect to work in a range of settings dependant on your chosen specialist pathway. These settings include working with families, in schools, and workplaces including the primary and secondary settings within the NHS, commercial and industrial settings or in a consultancy role.

Typical background of applicant

Applicants to HV/SN/OHN pathways are registered nurses normally with two years post-registration experience. Applicants to the HP pathway have included health professionals such as podiatrists and paramedics.

Professional contacts/industry links

The course team have contacts with a variety of service providers including within private and public sectors.

Recent guest lecturers

– Prof David Thomson, Head of the School of Optometry City University

– Prof Judy Hargadon, National School

Food Trust

– Mr Jeff Boyling, Consulting Ergonomist and Occupational Physiotherapist

Non-standard entry requirements

An upper second class Honours degree (2:1). HV/SN/OHN requirements include current NMC registration and normally a minimum of two years post-reg practice experience. HV/SN and OH pathways validated by the NMC, in order to comply with requirements you must have access to a suitable practice environment for the practice element of the programme, supervised by a practitioner who is registered as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse for the pathway on which you wish to enrol.