Community Specialist Practice MSc PGDip

Intro

Successful completion of this course will give you access to second-level registration on the NMC register as either a qualified general practice nurse or district nurse.

The course provides registered nurses with the opportunity to gain both a professional qualification and an academic award at degree level.

On graduation, you will be equipped with the skills and knowledge to become a capable and confident general practice nurse, district nurse, or home nurse.

We are known for our flexible approaches to practice-based learning, with course durations and intensities that can be adapted to your individual needs and outside commitments.

The recognition that patients come first in everything the NHS does, and the values of the NHS constitution – respect, dignity, compassion and working together for patients – are embedded in our curriculum.

Our high quality teaching and research are renowned, and have an applied focus. We have established strong links with community specialist practice educators to ensure the provision of support and guidance both within the university and in community practice.

We have a dedicated team of academic staff who are actively engaged in internationalising the nursing and midwifery curriculum.

Key facts

Location Brighton: Falmer

Full-time 1 year
Part-time 2 to 5 years

This course meets NMC standards and course graduates are eligible for second-level registration.

We are a top 10 university for world-leading research impact in allied health professions, nursing and pharmacy (REF 2014)

Course content

Course structure

The course is delivered in a variety of ways, and is flexible enough to meet the needs of part-time students. Delivery is typically via e-learning, lectures, seminars, workbooks for work-based learning and simulation in our state-of-the-art Clinical Skills and Simulation Suite and Flexible Learning Environment.

You will be allocated practice placements by your employing trust, and assigned a dedicated tutor to support your learning in practice. You may also undertake a period of alternative practice during which you can spend a week in another practice environment, to diversify your skills and experience base.

To prioritise your learning needs and protect your student status you will only undertake patient care in relation to the Community Specialist Practitioner role under the supervision of the qualified practice teacher/mentor.

A variety of learning and teaching strategies are used including problem-based and work-based learning. You need to be highly motivated and be prepared to actively engage with all aspects of your learning.

Public health roles are diverse, and flexibility in the course gives you the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills to suit your personal and professional ambitions.

With the guidance of a tutor, you will set out a professional development plan (PDP) from the initial interview, which will be reviewed throughout the course. The PDP helps to integrate your personal areas of advancement with the existing requirements of the knowledge and skills framework. It also serves as evidence of your expanded skill set in order to boost your future employability.

School of Health Sciences postgraduate education
This course is part of our School of Health Sciences postgraduate education programme. The programme allows you to sign up for one module at a time and build your qualification as you go. It also gives you access to interdisciplinary modules across a broad selection of health and social science subjects.

The PDP also ensures that your needs are assessed on an ongoing basis and adjustments made accordingly, particularly useful if an extended part-time route is taken.

You will be supported throughout your course and placements by a practice teacher and mentors. An exciting variety of learning approaches are utilised in the course, which can be tailored to your preferred learning styles.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through our applicant portal.

Areas of study

A central mandatory module within the course relates to practice development – an essential skill for specialist practitioners.

The optional modules allow you to focus your practice assignment work on areas which benefit your career.

You will benefit from sharing skills and knowledge with a range of speciality nurses, and be able to nurture an intra-professional collaboration. Programmes have been designed to include modules in which learning is shared with students from other disciplines and, where possible, other professions.

On completion of the course, you will have studied and practised:

assessing risk in complex situations
developing effective relationships based on trust and openness
working flexibly with other services in a range of settings
dealing with conflicting priorities and ambiguous situations
knowing when to use, different and sometimes contradictory theories and perspectives.

Syllabus

Core modules

A Critical Approach to Community Public Health
Project Management and Leadership through work based learning V100
Nurse Prescribing from the Community Nurse Prescribers Formulary or V300 non-medical prescribing

In addition to the core modules mentioned above, you can choose from a wide choice of optional modules which allow you to study topics of personal and professional interest.

Option modules

Complex Case Management for Long Term Conditions and Frailty
Advanced Physical Assessment of Adults
Diabetes: Delivering Innovative Care
Mentor/Educator/Sign-Off Mentor in Practice Preparation
Advanced Child Physical Assessment

Facilities

Flexible Learning Environment
The Flexible Learning Environment is an adapted home environment in a residential location where you'll be able to practise skills and learn from other students while taking part in realistic training scenarios.

Every room is fitted with cameras and microphones, so that students can be directed and monitored from the control room while the observation room provides the opportunity to review, playback and debrief.

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Clinical Skills and Simulation Suite
Our Clinical Skills and Simulation Suite is among the best equipped in the country, and is an invaluable tool for assessment and monitoring students' progress throughout the course.

You will benefit from practising nursing skills in an environment that simulates real-life professional experiences. Provided by the NHS’ South East Coast Ambulance Service, you may have access to our Simbulance, enabling you to work alongside paramedic students in an interprofessional learning environment. On board is a high fidelity manikin with multiple uses, and a child-size manikin for paediatric scenarios.

Learning by simulation means you will be confident in your ability to apply your knowledge and skills in your professional life.

Our latest news

Health Sciences wins at Brighton student union awards 2019

The Brighton Student Union Awards took place last night, celebrating the amazing work that our students, staff and volunteers do each year.

Celebrating International Women’s Day

At the University of Brighton, we are proud to have an extraordinarily talented staff and student community – and we are committed to equality of opportunity.

Free event – how to apply for The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funding

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Research Design Service South East is hosting a free half-day event to provide key information on applying for NIHR funding.

Managing change M-level module – book now for June 2019

Our Managing Change M-level module is running again from the 10th to the 14th June 2019 on our Brighton (Falmer) campus.

Careers

Most graduates go on to work, or continue working, within the NHS in a variety of community nursing and primary care settings.

The skills and knowledge that you will have achieved by graduation can also be applied to a wide range of community nursing or public health roles in various settings.

The context of public health practice both within and outside of the NHS is constantly changing and the opportunities for career development and innovative approaches to service provision exist.

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

The entry requirements listed here are our typical offer for this course if you wish to begin studying with us in 2019. They should be used as a general guide.

In exceptional cases candidates will be considered for entry onto the MSc programme without a first degree if they can demonstrate innovations in practice, publications and have expertise in the field. Candidates without a first degree will be required to undertake and pass an M level module in order to enter the MSc. A maximum of 40 credits of the final award may be brought into the course provided they meet the learning outcomes and have been undertaken in the previous 5 years.

Degree and experience
Academic requirements are as for the SHS postgraduate education programme and the requirements of the NMC. In order to enter the chosen pathway, candidates must have their names on the parts of the NMC register as identified below.

Registration as nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council under:

General Practice Nursing RN1, RNA
Nursing in the Home (District Nursing) RN1, RNA.

And

normally hold a health-related degree at 2:1 or above 
have successfully completed recent study within the last five years
normally have a minimum of three years’ post-registration experience, preferably in the community
demonstrate the potential to benefit from masters-level study
have appropriate clearance from the Criminal Records Bureau, organised by the sponsoring organisation.

Students who already hold a recognised qualification in any one of the specialist options at degree level may apply for admission to another specialist option provided they satisfy the necessary entry criteria. Such students will need to complete 120 masters-level credits in order to gain the postgraduate diploma, and to demonstrate achievement of the specialist practice learning outcomes for the chosen pathway.

To apply for this course, please contact the course administrator, communitynursing@brighton.ac.uk.

How to apply
This course starts in September. Applications are accepted in February of each year, which is also when the relevant application form is made available by the School of Health Sciences. For more information, contact the programme administrator on communitynursing@brighton.ac.uk.

Applications are accepted in the February of each year, which is also when the relevant application form is made available by the School of Health Sciences.

The Trust and Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) will shortlist the applications and, if successfully shortlisted, your details will be forwarded to the university where you will be asked to complete an online application form and invited to interview.

Please note that it will not be possible to make an application to the university unless you have applied and been shortlisted. Any applications that do not meet this criteria cannot be considered.

In addition, references to support good health and character are required at admission stage, along with a satisfactory DBS check which is undertaken by the applicant's current employer. Students are thereafter required to make an annual declaration regarding health and good character, and this would also be required before application to the Register. For more information, contact the programme administrator on: communitynursing@brighton.ac.uk

Interview procedures
Normally interviews are carried out with a representative from UoB and representatives from the trusts (including a Practice Teacher representative). At interview consideration will be given to the following;

knowledge of the role
communication skills
appropriate attitude
potential for development as a Community Specialist Practitioner
potential for development to study at masters level.

Fees

Course fees

Please contact us directly for exact tuition fees and for information on the funding available for this course.

NHS funding is available and may vary depending on individual circumstances.

How to apply

Applications are accepted in the February of each year, which is also when the relevant application form is made available by the School of Health Sciences.

Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students. Bursaries and loans may also be available to you.

Find out more about postgraduate fees and funding.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2019–20.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK/EU students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

What's included in the fee?

When costs such as health or DBS checks, or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. Before you apply check with the school that provides your course using the contact details in the Find out more tab (at the end of this page) for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

See our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Location

Local area

About Brighton

The University of Brighton is at the heart of our city's reputation as a welcoming, forward-thinking place which leads the way when it comes to the arts, music, sustainability and creative technology. Brighton is home to a thriving creative community and a digital sector worth £1bn a year to the local economy, as much as tourism.

Many of the work-based learning opportunities offered on our courses such as placements and guest lectures are provided by businesses and organisations based in the city.

You can also get involved with city festivals and events such as the Brighton Festival, the Fringe, Brighton Digital Festival, Brighton Science Festival, the London to Brighton bike ride, and the Great Escape festival of new music to name but a few. Other annual highlights include Pride, the Brighton Marathon, and Burning the Clocks which marks the winter solstice.

You'll find living in Brighton enriches your learning experience and by the end of your course you will still be finding new things to explore and inspire you.

Campus where this course is taught

Falmer campus

Set in the South Downs, our Falmer campus is around four miles from Brighton city centre. 7,000 students are based here taking subjects including criminology, English, education, nursing and medicine, paramedic science, psychology and sociology. Brighton and Hove Albion's Amex stadium and beautiful Stanmer Park are right next door.

Specialist learning facilities at Falmer include the curriculum centre used by teaching and education students, which houses over 30,000 teaching resources and clinical skills and simulation suites used by health students. Psychology students learn in our applied cognition and flexible creative method labs.

Falmer campus has two halls of residence on site, as well as a library, restaurant, cafes, and a students' union shop and bar.

The campus sports centre has a fitness suite, activity studios and a sports hall. There is also a floodlit astroturf football pitch, netball and tennis courts.

Cycle lanes link Falmer with our other campuses and the city centre and there is a BTN BikeShare hub on site. There are regular bus services to the city centre and other campuses. Falmer train station is right next to campus and a nine minute journey to central Brighton.

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Newly refurbished atrium in the Checkland Building

Accommodation

Brighton: Falmer

All eligible 2019-entry students are guaranteed an offer of university-managed accommodation.

Halls of residence
We have halls of residence across Brighton in Grand Parade, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

You'll be prioritised for accommodation in the halls that are linked to your teaching base, subject to availability.
Falmer campus is linked to the halls on Falmer campus and at Varley Park.
- Paddock Field and Great Wilkins halls are on Falmer campus and offer a range of room types and catering options
- Varley Park offers a mix of room and catering options. Varley Park is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre. Public transport in the city is excellent, and there's a shuttle bus between our Brighton campuses during term time.
- Find out more about our halls at Falmer and Varley Park.

Unihomes and unilets
Unihomes and unilets are student houses that we let to our students on behalf of private landlords. This option can work particularly well when you're balancing learning with placements and other commitments. We have unihomes and unilet properties across the city.

Find out more about our accommodation and confirm your eligibility.

Private renting
There's plenty of support if you opt for private rented accommodation. This is an option which offers choice and flexibility – enabling you to choose where you live and who with. We manage our own studenthomes database of properties. This lists accommodation offered by landlords who have signed up to our code of standards. Every summer we provide online events and resources, as well as other advice services, for students looking for a place to live and people to share with.