2023/24 entry
BSc (Hons) Specialist Community Public Health Nursing
Why study Specialist Community Public Health Nursing at Liverpool John Moores University?
- This undergraduate SCPHN course provides a top-up degree for those with a DipHE in Nursing or holding current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (please see Entry Requirements tab for full details)
- Learn from expert nurses and visiting specialists on this contemporary programme which encompasses registration for practice
- Benefit from a curriculum praised for its enhanced practice perspective and 'outstanding' fitness for practice by the NMC
- Experience 22 weeks of practical placements
- There is option for those with significant workplace experience but without academic qualifications to undertake a portfolio to access the course
- Please note: This course will only run subject to minimum numbers
About your course
Study at Liverpool John Moores University for this registered qualification providing routes in School Nursing and Health Visiting (Specialist Community Public Health Nursing) and have your professional competencies, set out by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, assessed in practice.
You will explore topics such as: health education, health promotion, health protection, community development, empowerment, advocacy, autonomy and informed choice. You will consider the wider determinants of health and focus on maximising health improvement and addressing inequalities within local contracting priorities.
The programme promotes a non-judgmental, anti-oppressive, respectful approach, valuing diversity and supporting freedom of choice. It encourages you to challenge accepted wisdom, equips you to deal with conflicting priorities and diverse health needs and enables you to support the empowerment of individuals, carers, groups and communities.
"This course has changed the way I think. I feel my academic skills have come on greatly and I feel this will help me in practice to make a difference to families and communities."
Professional accreditation/links
This programme is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
You can find a full list of NMC approved programmes at www.nmc.org.uk/education/approved-programmes
Fees and funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students
Fees
The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:
- Library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
- Access to programme-appropriate software
- Library and student IT support
- Free on-campus wifi via eduroam
Additional costs
Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:
- accommodation and living expenditure
- books (should you wish to have your own copies)
- printing, photocopying and stationery
- PC/laptop (should you prefer to purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
- mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
- field trips (travel and activity costs)
- placements (travel expenses and living costs)
- student visas (international students only)
- study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
- academic conferences (travel costs)
- professional-body membership
- graduation (gown hire etc)
Funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you'll find all of the information you need on our specialist funding pages.
Employability
There are many opportunities for networking during the course, not only amongst your multi-disciplinary peer group, but also with the clinical practitioners you will encounter on placements, as guest speakers or taking part in the annual masterclass.
To maintain the professional relevance of the course and enable you to forge key contacts, we work with local, national and international stakeholders. Our health and social care partners include: Merseycare NHS Trust, St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust, Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust and the North West Ambulance Service. Our education partners include: City of Liverpool College; Alexian Research Centre, Germany; Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherland; University College Thomas More, Belgium and KPY University, Malaysia. We also work with charities and community/ voluntary groups.
This programme is specifically designed to balance academic content and practical experience. It is geared towards securing motivating and rewarding employment as a Specialist Community Public Health Practitioner.
As a graduate you may go on to lead and develop future public health nursing services, take a strategic job or progress to further study.
"Our Service has greatly benefitted from the recent experience that a member of our team had on the SPQ CCN course. She has returned to her post with an added confidence around the leadership role she has. She demonstrates this with assertive, constructive comments in her daily work. She has also brought new ideas into the Service". Denise Hogg, Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service
A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.
Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website. There are opportunities for flexible, paid and part-time work through Unitemps, LJMU's in-house recruitment service, and we also offer fully funded Discovery Internships.
One-to-one careers and employability advice is available via our campus-based Careers Zones and we offer a year-round programme of events, including themed careers and employability workshops, employer events and recruitment fairs. Our Start-Up Hub can help you to grow your enterprise skills and to research, plan and start your own business or become a freelancer.
A suite of learning experiences, services and opportunities is available to final year students to help ensure you leave with a great onward plan. You can access LJMU's Careers, Employability and Start-up Services after you graduate and return for one-to-one support for life.
Go abroad
LJMU aims to make international opportunities available to every student. You may be able to study abroad as part of your degree at one of our 100+ partner universities across the world. You could also complete a work placement or apply for one of our prestigious worldwide internship programmes. If you wanted to go abroad for a shorter amount of time, you could attend one of our 1-4 week long summer schools.
Our Go Citizen Scheme can help with costs towards volunteering, individual projects or unpaid placements anywhere in the world. With all of these opportunities at your feet, why wouldn’t you take up the chance to go abroad?
Find out more about the opportunities we have available via our Instagram @ljmuglobalopps or email us at: goabroad@ljmu.ac.uk.
A life-changing experience
There's so much more to university than just studying for a degree.
-
Your future awaits -
Fees, funding and scholarships -
University life -
Accommodation -
Get involved
News and views
Browse through the latest stories and updates from the University and beyond
What you will study on this degree
Please see guidance below on core and option modules for further information on what you will study.
Teaching builds on your existing clinical experience, extending your theoretical and professional knowledge and understanding. Many sessions are shared with other LJMU community nursing programmes, enabling you to better understand and appreciate the roles of other healthcare specialists.
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules may also be included to provide you with an element of choice within the programme. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Level 6
Core modules
Leadership for Specialist Practice
20 credits
This module facilitates the development of leadership and management skills for specialist community practitioners. It aims to provide you with opportunities to enhance your skills and knowledge to enable you to take a central role in the development of practice within your own environment. It will also provide an opportunity for you to engage in debate and discussion which will help you to identify your strengths and weaknesses as a leader within your own organisation.
Contemporary Issues in Specialist Community Public Health Nursing Part 1
20 credits
This module provides you with a theoretical foundation to Specialist Community Public Health Nursing. Practitioners can build on this module to develop innovative and creative practice. You will be required and facilitated to extend your theoretical learning to apply to your own core settings/clients, and this is reflected in your assignments. In addition you will have practice specific sessions with a health visitor or school nurse.
Risk and Vulnerability
20 credits
This module provides you with an opportunity to critically consider contemporary practice across the safeguarding continuum and propose service developments for improved practice. It will support the development of competent and dynamic practitioners in the field.
Public Health
20 credits
This module provides you with the knowledge and skills to work as public health practitioners in the community setting. The module will introduce you to the discipline of public health and the use of evidence to improve services. You will also learn how public policy can influence health needs and service development. The wider determinants of health and health inequalities will be examined in detail, as well as principles and concepts of health promotion.
Research for Specialist Practice
20 credits
This module seeks to provide clinicians with an overview and understanding of a broad range of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and their application in the clinical and social care environment, enabling you to read, understand and critically analyse clinical and social care research literature.
Optional modules
Contemporary issues in Specialist Community Public Health Nursing Part 2 with V100 Nurse Prescribing
20 credits
In this module you are required and facilitated to extend your theoretical learning to apply to your own core settings/clients, and this is reflected in your assignments. In addition there are route specific sessions with a health visitor or school nurse. The module continues to provide a theoretical foundation to your practice as well as enabling practitioners to develop innovative and creative practice.
Contemporary issues in Specialist Community Public Health Nursing Part 2
20 credits
In this module you are required and facilitated to extend your theoretical learning to apply to your own core settings/clients, and this is reflected in your assignments. In addition there are route specific sessions with a health visitor or school nurse. The module continues to provide a theoretical foundation to your practice as well as enabling practitioners to develop innovative and creative practice.
Teaching and work-related learning
Excellent facilities and learning resources
We adopt an active blended learning approach, meaning you will experience a combination of face-to-face and online learning during your time at LJMU. This enables you to experience a rich and diverse learning experience and engage fully with your studies. Our approach ensures that you can easily access support from your personal tutor, either by meeting them on campus or via a video call to suit your needs.
Formal lectures introduce concepts whilst tutorials and workshops offer the opportunity for deeper investigation. You will then be invited to present a paper at a group seminar which will be used as a starting point for peer group debate. To support your independent study, course materials, presentations and handouts are available on Canvas, the University's virtual learning environment. Practice is at the heart of the curriculum and all course modules build the foundations for this practice. During your placements you will work with a Practice Teacher and will need to demonstrate what you have learnt through the Practice Evidence Tool.
Assessment
Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.
Formal grading, which counts towards your final module results, involves essays, poster presentations, reflective accounts, exams and clinical skill observations. You will also receive feedback on your progress throughout the course.
Theory assessments are awarded pass, refer or fail and practice assessments are classed as competent or not competent in each specific area.
Course tutors
Our staff are committed to the highest standards of teaching and learning
Carmel Henshall
Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing and Allied Health
Carmel Henshall
Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing and Allied Health
Prior to my transition to higher education, I worked mainly within accident and emergency departments and health visiting practice in Liverpool. Since joining LJMU 15 years ago, I have supported the Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (SCPHN) programme as module leader and currently as the programme leader. I am passionate about health visiting, and improving outcomes for children and families. I have an interest in infant mental health and I am keen to inspire my students to promote healthy relationships and attachment with their families. I also teach social workers and midwifes, I am an advocate for inter professional working.
I am trained in the Solihull Approach parenting programme, and motivational interviewing which enables dynamic change within families. Both areas I teach to my SCPHN students with a hope to develop their critical thinking, compassion and a drive to fight for those who are disadvantaged in the communities they serve.
Where you will study
What you can expect from your School
Part of the City Campus, the School of Nursing and Allied Health works with a wide range of health and social care organisations to design and deliver a dynamic suite of courses. In addition to specialist clinical practice suite facilities, you will find high quality seminar rooms, IT suites and lecture theatres, plus a café and social spaces. The School's flagship Tithebarn Building adjoins the Avril Robarts Library.
Entry requirements
Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements
Minimum points required from qualifications:
Qualification requirements
GCSEs and equivalents
Prior to starting the programme applicants must have obtained Grade C or Grade 4 or above in English Language and Mathematics GCSE or an approved alternative qualification below:
- Key Skills Level 2 in English/Maths
- NVQ Level 2 Functional skills in Maths and English Writing and or Reading
- Skills for Life Level 2 in Numeracy/English
- Higher Diploma in Maths/English
- Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths/English
- Northern Ireland Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
- Wales Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
International requirements
-
IELTS
6.0 (minimum of 5.5 in each component) or equivalent English language proficiency test.
Further information
-
Reduced offer scheme
As part of LJMU’s commitment to widening access we offer eligible students entry to their chosen course at a reduced threshold of up to 16/8 UCAS points. This applies if you are a student who has been in local authority care or if you have participated in one of LJMU’s sustained outreach initiatives, e.g. Summer University. Please contact the admission office for further details.
Application and selection
Securing your place at LJMU
UCAS is the official application route for our full-time undergraduate courses. Further information on the UCAS application process can be found here https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/undergraduate-students/how-to-apply.
Applicants must have current first level registration on the NMC professional register (part 1 or 2)
120 credits at Level 5 (to study at Level 6) or 120 credits at Level 6 (to study at postgraduate level) in nursing
You will apply for the programme directly with a supporting NHS Trust via NHS jobs. You should complete the form thoroughly and provide a detailed personal statement which reflects your suitability and aptitude for the programme.
The University reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the University. Where this does happen, the University operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.
Further information on the terms and conditions of any offer made, our admissions policy and the complaints and appeals process.