Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Health Visitor)

This course equips you to make a real difference in public health practice. You’ll work closely with children, young people and families – tackling health challenges through innovative interventions and preventative strategies. You’ll graduate as a reflective, skilled and employable professional, eligible to apply to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for the Community Public Health Nursing register.

How you learn

This course combines 50% theoretical knowledge and 50% hands-on practical experience, preparing you for professional practice.

You’ll benefit from an entirely practice-based course. All assessments are based in practice and include an audio commentary, teaching resources and OSCEs. You’ll learn from expert lecturers and experienced practitioners who deliver engaging seminars, workshops and practical sessions.

You learn through:

Key themes

This course offers a comprehensive exploration of essential areas in public health and nursing practice. You’ll begin with attachment and parenting, examining the significance of secure attachment and strategies to support positive parenting practices. Building on this, you’ll delve into child and adolescent development, gaining a thorough understanding of developmental milestones and their impact on health and wellbeing.

Key therapeutic approaches are also covered – including motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – where you’ll learn evidence-based communication techniques to promote meaningful behaviour change. The course places a strong emphasis on health promotion and prevention, focusing on strategies to tackle health inequalities and improve outcomes within communities.

Your leadership abilities will be developed through modules in leadership and specialist practice, which address the complexities of modern public health nursing. You’ll also acquire advanced physical assessment and consultation skills, alongside expertise in non-medical prescribing – all preparing you to deliver holistic, person-centred care.

You’ll then progress your learning with leadership and management training, preparing you for senior roles in your field. Finally, through applied research projects, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of practice and the evolution of public health nursing.

Applied learning

Work Placements

You’ll be supervised in practice by experienced practice assessors and supervisors. Placements will be in your employing trusts, while alternative learning experiences enable you to observe a variety of placements in different settings.

Live Projects

You’ll complete a community development project addressing the specific environmental health needs of a population. This project will integrate public health theory with practical application, enhancing your ability to drive change in community health.

Networking Opportunities

Through strong links with healthcare organisations, you’ll connect with professionals in public health nursing and attend guest lectures from leading experts.