Primary and Community Care SPQ District Nursing PGDip - 2025/6
Awarding body
University of Surrey
Teaching institute
University of Surrey
Framework
FHEQ Levels 6 and 7
Final award and programme/pathway title
PGDip Primary and Community Care SPQ District Nursing
Subsidiary award(s)
| Award | Title |
|---|---|
| PGCert | Primary and Community Care SPQ District Nursing |
Professional recognition
Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
Recognised by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a post-registration and CPD qualification.
Modes of study
| Route code | Credits and ECTS Credits | |
| Full-time | PTA56911 | 120 credits and 60 ECTS credits |
| Part-time | PTA56912 | 120 credits and 60 ECTS credits |
QAA Subject benchmark statement (if applicable)
Other internal and / or external reference points
NMC (2022a) Standards of proficiency for community nursing specialist practice qualifications (SPQ) https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards/standards-for-post-registration/standards-of-proficiency-for--community-nursing-specialist-practice-qualifications/ NMC (2022b) Part 3: Standards for post-registration programmes https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards/standards-for-post-registration/standards-for-post-registration-programmes/ NMC (2018a) Part 1: Standards framework for nursing and midwifery education https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards-for-education-and-training/standards-framework-for-nursing-and-midwifery-education/ NMC (2018b) Part 2: Standards for student supervision and assessment https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards-for-education-and-training/standards-for-student-supervision-and-assessment/
Faculty and Department / School
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences - School of Health Sciences
Programme Leader
OOZAGEER GUNOWA Neesha (Health Sci.)
Date of production/revision of spec
18/12/2024
Educational aims of the programme
- To enhance students' competence in public health management and complex decision making to enable them to make a significant contribution to service user care and service development.
- To enhance the students' understanding, knowledge and expertise to lead and develop primary and community care practice safely.
- To develop a critical and autonomous practitioner who will be able to innovate and evaluate change within the community based on formidable research base.
- To develop students to become confident system leaders, driving innovations and research within a multidisciplinary team.
- To provide Community Nursing SPQ District Nurse students with the theoretical and practical competencies to meet the standards of proficiency to enable them to gain the recordable NMC qualification of Community Nursing SPQ District Nursing.
Programme learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | Awards | Ref. | |
| To evidence a comprehensive level of theoretical knowledge and demonstrate the practical application of the capabilities appropriate to the NMC SPQ District Nursing pathway. | KPT | PGDip | |
| To practise in compliance with the NMC code and Standards of proficiency for community nursing specialist practice qualifications (SPQ), being responsible and accountable for decisions, actions and omissions at this specialist level of practice. | KPT | PGDip | |
| To demonstrate the ability to continually develop practice in response to changing population health need, engaging in horizon scanning for future developments (e.g. impacts of genomics, new treatments and changing social challenges). | KCP | PGCert, PGDip | |
| Make sound professional judgments in the assessment, planning and delivery of care and services demonstrating critical reflection on own practice, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and openness to change within a diverse society. | CP | PGDip | |
| Communicate complex knowledge relating to primary and community care effectively in professional and academic arenas. | PT | PGCert, PGDip | |
| Initiate, evaluate and meet the person-centred, holistic care needs of the people they encounter through interventions which may include advanced medicines management, digital technologies, therapies, lifestyle advice and care. | KCP | PGCert, PGDip | |
| Take a critical approach to identify gaps in the evidence base and its application to practice, alerting appropriate individuals and organisations to these and how they might be addressed in a safe and pragmatic way. | KCP | PGCert, PGDip | |
| Identify and define complex problems and apply relevant knowledge and skills to their solution, including risk assessment and management and supporting teams to do likewise to ensure the safety of individuals, families and carers in their home, in settings close to home and the community. | KPT | PGDip | |
| Evaluate and audit own and others¿ clinical practice, selecting and applying valid, reliable methods, then act on the findings. | KP | PGDip | |
| Critically analyse and engage in community focused research activity, adhering to good research practice guidance, so that evidence-based strategies are developed and applied to enhance quality, safety, productivity and value for money. | CP | PGCert, PGDip | |
| Critically analyse own practice, and participate in multi-disciplinary service and team evaluation, demonstrating the impact of specialist practice on service function and effectiveness, and quality all whilst working across boundaries and broadening their sphere of influence. | CPT | PGCert, PGDip | |
| Demonstrate team leadership, resilience and determination, managing situations that are unfamiliar, complex or unpredictable and seeking to build confidence in others. | KPT | PGCert, PGDip |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Programme structure
Full-time
This programme is studied full-time over one year, consisting of 120 credits at FHEQ level 7. Possible exit awards include:
- Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits)
Part-time
This programme is studied part-time over two years, consisting of 120 credits at FHEQ level 7. Possible exit awards include:
- Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits)
Programme Adjustments (if applicable)
N/A
Modules
Year 1 - FHEQ Level 7
Module Selection for Year 1 - FHEQ Level 7
Students must select either Holistic Pain Management or Application of Decision Making
Year 2 (Part-Time) - FHEQ Level 7
| Module code | Module title | Status | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HCRM044 | ADVANCING PRACTICE IN LONG TERM CONDITIONS | Core | 15 | 1 |
| HCRM051 | PATIENT SAFETY, QUALITY AND RISK | Core | 15 | Cross Year |
| HCRM033 | ADVANCED MEDICINES MANAGEMENT | Core | 15 | 2 |
| NURM201 | HOLISTIC PAIN MANAGEMENT | Optional | 15 | 2 |
| HCRM034 | APPLICATION OF DECISION MAKING | Optional | 15 | 2 |
Module Selection for Year 2 (Part-Time) - FHEQ Level 7
Students must select either Holistic Pain Management or Application of Decision Making
Year 1 (Part-Time) - FHEQ Level 7
| Module code | Module title | Status | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HCRM048 | INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC HEALTH | Core | 15 | 1 |
| NURM141 | RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY | Core | 15 | 2 |
| NURM199 | EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE | Core | 15 | 2 |
| NURM200 | ESSENTIALS OF SPECIALIST PRACTICE AND HEALTH ASSESSMENT | Core | 15 | Year-long |
Module Selection for Year 1 (Part-Time) - FHEQ Level 7
Students must select either Holistic Pain Management or Application of Decision Making
Opportunities for placements / work related learning / collaborative activity
| Associate Tutor(s) / Guest Speakers / Visiting Academics | Y | |
| Professional Training Year (PTY) | N | |
| Placement(s) (study or work that are not part of PTY) | N | |
| Clinical Placement(s) (that are not part of the PTY scheme) | Y | Yes |
| Study exchange (Level 5) | N | |
| Dual degree | N |
Other information
On achieving a Post Graduate Diploma in Primary and Community Care Specialist Practice Qualification (SPQ) District Nursing programme students will be eligible to record the qualification of Community Nursing SPQ District Nursing with the NMC. The student award must be recorded with the NMC within five years of successfully completing the programme and if a student fails to do so they will have to undertake additional education and training or gain such experience as specified in NMC standards for the award to be registered. (NMC 2022b 5.2).
Exiting the programme with a Post Graduate Certificate in Community Nursing Practice will not lead to a NMC award of Community Nursing Specialist SPQ District Nursing. Any combination of modules, apart from Essentials of Specialist Practice and Health Assessment, can be used to meet the 60 credits for the Post Graduate Certificate.
The School of Health Sciences is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, and Resourcefulness and Resilience.¿ This programme is specifically designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills, and capabilities in the following areas, enhanced detail is provided within each module specification:¿¿
Digital capabilities: Students will develop their digital capabilities by the critical use of information, problem solving and innovative approaches, such as technology enhanced learning. These skills will be transferable to their role as a Community Nursing SPQ District Nurse and a leader where data underpins the identification of health needs and supports service development. The students work in a dynamic, modern health or social care environment, currently driven by the need for innovation in digital health and transformation of services. The modes of student learning have been designed to encourage student to engage with available digital resources (e.g., self-directed, blended, hybrid, asynchronous/synchronous).
Employability: All students on the programme will be a NMC registered nurse (level 1). They will be developing skills and knowledge that can be applied to their role and will enhance their future employability and career aspirations. On achieving a Post Graduate Diploma in Primary and Community Care Specialist Practice Qualification (SPQ) District Nursing programme students will be eligible to record the qualification of Community Nursing SPQ District Nursing. Therefore, enhancing their professional role and developing employability is core to this programme.
Global and cultural capabilities: To mirror the diversity within Health and Social care environments, the programme incorporates perspectives and practices from a range of cultures, thus enabling students to diversify their knowledge and reflect on different experiences in a healthcare setting.¿¿¿The importance of equity, diversity and inclusion, is core to this pathway and the NMC (2022a) Standards of proficiency for community nursing specialist practice qualifications (SPQ). This is achieved in a variety of ways, but particularly through engagement with clinical experts and users of the services to expand on the expertise within the teaching team.
Resourcefulness and Resilience: Throughout the programme students are guided to develop the ability to reflect, evaluate, adapt, and respond flexibly to ever changing needs of working in a community setting as a Community Nursing SPQ District Nurse. This pillar is fundamental to the development of effective and safe health professionals. Scenario based examples are used during the programme, utilise experiential learning theory to draw on the students considerable clinical and life experiences, to develop students¿ ability to respond effectively to situations within their professional field.
Sustainability: Students are encouraged to recognise and respond to the need for sustainable community nursing provision. Throughout the programme students will be developing skills to enable them to advocate for and improve people¿s fundamental human right for health and wellbeing through leading and developing innovate services that reflect contemporary developments in the delivery of community nursing. As a programme team we are very aware of the responsibility we also hold, supporting programmes that are funded by central government, and therefore state funded, utilising a hybrid approach, enables clinical colleagues to engage with programme design and delivery, but where possible in a virtual format to ensure they remain able to support national healthcare services.
Quality assurance
The Regulations and Codes of Practice for taught programmes can be found at:
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.