Public Health Practice SCPHN Health Visiting PGDip - 2027/8
Awarding body
University of Surrey
Teaching institute
University of Surrey
Framework
FHEQ Levels 6 and 7
Final award and programme/pathway title
PGDip Public Health Practice SCPHN Health Visiting
Subsidiary award(s)
| Award | Title |
|---|---|
| PGCert | Public Health Practice |
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 | PTA56915 | 120 credits and 60 ECTS credits |
| Part-time | PTA56916 | 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 specialist community public health nurses https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards/standards-for-post-registration/standards-of-proficiency-for-specialist-community-public-health-nurses2/ 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
ROBERTS Sarah (Health Sci.)
Date of production/revision of spec
07/07/2026
Educational aims of the programme
- To develop critically autonomous specialist public health nurses in health visiting who can adapt and tailor their response to enable them to improve population health whilst promoting human rights and addressing inequalities.
- To develop health visitors who undertake assessments of families and children that are child centred, safeguarding those who are most vulnerable, advocating for fairness and social justice to support children to reach their full potential.
- To equip health visitor students with the knowledge and skills to design, deliver and evaluate culturally competent, person-centred health promotion to empower parents and carers to make informed choices in relation to health behaviours.
- To equip health visitor students, in partnership with other agencies, with the skills to lead and transform public health practice through the application of the latest evidence and research whilst considering the impact of diversity on health and equitable service provision.
- To provide health visitor students with the theoretical and practical competencies to meet the standards of proficiency for entry to the NMC register as a SCPHN Health Visitor.
Programme learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | Awards | Ref. | |
| Critically evaluate and apply the evidence base and public health data in order to promote health and prevent ill health and disability that are influenced by genetics, life choices, inequality, environmental factors, non-communicable diseases, trauma, public health hazards and emergencies and pandemics. | KCT | PGCert, PGDip | |
| Identify opportunities to lead, influence and collaborate with other agencies, organisations and professionals to critically evaluate and develop innovative, sustainable public health interventions that inform and improve health across the life course within communities. | KCPT | PGDip | |
| To develop innovative and culturally competent, autonomous practitioners who are committed to advocating for and improving people's fundamental human right for health and wellbeing, leading and developing teams to reflect contemporary developments in the delivery of public health. | KCPT | PGCert, PGDip | |
| Demonstrate a critical awareness of the impact of vulnerability on children and families and analyse policy; to play a key role in the safeguarding of those people who are most vulnerable in society to ensure early intervention and prevention. | KCPT | PGCert, PGDip | |
| To develop advanced assessment and surveillance skills in order to identify the unique health needs of individuals, families and communities in order to address health inequalities | KPT | PGDip | |
| Critically apply theory and policy to promote mental health for parents, families and infants, including the identification of perinatal mental ill health and infant distress, in order to provide appropriate care and support and facilitate access to specialist mental health services. | KCPT | PGCert, PGDip | |
| Demonstrate the ability to initiate evidence-based, person-centred interventions to promote healthy relationships, applying the theory of strength based partnership working in order to assess and review strengths, changing circumstances and relationships on child development and child and family health and wellbeing and adapt support accordingly. | KPT | PGDip | |
| Critically apply specialist knowledge of anatomy, neurodevelopment, physiology and epigenetics to support parents, carers and families to understand what is needed to promote the healthy development and wellbeing of infants and enhance awareness of the differentials of risk in relation to the child's age, stage of development and home environment. | KCPT | PGCert, PGDip | |
| Critically apply specialist knowledge of social and emotional development and the theories of attachment, demonstrating an understanding of their impact on parental-child relationships in order to support families to develop sensitive, responsive relationships showing respect for autonomy, privacy and a wide range of values and parenting beliefs while safeguarding the welfare of the child. | KCPT | PGDip | |
| Apply advanced communication skills to establish trusting relationships with families to promote healthy environments, attitudes and cultures for infants and children that acknowledge and respect the uniquely individual nature of each home setting and family unit. | KPT | PGDip | |
| To develop a critical understanding of how to support parents and families who receive a life changing or life limiting diagnosis for their child, including physical and learning disabilities and complex long-term conditions, working in partnership in order to advocate and empower them to respond to their needs, including engaging with services and resources. | KCPT | 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 6/7. 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 6/7. Possible exit awards include:
- Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits)
Programme Adjustments (if applicable)
N/A
Modules
Year 1 - FHEQ Levels 6 and 7
Module Selection for Year 1 - FHEQ Levels 6 and 7
N/A
Year 2 (Part-Time) - FHEQ Levels 6 and 7
| Module code | Module title | Status | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HCRM043 | ADVANCED ASSESSMENT AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING PRACTICE | Core | 15 | 1 |
| HCRM052 | SAFEGUARDING IN HEALTHCARE | Core | 15 | 2 |
| NURM202 | LEADING SERVICE DEVELOPMENT IN PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING | Core | 30 | Year-long |
Module Selection for Year 2 (Part-Time) - FHEQ Levels 6 and 7
N/A
Year 1 (Part-Time) - FHEQ Levels 6 and 7
Module Selection for Year 1 (Part-Time) - FHEQ Levels 6 and 7
N/A
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 Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health Practice (SCPHN Health Visiting), students are eligible to register with the NMC as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse Health Visitor. Registration must be completed within five years; failure to do so will require additional education, training, or experience in line with NMC standards (NMC 2022b 5.2).
Exit with a Postgraduate Certificate in Public Health Practice does not lead to an NMC award. Any module combination, except Developing Autonomous Practice in SCPHN (Health Visiting), can contribute to the 60 credits required.
The School of Health Sciences is committed to developing graduates with strengths in employability, digital capability, global and cultural awareness, sustainability, and resilience.
Digital capabilities: Students develop skills in critical information use, problem-solving and innovation, including technology-enhanced learning. These support evidence-based practice, service development and leadership in modern digital healthcare environments.
Employability: Students are NMC-registered nurses (level 1) or midwives. The programme develops skills and knowledge to enhance career progression, with successful completion enabling SCPHN Health Visitor registration.
Global and cultural capabilities: The programme reflects the diversity of health and social care, incorporating varied cultural perspectives and emphasising equity, diversity and inclusion, aligned with NMC standards.
Resourcefulness and resilience: Students build reflective and adaptive skills to respond to changing community needs, using scenario-based experiential learning grounded in professional experience.
Sustainability: Students are encouraged to promote health as a fundamental human right, developing innovative public health services aligned with contemporary practice and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, supported through flexible and sustainable programme delivery.
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 2027/8 academic year.