PG Dip Specialist Practitioner: District Nursing Degree Apprenticeship

About this course

Study at LJMU to complete a Specialist Practice Qualification in District Nursing with Integrated Supplementary and Non-Medical Prescribing (V300). This programme leads to recordable NMC qualifications in Specialist Practice and Independent and Supplementary Non-Medical Prescribing.

Please note: Government funding for Level 7 apprenticeships will cease from January 2026. We will accept applications for Level 7 apprenticeship programmes starting in September 2025. However, no applications will be accepted for any Level 7 programmes starting in 2026, even if they currently appear in our programme calendar. For further information, please refer to the official guidance on the Government’s apprenticeship webpages.

The course will develop autonomous specialist practitioners who will be prepared to address the unique challenges of practice (beyond those of professional registration).

• Study for a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) recordable qualification in District Nursing
• Learn from expert nurses and specialists on this contemporary course
• Benefit from a curriculum praised by the NMC for its enhanced practice perspective and outstanding fitness for practice
• Have your professional competencies (NMC, 2022) assessed in theory and practice
• Experience practice placement
• Foster critical thinking, analytical skills and reflective practice to acquire lifelong learning skills.
• Develop the skills, expertise, and attributes to become inspirational role models and mentor for other practitioners seeking to achieve higher levels of competency in specialist community practice.
• SPQ Apprenticeship Standards related to your programme: IfATE (2023) Apprenticeship Standards for Community Nurse Specialist Practitioner (NMC 2022)

The key principles covered in the course include:

• Advanced communication and clinical skills
• Meeting the needs of culturally diverse communities
• Effective collaboration with stakeholders
• Advocating the rights and needs of vulnerable populations
• Recognising public health needs
• Addressing inequalities and compassionate leadership

These principles are underpinned by the seven platforms of specialist practice (NMC, 2022) and enable district nurses to make autonomous decisions, in situations that require them to manage greater clinical complexity and risk, both in terms of the people they care for, the caseloads they manage and the services they work within, which in turn may be integrated with other agencies, professionals and disciplines.

Academic research and theoretical perspectives contribute to the generation of innovative practice development and the extension of professional roles. This programme is therefore designed to create critically reflective and responsive practitioners who will synthesise new knowledge to develop practice within the dynamic political context of health and social care. Practitioners will be prepared for future leadership roles in multi-professional, multi-agency teams who will work in increasingly complex environments.

Specialist practitioner students are aspiring to the role of a specialist practitioner community district nurse who is required to undertake additional education to ensure safe and effective practice within complex and sensitive settings whilst working with individuals, families, and communities. It is their personal and professional responsibility to do so and the course facilitates this within legal, ethical and competency frameworks related to practice. Valuing and challenging previous experiences prepares students to exercise higher levels of clinical autonomy within a framework of patient-led partnerships to meet the diverse needs of individuals families and communities.

Course modules

Core modules

• Advancing Public Health, Evidenced-based Practice and Application (20 credits)
  • This module aims to provide you with the knowledge and skills to work as a public health practitioner in the community setting within your field of practice.
  • It introduces 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. Principles and concepts of health promotion will also be covered.
• Clinical Assessment and Decision Making (20 credits)
  • Module content will include:
    • History taking and holistic assessment of physical and mental health,
    • Advanced communication skills,
    • Pathophysiology,
    • Physical examination,
    • Interpretation of routine diagnostic investigations
    • Clinical decision making incorporating therapeutic interventions.
    • Safe, high quality and evidence based patient-centred care
    • Typical and complex patient presentations
    • Clinical judgement, risk and referrals
    • Differential diagnosis
    • Therapeutic and person-centred approaches
• Advancing Leadership and Management (20 credits)
  • This module aims to enhance your skills and knowledge, enabling you to take a central role in the development of practice within your working environment.
  • It will also provide an opportunity for you to engage in debate and discussion, so you can identify your strengths and weaknesses as a leader within your organisation.
  • You will further consider how you can influence and inspire others at both a local, regional, national and international level.
• Advancing Specialist Practice Qualification; District Nursing Apprenticeship (40 credits)
  • To help the student to maximise learning opportunities and experiences within their practice field. There is a necessity for the learner to be exposed to wider, complex issues within the community and how to strategically plan for care delivery.
  • The outline syllabus is adaptive and responsive to current issues and priorities in community health. Content includes but is not limited to;
    • Contemporary policy and legislative context
    • Advancing the role of the specialist practitioner
    • Integrated, collaborative and partnership working in the community
    • Case load management
    • Proactive and supportive transition from birth to adult services
    • Sophisticated communication skills
    • Supporting mental health and wellbeing
    • Integrated care coordination
    • Supporting positive behaviour change to improve health outcomes
    • Child and adult safeguarding

Optional modules

• Independent and Supplementary Prescribing (20 credits)
  • Aimed at healthcare professionals registered with the HCPC & NMC, this module enables you to prescribe, safely, appropriately and cost-effectively as independent and/or supplementary prescribers, in accordance with both legal and professional requirements.
  • The module will prepare you to:
    • complete an assessment of a patient/client/service users whilst developing a management plan in relation to their diagnosis/differential diagnosis.
    • complete an episode of care through prescribing or deprescribing safety
• Negotiated work-based learning (20 credits)
  • To enable community specialist community student to maximise learning opportunities and experiences relevant to their own area of work to facilitate practice, career and professional development.

Professional accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

Your Learning Experience

Teaching Assessment

An insight into teaching on your course

The timetable comprises 40% theory and 60% practice.

Module teaching is on two, and, very occasionally, three specified days of the week. The university day usually runs from 9.30am to 4pm and some sessions can be accessed via Microsoft Teams. Practice days are planned for most weeks throughout the course timetable.

This approach has been developed in partnership with students, practice assessors, NHS mangers and service users. It aims to support students to balance their practice and academic work. Practice day shift patterns vary by placement area, but generally attendance is required 9am-5pm.

Teaching methods

An important element of the programme is to recognise and utilise the current skills of the students and to build on these competencies. Students are encouraged to share their knowledge and experiences and to network both within their peer group and externally. The teaching and learning activities will build on student experiences and will facilitate and encourage further development of existing theoretical and professional knowledge.

The use of interactive lectures and seminars, group work and problem based learning techniques help identify existing skills and, at the same time, encourage students to develop and tailor their portfolio of competencies to meet present and future challenges.

Many of the sessions are shared between the different routes of the community programmes and with other disciplines. Group discussions and workshops provide an ideal opportunity for students to gain knowledge about other specialist roles.

Applied learning

Students are encouraged to spend time working in other alternative practice areas when they are on placement. This will support students to develop key knowledge and skills that will support their future practice as a district nurse. These may include, but are not limited to, a hospice, A&E, or walk-in centre. Tailoring your practice learning when on placement will enable you to build up a network of contacts and a greater appreciation of your role a specialist practitioner district nurse and how this integrates into the complex, wider provision of health and social care.

Career paths

Further your career prospects

LJMU has an excellent employability record with 94% (HESA 2022) of our postgraduates in work or further study fifteen months after graduation. Our applied learning techniques and strong industry connections ensure our students are fully prepared for the workplace on graduation and understand how to apply their knowledge in a real world context.

The School of Public and Allied Health work with a wide range of health and social care organisations to design, deliver and evaluate a dynamic suite of postgraduate programmes.

The School's wide-ranging portfolio of cutting-edge postgraduate courses enables you to enhance your existing skills in the field of health and social care, develop specialised knowledge and expertise and improve your long-term job prospects.

All courses meet the needs of the current healthcare agenda and the growing demand from this ever-evolving sector for increasingly skilled healthcare professionals.

Each programme is informed by cutting edge research, ensuring you have the opportunity to study the latest developments alongside world class experts.

Tuition fees and funding

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Fees

The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as library membership and student IT support with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources including programme-appropriate software and on campus wifi.

Financial Support

There are many ways to fund postgraduate 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 postgraduate funding pages. The University offers a range of financial support for students. You'll find all the information you need on our specialist financial support pages including details of the Student Support Fund and other activities to support with the cost of living.

Additional Costs

In addition to fees, students should also keep in mind the cost of:

• Accommodation
• Travel costs and field trips unless paid for by LJMU
• Stationery, IT equipment, professional body membership and graduation gown hire

Apprenticeship (funding through the Government Apprenticeship Levy on successful appointment in a SPQ DN apprentice post through an NHS or other healthcare organisation)

Entry requirements

You will need:

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Qualification requirements

• In a relevant nursing subject
• Consideration will be given to applicants who evidence of successful Level 6 or Level 7 (within the last 5 years)
• Confirm on entry that each applicant selected to undertake a SPQ programme has the academic capability to study at the level required for that programme (NMC 2023)

GCSEs and equivalents

• GCSE/Equivalent Grade C or above in Maths and English

Additional requirements

• Relevant work experience
  • Must be registered as an Adult Nurse on the NMC Register, with a minimum of 1 year post registration experience
• Interview required
  • An interview will be conducted involving the prospective learner and the employer prior to offering a place on the programme

Further information

• Extra Requirements
  • Registered nurse (level 1) with relevant professional registration
• RPL
  • RPL is allowed on this programme

How to apply

Securing your place at LJMU

To apply for this programme, you are required to complete an LJMU Degree Apprenticeship form. You will need to provide details of previous qualifications and a personal statement outlining why you wish to study this programme.

You will apply for the course directly with your NHS Trust.

Additional interview requirements

Applicants will be invited to interview for a place on the programme. You will be asked to deliver a 10-minute presentation; the title will be given to you two weeks prior to your interview date.

You will also need to provide an up-to-date professional portfolio demonstrating progression towards a career in Specialist Community Practice and an understanding of the district nursing role.

The portfolio should include relevant, practice reflections (NMC revalidation documents are accepted). You must also demonstrate that you will be able to adapt to student status.

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Overview:

Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) is a public university located in Liverpool, England. It is a large and diverse institution with a strong focus on providing high-quality education and research opportunities.

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Services Offered:

LJMU offers a wide range of services to its students, including:

Accommodation:

On-campus and off-campus accommodation options are available for students.

Student Support:

The university provides comprehensive support services, including academic advising, career counseling, financial aid, and mental health resources.

Library:

LJMU has a well-equipped library with extensive resources and study spaces.

Student Futures:

This service helps students with career planning, job searching, and employability skills development.

International Student Support:

Dedicated support is available for international students, including visa guidance and cultural adjustment programs.

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Student Life and Campus Experience:

LJMU offers a vibrant and engaging campus experience for its students. Key aspects include:

Sports, Societies, and Lifestyle:

Students can participate in a wide range of sports clubs, societies, and social events.

Campus:

The university has multiple campuses located in Liverpool, providing a diverse and stimulating environment.

Go Abroad:

LJMU offers opportunities for students to study abroad and gain international experience.

Volunteering:

Students can engage in volunteering activities and contribute to the local community.

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Key Reasons to Study There:

Strong Academic Reputation:

LJMU is known for its high-quality teaching and research.

Diverse Programs:

The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines.

Location:

Liverpool is a vibrant and culturally rich city, providing students with a stimulating and enjoyable living experience.

Student Support:

LJMU provides comprehensive support services to ensure student success.

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Academic Programs:

LJMU offers a wide range of academic programs, including:

Undergraduate:

Bachelor's degrees in various fields, including business, law, health sciences, engineering, and the arts.

Postgraduate:

Master's degrees, PhD programs, and other postgraduate qualifications.

Degree Apprenticeships:

Programs that combine work experience with academic study.

Continuing Professional Development:

Short courses and programs for professionals seeking to enhance their skills.