Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Postgraduate Diploma Community Specialist Practitioner - District Nursing, Level 7, 2023/24 - Course Handbook
Welcome to the Course
Welcome to the Postgraduate Diploma Community Specialist Practitioner-District Nursing apprenticeship. This handbook provides you with information that you will need on your course. You should find it helpful when you first start, when you are preparing for assessment and at any time that you need help or advice in connection with your studies here. You will receive a module handbook for each module you study on your course and also a handbook for Non-Medical Prescribing, which gives details of academic and practice requirements for that module.
The course team is looking forward to working with you this year and we hope that your time studying with us at Leeds Beckett University is both enjoyable and successful. On behalf of our University and the whole course team we would like to wish you well in your studies.
Paul Mackreth, Course Leader and Course Director, Post Registration Nursing and Healthcare
Welcome to your course in the School of Health. I am delighted to be able to welcome our new and returning students and apprentices into the 2023/24 academic year.
The year ahead will contain success, challenge, and personal growth for you, and the School's team of dedicated academics, learning officers and administrators are here to help you to achieve your potential.
Our School has a broad range of disciplines, including Biomedical Sciences, Health Promotion, Nursing and Healthcare, Nutrition and Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Psychological Therapies and Mental Health, Safety and Environmental Health, Social and Community Studies and Sports and Exercise Therapy teams. Our academic teams work collaboratively - drawing on each other's expertise to support learning, undertake professional practice and consultancy, and delivery internationally recognised, societally impactful research.
Throughout the year ahead please do take time to let us know what you are enjoying and what you find valuable - but also please let us know if there are things we could do differently to improve your experience through feedback to your Course Director, at the School Forum or through the module evaluation and surveys.
I wish you every success for this academic year!
Dr Duncan Sharp, Dean of School
Leeds Beckett Students' Union (LBSU) is led by students for students! Their mission is to make your uni life better! Your Student Officer Team is elected by you to lead the Students' Union into the academic year. They represent all Leeds Beckett students and campaign for the changes you want to see in the university and beyond. They do this by representing your interests, giving you the chance to socialise and meet new people, hosting CV-boosting opportunities, and providing advice and support when you need it most. Shape your own experience by submitting your thoughts through your Course Rep, or if you'd like to influence the Students' Union's policy stance on particular issues or share ideas for improving the student experience across the University, submit your ideas on the Have Your Say platform, which is designed to make change happen! Below you'll find information on a few of their services but if you've any questions, please feel free to get in touch.
Silas Ozoya, your Academic Experience Officer, also wanted to say a few words to introduce himself: "Hey There! I'm Silas, your Academic Experience Officer. It's my job to ensure your academic experience at Leeds Beckett is the best it can be! We're a friendly and open-minded bunch at LBSU, so don't hesitate to get in touch with us! I'm looking forward to meeting you very soon!"
Contact LBSU at:
Email: lbsu-welcome@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Phone: 0113 812 8400
Website: www.leedsbeckettsu.co.uk
- Following the lifting of all pandemic restrictions and advice from the Department for Education, we currently anticipate that no social distancing measures will be in place on campus during the 2023/24 academic year, enabling a normal on-campus experience. Our aim is to ensure that our students experience Leeds Beckett University, our courses, campuses, facilities and services to the fullest extent possible, while maintaining an environment where students and staff feel safe.
- In all cases, the health and safety of students and staff is our priority and we will continue to follow guidance from the UK Health Security Agency, the Department for Education and all other recognised government agencies (such as the Office for Students) in full and keep matters under close review at all times. The advice and restrictions may change before and/or during the academic year, either nationally or in response to local conditions and rates of infection and include the need for social distancing measures and other restrictions. Our flexible delivery model allows us to revert to a blended and/or remote delivery model if this becomes necessary. In a worst case scenario it is possible our campuses may need to close.
- In the event that delivery is restricted as a consequence of pandemic restrictions, we will keep you informed of planned changes as they arise, to ensure you are provided with accurate information.
- We will provide general COVID-19 updates to our University community here and more specific updates will be provided by your School.
About Apprenticeships
Your apprenticeship provides a great opportunity to gain valuable skills and knowledge, at work and at the University, to ensure you are fully competent in your chosen field and enable you to progress in your career.
Successful apprenticeships are built on strong relationships between the apprentice, their employer and the University, in particular the course team. These colleagues are there to support you on your learning journey and you will work closely with them to make sure you get the most out of this exciting experience. Full attendance is mandatory so you must keep your employer and course team fully informed about any matters relating to your attendance, support you might need, concerns you have and any other challenges you come across. We need this information to help keep you on track to complete your apprenticeship successfully and so we can remain compliant with government rules for delivering apprenticeships.
On-the-job training refers to the activities that you undertake during your working role. It is training for the sole purpose of enabling you to perform the work for which you have been employed. Through your on-the-job activities you will have opportunities to apply the learning that you gain through your off-the-job learning, particularly your on-campus days. Your course team will indicate activities that can be classed as on-the-job training, and this will also be reflected in your training plan.
All apprentices spend a significant part of their working time undertaking 'off-the-job' training. If you started your apprenticeship in the academic year 2021/22 or earlier you are required to spend at least 20% of your working time 'off-the-job'. If you started your apprenticeship from academic year 2022/23 onwards you are required to spend at least 6 hours per week of your working time 'off-the-job'.
This time is typically spent in University but it may also include learning activities in your workplace, but outside your normal day-to-day tasks.
You are expected to undertake off-the-job learning throughout the whole year including during university holiday periods when you don't have timetabled activities. Your course team will provide further advice about what is expected.
You will need to keep track of this off-the-job learning through our Aptem system which includes an activity log. If you need further guidance or training on using Aptem, contact your course team or the Apprenticeship Team (apprenticeships@leedsbeckett.ac.uk).
Your training plan is a personalised formal document which provides details of your apprenticeship requirements, including both the on- and off-the-job training that you will undertake. It forms part of the apprenticeship agreement which you, your employer and the University should have agreed signed off before the start of your apprenticeship.
Our University was inspected by Ofsted in November 2022 and was given a rating of good for overall effectiveness and also for each of the thematic areas specified in their Education Inspection Framework (EIF):
- Quality of education
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Personal development
- Leadership and management
Key Contacts & Keeping in Touch
Paul Mackreth is your academic advisor.
Your workplace mentor will support you in the workplace by, for example, helping to identify relevant learning opportunities and helping you succeed in these. More details of your workplace mentor and other support options will be listed in your training plan.
Charlotte Benn, c.a.benn@leedsbeckett.ac.uk, 0113 812 3167, Portland Building room 513
Your Course Representative details will be provided in class or via MyBeckett.
The Academic Librarians for this course can be contacted at: sohlibrary@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Or complete their online form for help with academic and research skills: Get Help form
Andrew Winterburn, Degree Apprenticeship Assessor, andrew.winterburn@leedsbeckett.ac.uk, 0113 812 7612
Freedom to Speak up Guardian
See details here: https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/health-practice-learning-hub/freedom-to-speak-up/
The contact details of other key services, such as The Student Advice Team, Disability Advice, Student Wellbeing, the Library, Money Advice, Careers, Students' Union Advice Service and Students' Union Student Voice Team can be found on the Students web page.
In addition:
Apprenticeship Assessors - these colleagues are a key contact for you; they will coordinate and complete progress review meetings with you and provide on-going support.
Apprenticeship Team - these colleagues support apprentices, employers and other university staff with the recruitment, application and on-boarding processes; they also ensure apprenticeships run smoothly and are compliant with government rules.
Please see your training plan for contact details.
Academic and administrative staff at our University use your University email address to contact you. It is important that you check this account regularly. You can forward emails from your University email address to a preferred personal email address, however, quarantine and spam filters needed by our University mean that emails sent from external email addresses may be delayed, blocked or deleted. It is therefore important that your University email address is the only email address that you use to contact University staff. Information on how to access your University email address can be found on the Library IT Support page: http://libguides.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/it_support/office365/outlook
Please make sure that you inform your Course Administration team whenever you change your address and contact details. It is important that you also update your records yourself. You can do this via the My Account/Update my Data tab on MyBeckett. This will ensure we can always contact you in an emergency, and that you receive any important University communications that we may need to send you.
We will inform you of class activities and course notifications, including any cancellations, normally through MyBeckett announcements and/or emails. For each module, the Module Handbook will include the preferred method of communicating general information about that module to you.
MS Teams is part of the Office 365 suite used by staff, students and apprentices for communication and collaboration:
- Access via MyBeckett on University devices as well as on personal mobiles via a free downloadable app.
- Participate in online meetings and video conferencing in groups or one-to-one.
- Work on shared content, ideas, projects and online learning.
- Utilise breakout rooms to create more dynamic sessions
Further information is available on the Library's MS Teams FAQ web page.
Timetable Information
The University’s standard term dates are available on our Academic Calendars web page for information.
You will be able to access your timetable through Aptem.
Taught sessions will normally be scheduled and included in your timetable. This will include on-campus sessions that you should attend. Depending on your apprenticeship, this may also include scheduled online teaching and learning sessions that you need to take part in. Module information will be made available online by the school for enrolled apprentices. Timetables will also be made available via:
- The Student Portal (MyBeckett)
- The Leeds Beckett app
You should discuss any difficulties relating to your engagement with timetabled sessions with your Course Director.
School Forums, where students and apprentices raise feedback on their academic experience, are scheduled into all students’ and apprentices' timetables. Any apprentice can attend but only Course Reps are expected to be in attendance.
Course Overview
This is an apprenticeship for registered nurses (adult field of nursing) who wish to specialise within the area of Community Specialist Practice, District Nursing. apprentices will have consolidated their pre-registration nursing outcomes and gained a deeper understanding in relevant professional practice prior to joining the apprenticeship. This is a postgraduate apprenticeship that enables graduates to record on their NMC register the title of Specialist Practitioner in District Nursing (NMC 2001) and V300 Independent and Supplementary prescribing (NMC 2018). Obtaining these professional qualifications allow for enhanced employment opportunities as a Specialist in community nursing practice. As such the apprenticeship is rooted in facilitating the achievement of meeting NMC Standards (2001 and 2018) for safe and effective Specialist Practice. The apprenticeship framework therefore adheres to these standards that are used as a basis for assessment of practice, grouped into four domains; with the addition of prescribing: Clinical practice, Care and programme management, Clinical practice leadership, Clinical practice development and Non-Medical Prescribing (V300).
Working towards being a Specialist Practitioner requires learning to respond to both individuals and population groups. These include providing an all-embracing inclusive, community-wide perspective of needs, forming multi-agency perspectives and the ability to lead and manage teams of nurses within their communities. Inevitably this should also include influencing the commissioning and procurement of services and monitoring/evaluating outcomes to ensure sustainability of resources. The apprenticeship therefore prepares the practitioner to build upon alliances with a range of people and groups, such as individuals with health needs, families, communities, national and local governments, education providers, business and industry, voluntary, faith and charitable organisations. The overall aim is to improve the health of the people within communities through addressing health inequality and social injustice. This can only be done through integrated working and through dialogue.
All modules on this apprenticeship are core and the majority of the modules include learners from other health disciplines, enabling apprentices and other learners to acquire greater understanding of each other's roles, shared challenges and opportunities to identify and respond to health needs collaboratively.
As an apprentice you will be working towards achievement of the required knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) for your specific apprenticeship. However, through achieving the apprenticeship KSBs you will also meet the requirements of a Leeds Beckett qualification, normally an honours or Masters degree. These qualifications have defined Course Learning Outcomes which are statements about what you will be able to do at the end of the qualification. The Course Learning Outcomes of your qualification have been provided below for information.
- Demonstrate a critical understanding and application of skills, knowledge and abilities to make a valuable contribution to improving community health and wellbeing.
- Lead, manage and influence service improvement that is underpinned by theory and reflexive recognition of the context in delivering a range of primary and community services.
- Critically evaluate the breadth of the Specialist role and examine the scope for safe innovative care and effective practice.
- Synthesise new knowledge into practice in order to achieve NMC (2001 and 2018) standards for specialist practice with independent prescribing (V300).
- Deal with complex issues systematically and creatively to make sound and safe decisions.
- Demonstrate personal responsibility and a higher level (NMC, 2001) of professional accountability.
During your apprenticeship you will develop Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs) that have been identified by employers and subject experts across the country as being essential in ensuring you are fully competent in your specialised role. These KSBs are built into the modules you will study as part of the apprenticeship and will be developed through a range of learning activities at work and at University.
Every module has been mapped to the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours - see the details in your module handbooks.
The full details of the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours are in the apprenticeship standard:
https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/district-nurse-v1-1
Assessment & Feedback
Modules are assessed through coursework, examinations, portfolios for practice and practical skills assessments. Apprentices are assessed in practice.
The apprenticeship has a fully integrated End-Point Assessment.
All Apprentices are required to complete an End Point Assessment (EPA) before they can successfully pass the apprenticeship. Course teams will support and prepare you for your EPA throughout the apprenticeship. Before an Apprentice can attempt the EPA they must satisfy a number of criteria, which are referred to as Gateway Requirements. Once they have met the Gateway requirements, the Apprentice undertakes the EPA which is designed to test/confirm the Apprentice's KSBs and their overall competency.
EPAs will be conducted by an outside organisation (EPAO) or by someone within the University who has not been involved in the delivery of the apprenticeship.
The Apprenticeship grade will normally be based on the EPA, for example, if you achieve a Pass in the EPA you will be awarded a Pass in the Apprenticeship.
There are a wide range of EPA requirements across all of the apprenticeships and therefore the details below provide more information about your specific EPA. You are advised to contact your Course Director with any questions relating to the EPA.
District Nurse apprenticeship standard and End-Point Assessment
When this apprenticeship standard was originally approved, it had a 'non-integrated' EPA, meaning additional assessments had to be undertaken after the degree was awarded in order to complete the apprenticeship. This has now changed to a fully integrated EPA with no extra assessments.
Please note that while apprentices cannot achieve a merit or distinction for their EPA and apprenticeship (pass/fail only), apprentices can still achieve merit (average mark of 60-69%) or distinction (average mark of 70% and over) in line with the Academic Regulations for the Postgraduate Graduate Diploma Community Specialist Practitioner-District Nursing award.
Overview
Apprentices will typically spend 24 months on-programme working towards the occupational standard. The EPA period should only start, and the EPA be arranged, once the employer and NMC approved university are satisfied that the apprentice is consistently working at or above the level set out in the occupational standard and all of the pre-requisite gateway requirements for EPA have been met. It is expected that the gateway will be reached on completion of the final qualification module and before the university's examination board. The EPA period is expected to last a maximum of one month beginning when the apprentice has passed the EPA gateway. The EPA will determine the overall apprenticeship standard and grades of pass or fail.
The EPA gateway
-The apprentice has met the knowledge, skills and behaviours
-Employer and University are satisfied the apprentice has consistently demonstrated they meet the KSBs of the occupational standard
-Achieved English and mathematics at Level 2
-Achieved all required modules, taking into account any recognition of prior learning (RPL) of the following approved qualification: PG Diploma for District Nursing with integrated independent prescribing at level 7
-Practice Assessment Document (PAD) completed and signed-off by their practice and academic assessor
The EPA starts with the examination board and finishes when the University makes the required declarations to the NMC. The apprentice is not required to carry out any additional assessments.
The EPA plan and your occupational standard can be found here: https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/district-nurse-v1-1
Please note the exam/assessment periods in your calendar and make sure that you are available during those periods. Further details of your schedule of examinations can be found on your timetable once the examination schedule is released. Coursework submission deadlines can normally be found on MyBeckett or in individual Module Handbooks/other module guides.
You will see from the year planner that assessment dates are noted, you should further spend some time accessing these from your module handbooks. You should aim to have a clear time plan for undertaking your assessments.
Disabled students requiring adjustments to assessments/examinations should contact Disability Advice as soon as possible. We can only guarantee that adjustments can be put in place if students have contacted us by the following deadlines:
Semester 1 - 10th November 2023
Semester 2 - 8th March 2024
Contact us:
Email: disabilityadvice@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: 0113 812 5831
Website: https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/student-information/disability-advice/
It is important for your progression and achievement that you submit all work for all assignments in a timely manner. It is also important that you keep copies of all work submitted until after you have graduated. You should also keep any receipts confirming the submission of assignments. In the event of your submitted work being lost you may be required to produce a copy of the work and submission receipt. If you are unable to do so, your work will not be marked.
It is important to note that submitting all assignments is a requirement of your course. Should you experience extenuating circumstances which prevent you from submitting on time please make yourself aware of the Mitigation and Extenuating Circumstances process. Without any form of extenuating circumstances, standard penalties apply for late submission of assessed work. Full details of the penalties for late submission of course work are available in section 3 of the Academic Regulations at https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/our-university/public-information/academic-regulations/
If you have been recommended 'flexibility around deadlines' as a reasonable adjustment in a Reasonable Adjustment Plan, your Course Administrator will be able to advise you of the process.
You will be required to submit your written work via Turnitin and information on Turnitin is available here: https://libguides.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/it_support/mybeckett/turnitin
GUIDELINES FOR ASSIGNMENT PRESENTATION
Format of Assignments: please use this guidance, if there is no formatting advice in the module handbook:
Layout - assignments must be typed in Microsoft Word with either 1.5 or 2.0 line spacing (except for quotations of more than 3 lines). You should not adjust the margins of the page and each page should be numbered.
Font - standard readable fonts (e.g. Arial or Calibri) should be used, size 12.
Structure
Title page - giving your University ID number, University details, course, module details and word count.
Acknowledgements - if any, for help received in preparation of the study.
Statement of Confidentiality - a clear statement of your intention to protect the anonymity and confidentiality of clients and colleagues should be included in all assignments. Please see the section on 'Ensuring anonymity and confidentiality in assignments' for further guidance.
Contents page - showing all page numbers for the detailed listing in sequence.
Reference list - for all written assignments, in alphabetical order of authors, listing all journals/books used or referred to in your text. Use the Harvard referencing convention as outlined in our University reference guide, "Quote Unquote".
Word count - assignments must not exceed or fall below 10% of the total word count allowed unless otherwise specified. Any content over the word count +10% will be disregarded and will not be marked. For example, if the word count is 3000 words then the marker will mark up to 3300 words and disregard anything written after that point. All words, including quotes, within the assignment are included in the word count, except for the reference list, appendices and any tables.
Please specify how many words you have used for your assignment on the front page. Assignments which do not declare their word count will not be marked
Appendices - if these are required as support materials they should be clearly numbered and listed in the contents page.
Style - try to write in a straightforward, clear style, avoiding colloquialisms and abbreviations like didn't and can't etc.
Plagiarism - Acknowledge all quotations and sources of information to avoid plagiarism. Use single quotation marks at the beginning and ending of the precise words used. Quotations longer than three lines should be indented five spaces and single spaced, so that they stand out clearly from your own material. Please refer to the Leeds Beckett guidance on how to avoid plagiarism.
Turnitin
You are expected to use Turnitin to check your originality - the University Academic Integrity Regulations includes some types of poor referencing - use Quote Unquote (on MyBeckett and Skills for Learning website) and discuss with your module or course tutor if unclear. Further information on Turnitin is available here: https://libguides.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/it_support/mybeckett/turnitin
Originality report and plagiarism
The drop box for your assignment submission is opened soon after the module starts in order to enable learners to check their originality report. Apprentices are strongly advised to check this prior to submission and if your originality report is high or there are substantial parts of your text that appear highlighted in colour, this may suggest plagiarism due to poor referencing. Please seek advice prior to submission if you are unclear.
Ensuring anonymity and confidentiality in assignments
All work submitted must have the confidentiality statement together with a submission sheet. In your academic work, you may be required to draw on your experience in practice. It is vital that in addition to ensuring confidentiality in terms of the names and identifying characteristics of patients/service users/ colleagues, the place of work should not be identifiable in any way. This includes the department, ward or service in addition to the Trust or private organisation. Examples of terms you might consider using to ensure confidentiality include:
.....a surgical ward in a large teaching hospitals Trust in the north of England
.....a specialist community team from a large mental health Trust in the north of England
.....a private nursing home in an inner city area
If you need to cite a local policy or locally developed practice guidelines, you should use the term 'Trust' or 'Nursing Home' without actually citing the actual name. An example of this would be:
.......Mary was assessed using the Trust's validated pressure sore assessment tool (Trust, 2021)
In the reference list, this should be presented as: Trust (2021) Pressure Sore assessment practice guidelines
In addition, any copies of local documentation that you might be submitting as an appendix (such as an assessment tool) should have any identifiable logos, letterheads or brandings obscured.
If you are in any doubt about the issue of how to maintain confidentiality and anonymity in your written work, please seek advice from your module leader.
Breaching confidentiality of people or place in the content of assignments may lead to the work being referred and receiving a mark of zero. Apprentices must also be aware that if, within any coursework (written or oral), ethical, legal or professional standards appear to be breached in relation to professional practice, your academic advisor/ Course Director/ module leader will need to investigate to ensure public protection. This could include contacting your employer. Please discuss any issues of concern about standards of practice/ unsafe or unethical practice with your academic advisor/ Course Director/ module leader. Also, we may be required to inform employers or regulatory bodies of the outcome of your course.
Assessed work will normally be returned with appropriate feedback within four weeks of your submission. There is sometimes a perceived delay between submitting an assessment and receiving feedback, as work has to be marked and moderated, before feedback can be given, but this will normally be within the standard four weeks return period. Each module handbook will provide you with specific guidelines on how and when you will receive feedback on your assessments. Submission dates, feedback dates and dates of recovery of assessment opportunities are detailed in module handbooks. Continual feedback is provided in seminars, personal tutorials and in practice by medical facilitators. To focus learners on 'assessment for learning' the course team utilises a feedback form that asks apprentices to rate themselves on the marking criteria and encourages them to ask for specific feedback.
Results from module assessments and decisions on progression to the next level of study or awards (if you are in the final level) are available on the Results Online system: https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/student-information/exams-assessments-and-awards/results-online/
Results will appear on Results Online within five working days from the date of the Progression and Award Board meeting (the meeting where your end of level outcome will be decided) or the Module Board meeting (the meeting where modular outcomes are decided).
If you are unsure about when you might receive your results or have queries relating to your results, you should contact your Course Administrator.
The University recognises that, from time to time, apprentices may encounter issues which may prevent them from being able to submit or take assessment. Where this is the case, apprentices may be able to submit their 'extenuating circumstances' for consideration. Please see the Mitigation and Extenuating Circumstances web page for further information.
If you have not passed a module at the first attempt you will be eligible for re-assessment. See your Module Handbook for details of the relevant re-assessment process (e.g., whether it is coursework, an examination, a presentation or other form of assessment/when it will take place/what the deadline is). You will be advised via Results Online of your options for re-assessment. You are advised to contact your module leader or Academic Advisor for any clarification.
Details about our Appeals process can be found on the appeals web page.
Academic integrity means intellectual honesty and is part of good academic practice. Further information can be found on our academic integrity web page.
Teaching & Learning
As part of the apprenticeship, you will undertake a wide range of off-the-job and on-the-job activities, at work and at the University. Off-the-job learning is defined as activity which is undertaken outside of the normal day-to-day working tasks required for your job and directly links to the KSBs you need to pass the apprenticeship. This can include training delivered at your workplace. You must spend a minimum period of your paid working hours doing off-the-job activities. You must carefully and regularly log these activities/ hours and submit them to the University as they will be used in regular reviews (guidance will be provided on this).
The off- and on-the-job learning activities work together and collectively enable you to develop the KSBs that are required for you to successfully complete the apprenticeship's End-Point-Assessment (EPA) (please see below) and determine your competency as a District Nurse.
Your employer and course team will offer support and guidance throughout your apprenticeship, providing you with the necessary learning opportunities and helping you to make the connections between the different activities you will undertake and the Apprenticeship Standard.
Examples of on-the-job learning:
-Spending time with your Practice Assessor and Supervisor reviewing your KSBs.
-Shadowing other members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team and community based services.
-Completing the required elements of your portfolio (reflecting upon KSBs).
Examples of off-the-job learning:
-Getting to understand the District Nursing KSBs and your journey to meeting these.
-Attending the University campus and its clinical skills suite or lectures and seminars.
-Consolidating clinical learning and decision making in simulation settings and enquiry-based learning workshops.
-Spending time in the Library working on assessment tasks.
-Working on case studies and with peers to reflect upon practice scenarios.
Through your apprenticeship journey to becoming a competent practitioner you will be provided with a range of opportunities to develop your confidence and resilience, to recognise the value of diversity and inclusivity in society, and in your profession, and to prepare you for further learning/ training/ employment following your apprenticeship.
Additionally, the University and your employer will ensure that you have a safe learning experience and are supported in terms of your wellbeing, online safety and understanding of the Prevent duty (preventing individuals from being drawn into terrorism); more information on these safeguarding matters can be found in the Leeds Beckett 'Keeping our Apprentices Safe' guide. You will have the opportunity raise any concerns to your employer or the academic team informally and formally.
Experiential learning in developing specialist practice
Assessment, learning and teaching activities embrace a learner-centred philosophy and are designed around the principles of progressive lifelong learning and the development of postgraduate skills. Apprentices enter their apprenticeship as experienced 'expert' nurses and then become 'novices' in their journey in meeting their new standards for specialist nursing practice (Benner 1984; NMC, 2001). They form a strong professional and apprenticeship identity in working as a peer group in classroom based and work-based tasks. This process is facilitated by the Course Leader/ Academic Advisor (Academic Assessor) who is a specialist in the field of practice, together with a practice-based Practice Assessor. One of the first tasks apprentices and the course team undertake is the formation of the tripartite relationship between these three agencies. This supports the one to one recognition of an apprentice's individual learning needs together with their learning strengths. The tripartite relationship is supported by the e-portfolio which provides a means by which apprentices can share and develop their reflective work with both Academic Assessor (or nominee) and Practice Assessors.
Modular learning
Modular learning and assessment are rooted in work-based discussion and the development of work-based projects. These are designed to bridge the theory/ practice gap. Modular learning develops in-depth knowledge and an understanding of shared challenges in practice. This in turn leads to increased respect for the role of other health and community care practitioners, working in diverse long-term care and public health settings; promoting improved inter-professional co-operation; and ultimately prescribing and administering of treatment/ palliation.
Modules are purposely delivered to ensure that, by the end of the apprenticeship, apprentices produce for assessment a document that evidences the meeting of NMC standards for specialist practice and prescribing (2001 and 2018): the PebblePad e-portfolio. Each module challenges apprentices to complete tasks and activities via lectures, seminars, simulated learning, and pre/post-classroom activities. The specific activities depend on modules undertaken, but artefacts and evidence from these sessions can be used in the e-portfolio. Throughout the apprenticeship there is a focus on encouraging increasing independence and advancing KSBs, and the e-portfolio is central to this process as it allows for apprentice self-assessment, planning of learning, the production of evidence to meet learning plans and ultimately their ability to confirm that they, under the supervision and assessment of a Practice Assessor, have met their own learning plans and the gateway for the End-Point Assessment. At the end of the apprenticeship, apprentices are provided with ongoing alumni-access to their e-portfolio and its contents on a 'free for life' basis allowing them to continue to use it for ongoing CPD and to support NMC professional revalidation processes for nurses.
Transition to specialist practice and End-Point Assessment
The final weeks of the apprenticeship are the 'consolidation of practice'. This is the final phase of study that is all spent entirely in practice; apprentices work in transition to registering/recording as a specialist community nurse. It is designed to simulate the experience of being a qualified specialist practitioner but retains the support mechanism and the protection of being 'supernumerary'.
All modules are core and 20 credits except Non-Medical Prescribing which is 40 credits.
This information is correct for apprentices progressing through the course within standard timescales. Apprentices who are required to undertake repeat study may be taught alternate modules which meet the overall course learning outcomes. Details of module delivery will be provided in your timetable.
Level 7 core modules - indicative delivery, full-time, 2 year apprenticeship
Year 1, semester 1
Building Community Capacity in Public Health
Professional Development in Practice
Year 1, semester 2
Understanding Social Research and Evaluation
Professional Development in Practice continues
Year 2, semester 1
Leading and Managing with Compassion
Professional Development in Practice continues
Year 2, semester 2
Non-Medical Prescribing
Professional Development in Practice continues
A standard 20 credit module equates to 200 notional learning hours, comprising teaching, learning and assessment, embedded placement activities and independent study. The notional hours for the course have been exceeded due to the placement hours requirement.
Overall workload in hours | Level 7 |
Teaching and Learning | 296 |
Independent Study and Assessment | 478 |
Placements/Work-Based Learning | 934 |
Total | 1708 |
We are committed to providing a safe environment for our degree apprentices. We work with employers to ensure that you have a safe learning experience as set out in 'Keeping Our Apprentices Safe'. This includes information on how to identify and report concerns and access support covering safeguarding, wellbeing, online safety, the Prevent Duty (preventing individuals from being drawn into terrorism) and British Values.
In our University there is no place for bullying, harassment or sexual misconduct which includes sexual violence. We encourage any member of our community who has experienced any of these forms of unacceptable behaviour to use our Support, Report, Respect tool to access advice and raise concerns, which can be done anonymously.
Not sure who to contact? Speak to Student Advice: 0113 812 3000 or email studentadvice@leedsbeckett.ac.uk. They will listen and assess your concerns, offer information and advice, and refer to specialist support as required.
An understanding of British values is embedded in the apprenticeship curriculum.
British values are defined as:
- Democracy
- The rule of law
- Individual liberty
- Mutual respect and tolerance
In line with these values, we will foster a culture where values, opinions and beliefs can be shared in the knowledge that they will be respected.
British Values are introduced to the apprentice in the initial Professional Development module, and are visible and embedded throughout all modules, e.g., 'individual liberty' is central to person-centred care, consent and the apprentices' professional code of conduct. Likewise, 'rule of law', 'democracy' and 'mutual respect and tolerance' are seen in many of the key concepts for reading, proposing and conducting ethical research.
Details of School academic staff can be found on the School of Health Website.
Attendance & Absence
The University does understand that from time to time there is good reason why you cannot attend a class, and in this instance you must contact your School office and employer to let them know. Depending upon the reasons why you are unable to attend, and how long this might be for, arrangements will be put in place to ensure you can catch up on your missed learning. The School and your employer will work together to support you with this.
Our most important aim is to support your studies, but we are also required to report attendance to various external bodies such as the Student Loan Company, the Home Office and the Apprenticeship funding body, the Education and Skills Finding Agency (ESFA).
You must notify your Course Administrator if you are absent (for example for an interview, emergency unforeseen circumstances, or for compassionate leave). If you are going to apply for mitigation you will need to provide written evidence of the reason for your absence.
Please note that if your apprenticeship carries professional accreditation or recognition, there may be additional apprenticeship-specific absence reporting requirements detailed elsewhere in this handbook.
You are advised to review your commitment statement or training plan to ensure you are clear on who to contact in your employment organisation and University if you will be absent.
If you are unable to study because of illness for more than 14 consecutive days (including weekends), you must provide us with a Fit Note.
You can send a digital copy of your Fit Note to your Course Administrator, and then send the original by post.
If you are absent through illness on the day of an examination or assignment deadline and you intend to apply for mitigation, you must also provide us with details as possible. Your submission for mitigation may be made online and the circumstances surrounding it may be self-certified unless your period of absence is prolonged. Generally, all absences of 2 weeks or more will require the submission of verifiable documentary evidence.
For more information on 'fit to sit' and mitigation please visit our Mitigation web page.
Please note that if your course carries professional accreditation or recognition, there may be additional course-specific absence reporting requirements detailed elsewhere in this handbook.
Campus-based apprentices who suspect they may have, or have been diagnosed as having a serious infectious disease such as coronavirus, Mumps, TB, measles, meningitis or chicken pox should not attend campus. For notifiable diseases, students should notify their Course Director or Course Administrator as soon as possible giving information regarding which groups of students or apprentices (and/or colleagues and clients on placements) you have been in contact with and when. For some diseases, such as TB and meningitis, your doctor and our Student Wellbeing Team have a responsibility to notify the West Yorkshire Public Health Protection Team who may also wish to speak to you (or your family) to determine if others require screening or medication. You should follow advice given by the hospital or your GP about when it is safe to return to University. Further information is available on the Student Wellbeing web page.
For guidance on what to do if you have symptoms of Covid-19 (coronavirus), please visit our Covid-19 web page.
You are advised to review your Commitment Statement to ensure you are clear on who to contact in your employment organisation and University if you will be absent due to illness.
You must let your Apprenticeship Assessor know immediately if your employment status changes. This includes, for example:
- Redundancy
- Change in job role
- Change in employer
- Change in contracted hours
- Parental leave
- Other break in learning
Professional Accreditation or Recognition Associated with the Course
Nursing and Midwifery Council
NMC Standards: The post-registration nursing standards and the Code can be found here: https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards/
- the title of Specialist Practitioner District Nurse, and
- Independent and Supplementary Prescribing (V300)
NMC Recordable qualifications information
https://www.nmc.org.uk/registration/your-registration/recording-qualifications/
Specialist Practitioner District Nursing
Apprentices need to apply to record onto their register within five years of the course completion date or they will not be able to record the qualification on the NMC register. If an apprentice does not register their qualification within five years, they would need to complete the course again.
V300 Non-Medical Prescribing
The V300 award must be registered with the NMC within five years of successfully completing the prescribing programme. If you fail to do this, you will have to retake and successfully complete the programme in order to qualify as a prescriber. You may only prescribe once your prescribing qualification has been annotated on the NMC register and you may only prescribe from the formulary you are qualified to prescribe from and within your competence and scope of practice.
'In Year' Work Placement Information
This course is delivered in collaboration with healthcare employers. As an NMC approved course, 50% of time is spent in a supervised practice placement, in order to bridge the theory/practice gap and to allow for experiential learning. This in addition to and to support the rest of the learner's time spend working as an apprentice. The e-portfolio facilitates this process acting as a guide to developing action plans and in self-assessment tasks. The outcome is that all apprentices must evidence, through practice, the meeting of the NMC standards. Each module assessment also is rooted in practice learning and is based upon a work-based project. It is a requirement that all apprentices are supernumerary to the staff establishment for supervised practice-based learning.
Please also see your Handbook for Non-Medical Prescribing for details of the practice requirements for that module.
The overall course is detailed in the Commitment Statement as two years. The apprentice's days of study, practice and key milestones are detailed on the annual course calendar that is provided prior to the commencement of each course. To maintain the theory/practice 50% ratio, the expectation is that apprentices allocate their time as:
Year 1
-1 day of University attendance
-1 day per week in practice placement as 'supervised and supernumerary'
-Other days per week as required by employer
Year 2
-1 day of University attendance
-1 day per week in practice placement as 'supervised and supernumerary'
-Other days per week as required by employer
-Semester 2, when the prescribing taught element where these increases to 2 days theory and 2 days supervised practice.
Overall
-Spend up to 15 days in 'alternative practice'.
- 'Consolidation of practice' placement towards the end of the course preparing for the end-point assessment.
While the focus is to meet standards for specialist practice, there is scope also to plan and undertake a range of placement-based learning to broaden the scope of practice. A minimum of 15 days should be spent in self-sourced alternative settings. The selection of these settings can be based upon professional interest, learning needs or as opportunities arise. Past examples include working in rural teams, urban inner-city, specialist teams, or in other countries. Evidence of this experience is detailed in the e-portfolio.
Placements are provided by the apprentice's employer.
Placement
This course is delivered in collaboration with healthcare employers, usually the NHS. As a NMC approved course 50% of time is spent in the practice placement, this is to bridge the theory practice gap and to allow for experiential learning. As a postgraduate, you will take the lead in your own learning. The e-portfolio facilitates this process acting as a guide to developing action plans and in self-assessment tasks. The outcome is for you to evidence, through practice, the meeting of the NMC professional practice standards. Each module assessment also is routed in practice learning and is based upon a work based project.
Guidance for your Practice Assessor is sent to them each year using this web page. This page also includes guidance of how to manage difficulties in practice.
Practice information
Practice placements are provided by employers, it is therefore incumbent on apprentices that they comply with assurance standards for each employer offering a placement, and this includes:
- Mandatory Training: It is the apprentice's responsibility to work with the placement area to ensure that annual mandatory training is completed. This may include: moving and handling, first aid/resuscitation, child protection/safeguarding and information governance.
- Occupational Health: Services are provided by employers/placements. This service is used as required and may include pre-employment screening, health and wellbeing advice and return to work support.
- Health and Good Character: Apprentices are required to immediately declare any cautions and convictions they receive, including charges pending, before entering and throughout the programme. Declarations include any changes to physical or mental health so that assessment can be made by the Occupational Health services or disability support services to assure safe practice or withdraw apprentices from practice. These changes must be declared to the Course Leader. Apprentices retain their copy of their DBS certificate for the duration of the course.
- Uniforms and ID badges: The placement provider provides all the requirements for identification such as a uniform, staff card or requirements for dress and appearance. The expectation is to comply fully with each placement area's policy on uniform, appearance and staff identification. This may often include when NOT being identified as being in practice, e.g., in public places.
Opportunities to broaden practice experience
As practice is an integrated component within the course structure, it is supported by a Practice Assessor who offers one-to-one personalised support and assessment. This relationship is pivotal in reflective experience of practice and is available for the full duration of the course. The planning of practice experience is essential and is done so through the e-portfolio in the form of Learning Contracts. Whilst a focus is to meet standards for specialist practice, there is also scope to plan and undertake a range of placement based learning to broaden the scope of practice. A minimum of 15 days should be spent in 'alternative settings'. The selection of these settings can be based upon professional interest, learning needs or as opportunities arise. Past examples include working in rural teams, urban inner-city, specialist teams, or in other countries. Evidence of this experience is detailed in the e-portfolio.
Transition to specialist practice
The final ten weeks of the course are the 'consolidation of practice'. This is the final phase of study that is all spent entirely in practice; apprentices work in transition to registering/recording as a specialist community nurse. It is designed to simulate the experience of being a qualified specialist practitioner, but retains the support mechanism and the protection of being 'supernumerary'.
Mandatory Training
It is your responsibility to ensure that you attend annual mandatory training to ensure you are safe and maintain health in practice. Each placement provider and employer has their own requirements for this and may include: Fire, Moving and Handling, First Aid/Resuscitation, Child Protection/Safeguarding and Information Governance.
Non-Medical Prescribing
Please see the separate Non-Medical Prescribing handbook for details.
Concerns in practice
Please discuss any issues of concern about standards of practice/ unsafe or unethical practice with your academic advisor/ Course Director/ module leader and follow your employer's requirements.
Reporting absences for placements
See details in your practice learning handbook. The absence reporting web page is here: https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/health-practice-learning-hub/absence-reporting/
Skills, Employability & Graduate Opportunities
Graduates from this course will have gained a wide range of skills including academic skills commensurate to Master's level achievement and also professional skills as required by the Nursing and Midwifery Council as outlined in the:
Standards for specialist practice: https://www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets/sitedocuments/standards/nmc-standards-for-specialist-education-and-practice.pdf
Prescribing standards: https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards/standards-for-post-registration/standards-for-prescribers/
You will have opportunities to gain recognition during your time at Leeds Beckett University for the extra activities you do in addition to your studies, including volunteering, student societies, playing in our University sports teams and being a Course Representative.
By joining a society with Leeds Beckett Students' Union, you can make new friends, have fun, try something new and enhance your CV - societies provide a great opportunity to learn new skills and improve your existing ones. It can be difficult to get to know new people at university but don't worry, everyone is in the same boat! Our Leeds Beckett Students' Union believe that joining a student-led society is the best way to meet new people and make lifelong friends. There are so many societies out there - from course-based to hobby-based to religious to political and campaigning. Whether you're just starting out at Leeds Beckett or working on your last year of study, it is never too late to find the right society for you - or start one yourself!
Course-based societies are a great way to meet people on your course, expand your networks and celebrate your achievements together such as end of year Society Balls. If you have a great idea for a society, we can help you get it up and running. There are resources and support available for all societies - including funding to help make your society goals a reality. For more information on starting your own society, visit: leedsbeckettsu.co.uk/societies/create.
Successfully completing this postgraduate diploma will allow you to have recorded onto the NMC register the title of Specialist Practitioner District Nurse and Independent and Supplementary Prescribing (V300). This course prepares you for the workplace environment where you will utilise these new skills and allows you, as a newly qualified specialist practitioner to apply for employment in District Nursing practice.
Graduates may opt to return to study part-time to complete a dissertation module and achieve the award of MSc Health and Community Care.
Learning Support
If you have a question or a problem relating to your apprenticeship, your Course Administrator is there to help you. Course Administrators work closely with academic staff and can make referrals to teaching staff or to specialist professional services as appropriate. They can give you a confirmation of attendance letter, and a transcript. You may also like to contact your Course Rep or the Students' Union Advice team for additional support with apprenticeship-related questions.
Your Academic Advisor will be an academic member of staff who teaches you on your apprenticeship. Your Course Director will make sure that you are given the contact details of your Academic Advisor at the beginning of each year, usually in your apprenticeship induction. Further details on the role of your Academic Advisor are available on the Academic Advisor web page.
If you need support, but you're not sure where to go, your Student Advice Team are here to help. The team are an essential part of your Student Support Network and are dedicated to ensuring you can access the advice and support you need, when you need it most.
Student Advice can also help in the practical elements of university. The team will produce your first campus card and assist you in replacing your campus card if needed throughout your time at Leeds Beckett. They can provide Confirmation of Enrolment and Bank Letters for our current students and full or partial transcripts for our graduates and fully enrolled students.
If you need help with more complex queries or concerns, our trained Student Life Advisers offer 1-1 appointments, providing a safe, confidential, and non-judgemental space to talk about your circumstances and identify support that you can access both within and outside of the university.
To contact the team, or to arrange an appointment, visit The Student Advice webpage for full details.
The Student Voice & Insight team at LBSU works alongside the elected Academic Experience Officer to effectively represent students' and apprentices' academic interests.
We provide support, training and ongoing development to over 1,000 Course Representatives, Postgraduate Research Reps, Student Community Leaders and Global Majority Student Ambassadors who represent you whilst you study at Leeds Beckett; and facilitate the collection of student and apprentice feedback on your academic experience.
Unsure who your Course Rep is? Maybe you're interested in becoming a Course Rep or have feedback about your academic experience? Get in touch at:
- Email: studentvoice@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
- Telephone: 0113 812 8400
- Website: leedsbeckettsu.co.uk/your-voice
You can find information and resources online through the Support and Opportunities tabs in MyBeckett. In the Support tab, you can find details of a range of services that provide academic and personal support. These include Student Advice, Library Services, the Students' Union, Student Money, Disability Advice, Student Wellbeing, Student Immigration Advice and Compliance and Accommodation. There is also an A-Z of Support Services, and access to online appointments/registration.
In the Opportunities tab, you can explore the options you have for jobs, work placements, volunteering, and a wide range of other opportunities. For example, you can find out here how to get help with your CV, prepare for an interview, get a part-time job or a voluntary role, take part in an international project, or join societies closer to home.
If you have a disability, long-term physical or mental health condition, or a specific learning difference, we believe this should never be a barrier to studying at our University.
Please get in touch with us as soon as possible so we can ensure everything is in place before your apprenticeship starts.
What should I do next?
- We will ask you to provide evidence of your disability, usually from a health professional or educational psychologist. Don't worry if you haven't got any, we can support you with this.
- Usually, we will arrange an appointment with your Disability Adviser to discuss any adjustments you might need and support you in applying for Disabled Students' Allowances (DSA).
- We will work with you to ensure any adjustments you need are available so you can fully participate on your apprenticeship.
Please watch this short video about how the Disability Advice Team can work with you.
Disabled students and apprentices can also access the Disability Resource Areas in each library and the support provided by the Library Learning Support Officer. More information is available on the Library website.
What is Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)?
DSA is government funding to help with the cost of any additional support you might need while studying, such as: one-to-one support, specialist equipment (including useful software) and travel. For more information visit our website.
Contact Us:
Email: disabilityadvice@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: 0113 812 5831
Website: https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/student-information/disability-advice/
The Library
The Library offers 24/7 support for your studies. You can access thousands of resources via MyBeckett or the Library website which also provides full details of all our services.
Library Academic Support
The Library Academic Support Team can help you develop your academic skills such as critical thinking, academic writing and analysing data, and research skills such as how to find, use and evaluate information for your studies. The team liaises with your lecturers to provide the information resources you need for your subject and to arrange academic skills sessions to support you in your studies.
The team maintains a number of websites and modules to support your learning:
- In your Subject guide, you'll find a variety of information resources which have been selected as a good starting point for research in that area. These are available on the Skills and Subject Support web page or via My Beckett.
- On the Skills for Learning website, you'll find online resources covering topics such as essay writing, research and time management, English Language and academic English plus information to help you reference and avoid plagiarism, alongside details of workshops that are designed to help you succeed in your assessments. The Skills for Learning website can be found on the Library website or via My Beckett.
- LBU Study Smart is a module in MyBeckett which introduces you to the key skills and services you'll need to study successfully at Leeds Beckett. There are also additional modules you can take as you move through your course to help you transition between study levels. The Academic Integrity Tutorial is a module in MyBeckett which introduces you to academic integrity at LBU and will help you develop the skills you need to attain good academic practice, including avoiding plagiarism and academic referencing.
- The Academic Integrity Tutorial is a module in MyBeckett which introduces you to academic integrity at LBU and will help you develop the skills you need to attain good academic practice, including avoiding plagiarism and academic referencing.
Library and Student IT Advice Service
The Library and Student IT Advice Service team can answer your queries on borrowing, finding information, passwords, multi-factor authentication (MFA) ,Office 365, online meetings, saving your work, MyBeckett and more:
- online (including 24/7 chat) via the Contact Us web page
- by phone - 0113 812 1000 (24/7 IT support)
- face-to-face in either of our Libraries, check Library opening times for details of when staff are available
They also have a wide range of short tutorials available on the Library's YouTube channel.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi on the University campus is provided by eduroam, a secure wireless network, which also allows you Wi-Fi access if you visit other universities. To connect:
- Select eduroam from available Wi-Fi
- Your login details are:
Username followed by @leedsbeckett: e.g. c1234567@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Password: your normal university password
*Android Users: Select under Phase 2 Authentication - MS-CHAPv2
Help is available on the Library's Wi-Fi web page.
Microsoft Office 365
You are provided with free access to Office 365 and the latest version of Office can be downloaded from the IT tab in MyBeckett or from office.com. All apprentices who are registered for a qualification at Leeds Beckett University are eligible and you can use the subscription for the duration of your apprenticeship. For instructions and more information, please see the Office 365 support page.
OneDrive
OneDrive Leeds Beckett is your individual file storage with 1TB of storage space. With OneDrive you can access and share your files across your devices. This is accessible on University PCs and off-campus through Office 365 portal. See the Saving your Work pages on the Library website for more information.
Leeds Beckett RemoteApp
The Leeds Beckett RemoteApp gives you access to a range of specialist software for your course on your personal devices. See the RemoteApp page on the Library website for more information.
Media Equipment - free loans
You can borrow high-end Media Equipment for free. Browse, reserve and collect equipment ranging from GoPros to Remote Presenters from the ground floor of the Shelia Silver and Headingley Libraries. Further information is available on the Media Equipment web page.
University life can have its ups and downs, and occasionally you may find yourself in need of advice. That's where we come in. Here at the SU we have a free advice service that is here just for you, the students and apprentices at Leeds Beckett University.
The Advice Service at LBSU is a confidential, non-judgmental service run by professional advisers.
The service is independent from the University, so if you are having any problems with your apprenticeship you can talk confidentially with us - although we do work with the University to find the best solutions, we would only contact them with your permission. We can advise on a range of topics including all aspects of the University Regulations and Procedures, housing issues and finance issues. We can guide you through any processes or procedures.
We're here to help you with any questions or problems you might have while you are studying at Leeds Beckett.
Get more information at www.leedsbeckettsu.co.uk/advice.
Resources
MyBeckett, the portal and virtual learning environment provides:
- access to your modules and timetables;
- your reading lists and email account;
- your personal storage area on our University IT servers;
- information on where to look for academic or personal support (Support tab);
- information on opportunities such as jobs, careers, part-time work, placements and volunteering (Opportunities tab)
- access to Library and student IT advice
Further information and support for using MyBeckett can be found on the MyBeckett Support Pages.
The physical and online resources available for this apprenticeship include:
- Classroom and lecture facilities with PC and smartboard facilities.
- Social learning spaces with individual tutorial rooms.
- Online learning repository 'MyBeckett' which contains lectures, notices, assignment submission facilities.
- Clinical skills suite.
Student Voice
We are committed to working in partnership with you and the Students' Union to provide you with an inclusive, safe and engaging learning environment which is conducive to study for all our students, apprentices and our staff. An important element of your time studying with us is your engagement in developing your learning. Your engagement and attendance on your apprenticeship enables you to further your learning and supports your achievement, apprenticeship completion and aspirations for the future. There is an expectation that apprentices will attend, engage in their learning and submit on time for assessment. We provide support for you to maximise your time studying with us and to develop your learning, skills and abilities to support you in your chosen career path.
We seek active participation by all our apprentices in the continuous enhancement of our apprenticeships and through our monitoring, annual review and enhancement processes. These are formal processes used by our University for assuring the academic standards and quality of your apprenticeship and its continuous improvement. These processes utilise your feedback, External Examiners' reports, feedback from staff and others, data relating to apprentice outcomes on the apprenticeship and apprentice surveys to reflect on areas of good practice and areas for further enhancement. We invite all apprentices to participate in a range of opportunities to provide us with feedback on your apprenticeship and modules. This may include discussions with staff, focus groups, and meetings (e.g. with Course Representatives or with staff) and formalised student and apprentice surveys e.g. mid module reviews, end of module evaluations and specific apprenticeship or other surveys such as the Student Barometer, National Student Survey and Graduate Outcomes Survey. We utilise the outcomes of these surveys to benchmark our apprenticeships nationally and to inform annual apprenticeship enhancements.
Informal feedback is also welcome at any time either via your Academic Advisor or module tutor or via your Course Representative. Our partnership with you enables us together to make the most of your learning experience with us and to enhance the quality and reputation of your apprenticeship. You can find out what actions have been taken in response to your feedback through your Course Representative, the Students' Union, your tutors or through the Library.
Course Representatives (Reps) at undergraduate and postgraduate taught levels are student and apprentice volunteers who represent you in formal and informal meetings with the University, and follow up on actions that have occurred because of student and apprentice feedback. You can become a Course Rep, volunteering to represent the views of your peers in order to improve apprentices' academic experience.
In the first few weeks of your time at Leeds Beckett, your Course Director will facilitate an opportunity to appoint Course Reps on your apprenticeship.
LBSU provides support, training and ongoing development for Course Reps and supports their engagement in enhancement activities throughout the academic year.
Being a Course Rep provides you with an opportunity to enhance your own learning and the development of relevant professional and employability skills alongside your studies. As a Course Rep you would play an important role in:
- Acting as a point of contact and advocate for apprentices on your apprenticeship and in supporting their active engagement.
- Gathering feedback from apprentices on your apprenticeship to inform enhancements to the quality of your apprenticeship and the apprentice experience.
- Facilitating good communication between apprentices and staff on the apprenticeship.
- Working with the Course Director, members of the course team and the Students' Union to enhance your apprenticeship.
- Facilitating and engaging in meetings about your apprenticeship; and
- Being an ambassador for your apprenticeship.
Further information about being a Course Representative is available at:
We invite all apprentices to participate in a range of opportunities to provide us with feedback on your apprenticeship and modules. This may include discussions with staff, focus groups, and meetings (e.g. with Course Representatives or with staff) and formalised student and apprentice surveys e.g. mid module reviews, end of module evaluations and specific apprenticeship or other surveys such as the Student Barometer, National Student Survey and Graduate Outcomes Survey.
We are committed to providing a high quality experience for all our students and apprentices. We welcome comments and compliments from apprentices, and find them valuable for on-going improvements to our provision. Comments and compliments about your apprenticeship can be raised with your Course Representative or directly with your Course Director or Academic Advisor.
If you have a specific complaint about an act or omission of our University, you may be able to make a complaint under the Student Complaints Procedure. In the first instance, you should raise the matter as soon as possible with the member of staff most directly concerned, or with the person who can best resolve it. If this does not resolve the matter, or if the complaint is too serious to be addressed in this way, then you should make a formal complaint in writing. Information about how to make a complaint, including the student complaints procedure and a complaints form, is available on the Students web pages.
In addition to the University processes listed above, as an Apprentice, you also have the right to make enquiries or raise concerns outside of the University. Full details of these options can be found in your training plan.
General Information
Postgraduate Certificate Health Related Studies
Leeds Beckett University
Level 7 of the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications, with 120 credit points at level 7 of the Higher Education Credit Framework for England.
District Nurse ST0709
https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/district-nurse-v1-1Policies, Standards & Regulations
Key University regulations and policies can be accessed on the following web pages:
- Academic Regulations (including assessment regulations) are available on our Academic Regulations web page
- The Student Contract is available on our Student Regulations web page
- The Student Charter is available on our Academic Regulations web page (Section 20)
Other Student regulations and University policies, including Safety, Health and Wellbeing policies, are available on our Student Regulations web page
You should also familiarise yourself with our Zero Tolerance Report and Support web page regarding sexual harassment and assult.
The apprenticeship follows the University Academic Regulations except where noted below.
Fitness to Practise
The course is authorised to use the University Fitness to Practise Policy. Apprentices are expected to act in a professional manner at all times in line with the Policy: https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/-/media/files/policies/student/ups_fitness_to_practise_policy_procedure.pdf
Requests for credit transfer (RPL)
In order to comply with Nursing and Midwifery Council standards (NMC, 2004), credit transfer can only be for a maximum of one third of the course.
All assessments to be passed and pass/fail assessments
-All components of assessments must be passed at the threshold pass or a pass for pass/fail marking to pass a module.
-All components of assessment and all modules must be passed to achieve the award.
Mid-point assessment for practice
There is a summative assessment of practice midway through the course in the Professional Development in Practice module. The apprentice's Practice Assessor in practice is responsible for assessing this and signs the Confirmation of Progression. If an apprentice does not pass the mid-point assessment in practice and then fails to meet the requirements set in order to retrieve this failed assessment, this will be reported to the Board of Examiners prior to the apprentice attempting to complete the level. This may mean that the apprentice cannot repeat the practice placement if a new placement cannot be secured. The apprentice would then receive a 'withdraw' not 'repeat' decision.
Contained award
Apprentices are eligible for the contained award PG Cert Health Related Studies for the attainment of a minimum of 60 credits at level 7 from any of the modules of the target award. If the module has a pass/fail assessment, this will need to be passed, in order to evidence that the apprentice has achieved the required profile for the award.
Achievement of credit
The Professional Development in Practice module is linked to the NMC placement requirements of the course (minimum 112.5 days) which includes 15 days alternative placement and 50 days consolidation of practice and excludes the Non-Medical Prescribing practice hours. The practice requirement is calculated to be 844 hours of work based learning (practice hours). This 20 credit module's 200 notional hours have therefore been exceeded and the usual 1200 hours for a postgraduate diploma.
Reasonable adjustment plans
Due to the professional requirements of the course, readers and scribes are not usually permitted in any exams relating to calculations or practical exams. These exams and assessments replicate practice and this level of support is not reasonable in practice. Apprentices will be supported with extra time if detailed in the reasonable adjustment plan.
Attendance monitoring
Apprentices need to meet and evidence meeting NMC requirements for practice and learning. Attendance monitoring is a requirement of the NMC or employers funding the course. Attendance is expected in both University and in the practice environment. Details of these expectations are provided in this Course Handbook and the year planner. The year planner demonstrates the NMC standard for approved courses maintaining a 50% theory and 50% practice split of the learner's time. Academic Assessors will act if they detect any issues relating to attendance requirements not meeting the NMC standards. This may be in the form of support from Student Services, or where appropriate, using the fitness to practise process. In either case, the University is obliged to communicate with employers regarding apprentices' attendance.
Non-Medical Prescribing (V300)
While Non-Medical Prescribing is a 40-credit module within this course, it is also separately approved by the NMC. The practice hours and practice assessment are dealt with separately in the last semester of the course. Apprentices must satisfy the criteria for this element of their course to comply with NMC standards.
Two assessments have pass marks above the threshold pass, in order to assure patient and public safety, as mandated by the NMC: the examination has a pass mark of 80% and the numerical assessment examination has a pass mark of 100%.
The External Examiner assures that you are assessed fairly in relation to other apprentices on the same apprenticeship and also that the standard of your own award is comparable to similar apprenticeships taken by apprentices in other higher education institutions within the UK. The External Examiner(s) provide an annual report for your apprenticeship. External Examiner reports are available on our External Examiner Reports web page, which is accessible via the Course Information link on the Students home page
Ms Jill Gould, Senior Lecturer, University of Derby
Appendices
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