Qualifications in health & therapeutic disciplines

Community nurses

Health visitors and school nurses are registered with their professional body, the Nursing & Midwifery Council, on the Specialist Community Public Health Nurse register. These professionals work to promote health and prevent ill health in babies, children and their families. This includes pro-moting breastfeeding, supporting parenting, promoting health and wellbeing in adolescence, sexual health, and healthy eating.
To work in this area, applicants must be a registered nurse. Specialist Community Public Health Nurse programmes are based in higher education institutions. The majority of institutions offering this programme provide a route into health visiting, while some will offer a route into school nursing.
All programmes are validated by the Nursing & Midwifery Council and will provide students with equal amounts of theory and practice. In England, those interested in taking the programme must secure sponsorship or employment from a primary care trust (PCT) willing to offer a practice-based learning environment. People can do the programme on a part-time basis. This usually takes two years, but depends on the PCT. Most institutions require some experience of working as a registered nurse following registration.
There are also opportunities available for practitioners from other disciplines - registered nurses, nursery nurses and unqualified support workers - to work in health visiting and school nursing teams. Another route into community nursing is as an assistant practitioner, a new, developing role in the NHS designed to help and support school nurses. The assistant practitioner qualification is a two-year, work-based foundation degree.