CA4S087 - Developing Autonomous Practice in Specialist Community Public Health Nursing 01 Apr 2025 - 31 Aug 2031 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: CA4S087
Module Title: Developing Autonomous Practice in Specialist Community Public Health Nursing
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Community and Professional Practice Nursing
Faculty Sub Group:
Module Leader: Dwynwen Spargo, Michelle Thomas
Module Team: Hayley Lewis, Precious O'Driscoll
First Intended Intake: APR 2025 Final Year of Intake: 2030
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 7
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100295 - health visiting
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Apr 2025
Valid To 31 Aug 2031

Module Aims

To support achievement of the SCPHN proficiencies, core and field specific, in the All Wales Practice Assessment Document at a competent level or above. 

To develop the professional autonomy of the SCPHN practitioner in their field of practice as leader and facilitator (Health Visiting). 

Content Summary

Compassionate Leadership through reflection and reflexive practice  - As part of the content relating to compassionate inclusive leadership, students will be assigned the material and set asynchronous work linked to Gwella and HEIW Compassionate Leadership. One of the four pillars of compassionate leadership is  Inclusive Leadership, which addresses:

·       Clear, shared inspiring purpose or vision

·       Positively valuing difference

·       Frequent face to face contact

·       Continuous commitment to equality and inclusion

·       Clear roles and strong team

Compassionate Leadership Hub - Gwella HEIW Leadership Portal for Wales

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion -

Students will be asked to complete directed study found within the Learning@Wales resource – there are 10 e-learning short courses for NHS Equality and Diversity:

Duty of Quality

Understanding Effective Communication and Autism

Welsh Language Awareness (More than just words)

Treat Me Fairly (Equality and Diversity)

Understanding Autism

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Role of Welsh in the NHS

Romani and Traveller Healthcare

Sensory Loss - English Version

Trans Healthcare in Wales.

New tab (nhs.wales)

Demonstrate the ability to practice with a high level of autonomy, entrepreneurship and innovation as a specialist community public health nurse.

Critically appraise and apply strategies and initiatives that improve home, community and workplace cultures and environments to enhance the health and wellbeing of people and communities in the places they live, learn and work.

Make professional judgements and decisions, and work in complex, unfamiliar and unpredictable environments, proactively identifying actions and solutions to problems that may have many interacting factors.

Develop and enhance emotional intelligence and self-awareness.

Empower people, communities and populations to connect effectively with local initiatives, support networks, community assets, programmes and resources that support their health and wellbeing. Influence and promote health as a fundamental human right and as a shared value through advocacy, engagement, inclusion and participation.

Lead and support a culture of learning and continuous professional development for colleagues, and with interdisciplinary and interagency team

Application of professional standards, legislation, policy and ethics .

Facilitating learning in the practice environment – roles of the PS and PA - Assessment, student support and achievement of the all Wales Practice Assessment Document and related processes.

Recognising individual learning styles and domains of learning  when applying the standards of education and training for pre- and post-registration nursing, midwifery and nursing associate students, in order to educate, supervise and assess effectively.

Inclusive practice, teaching and learning cultures.

Demonstrate advanced numeracy, literacy, digital and technological skills required to meet the needs of people, communities and the wider population, to ensure safe and effective specialist public health nursing practice.

Appreciate the importance of medicines management with respect to administration, optimisation and reconciliation, and the positive impact of correct medicines management on people’s current and future health outcomes.

Decision making and professional judgements including  new and emerging risk to populations health. 

Clinical supervision and understanding how this process supports self and development in others.

Application of ethical frameworks and legal regulatory and governance requirements to SCPHN practice.    

Action research to improve SCPHN services and practice to benefit the profession and individuals, communities and populations.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Seminars 6
Tutorials 30
Project Supervision 10
Practical Classes and Workshops 4
Independent Study 32
Direct Study (including online independent learning) 90
Formative Assessment Scheduled 4
Active/simulation based 4
Groupwork 6
Interdisciplinary work 4
Problem/Challenge based learning 10
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Demonstrate achievement of the core and field specific proficiencies, at a competent level, in accordance with the standards of proficiency for Health Visiting Specialist Community Public Health Nurses (NMC 2022).
LO2 Critical application of the underpinning theoretical perspectives of compassionate leadership, decision making and professional judgements to innovatively address and recommend solutions to multi-faceted and complex problems affecting practice communities in the Health Visiting field of SCPHN practice

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Work-based assessment 1 A pass in all elements as detailed in the Practice Assessment Document (PAD), including achievement of a minimum level of competence in the core and Health Vising field specific proficiencies. 0 N/A 50 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Poster 1 Reporting the findings of an action research-based project conducted in the Health Visiting SCPHN field of practice. 0 N/A 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Work-based assessment 1
Poster 1

Reading List

Please include a link to your electronic reading list below

Barr, J. Dowding, L. (2022) Leadership in Healthcare. 5th Ed. London:Sage 

Burrows, P. & Cowie, J. (eds.) (2023) Health visiting : specialist community public health nursing. Third edition. Amsterdam: Elsevier. 

Coghlan, D. (2019) Doing Action research in your own organisation. 5th Ed. London:Sage 

Cowley, S. and Whittaker, K. (2020) Community Public Health in Policy and Practice, a Sourcebook. 3rd Ed. London: Elsevier 

Harkness, G. A. & DeMarco, R. F. (2016) Community and public health nursing : evidence for practice. Second edition, International edition. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer. 

Last, R. Lillyman, S. (2023) Reflective Leadership in Healthcare: a practical guide. Abingdon: Routledge 

Luker, K. A.,  McHugh., G,. Bryer, R. (eds.) (2017) Health visiting preparation for practice. Fourth edition. Chichester, West Sussex ; Wiley-Blackwell. 

McNiff, J. (2017) Action Research: all you need to know. London: Sage 

McMillan, K. (2021) The study skills book : your essential guide to university success. Fourth edition. Harlow, England: Pearson. 

Rosser, E., Wood, C. (2023) Leading and Managing in Health and Social Care. Amsterdam: Elsevier 

Standing, M. (2023) Clinical Judgement and Decision Making (Transforming Nursing Practice series). London: Sage 

Stanhope, M. & Lancaster, J. (eds.) (2016) Public health nursing : population-centered health care in the community. 9th edition. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier. 

Unerman, S. Jacob, K. Edwards, M. (2022) Belonging: The key to Transforming and Maintaining Diversity, Inclusion and Equality at work. London: Bloomsbury 

Vasilica, C., Gillaspy, E., Withnell, N. (eds.) (2023) Digital skills for nursing studies and practice. Los Angeles: Learning Matters. 

West, M. (2012) Effective Teamwork: Practical Lessons from Organisational Research. 3rd Ed. West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell 

West, M. (2021) Compassionate Leadership: Sustaining Wisdom, Humanity and Presence in Health and Social Care. Swirling Leaf Press