Download the PQF Brochure - University of Central Lancashire

POST-QUALIFYING 

FRAMEWORK & TOP-UP 

DEGREES FOR THE 

MULTI-PROFESSIONAL 

WORKFORCE 

YOUR OPTIONS 

ARE NOW WIDE OPEN

POST-QUALIFYING FRAMEWORK & TOP-UP DEGREES 

FOR THE MULTI-PROFESSIONAL WORKFORCE 

POST QUALIFYING 

FRAMEWORK (PQF) 

Our PQF offers health and social care practitioners an 

opportunity to improve patient care through personal, 

professional and academic development. Students can select 

modules from a comprehensive and contemporary range of 

modules that fit their personal development and career plans; 

either on an individual basis or combined in a planned 

programme to eventually achieve a degree. 

At UCLan we call these degrees ‘top-up degrees’ as they 

have been developed mainly to help nurses with diploma 

level qualification achieve graduate status. All modules are 

at academic level 6 and are available to allied health 

practitioners and other healthcare professionals. 

General entry requirements for access to top-up degree 

• Nursing applicants must be first-level registered nurses 

• Other applicants will need to have equivalent health and/or 

social care professional qualifications 

• 240 credits at level 4 and 5 

• Students without 120 credits at level 5 may be eligible to 

access top-up programmes by developing a portfolio to 

demonstrate evidence of equivalent entry status. 

The School of Health offers a range of ‘top-up’ honours 

degrees (BSc) that use modules within the PQF, as well as 

specialist programmes. These awards include: 

• Nursing 

• Specialist Community Public Health Nurse - Health Visiting 

or School Nursing or Sexual Health Adviser 

• Nurse Practitioner 

• Community Specialist Practitioner 

• Child Health 

• Neonatal Practice 

• Sexual Health in Practice 

• Midwifery Studies 

• Psychosocial Mental Health Care 

• Critical Care 

• Professional Practice

BSc(Hons) Nursing 

This programme is available full and part-time online (e-learning) 

or full-time only taught (on campus) for qualified nurses with a 

diploma or equivalent level study who wish to attain a degree in 

Nursing. Students do not need to be in practice, but must be 

registered practitioners in their own country. 

The programme explores: research and evidence-based practice, 

organisational and team working, health and chronic disease, 

nursing children and older people. Students engage with global 

nursing perspectives and different nursing cultures, developing 

their personal skills in managing care in a changing world. 

Collaborative learning is encouraged. 

Specific entry requirements 

Students must be/have: 

• A qualified nurse in their own country 

• UK Diploma level study or equivalent level of study, evidence of 

academic attainment equivalent to 120 credits at level 5; this 

will be evaluated by the course leader and you may be asked 

for further information to support your application 

• English language IELTs with a requirement for a minimal score 

of 6 in all components for overseas students 

Students undertake two core modules: 

• Valuing Research 

• Dissertation 

Plus four optional modules from: 

• Policy, Practice and Professionalism 

• Change for Children: Essentials for all those Working with 

Children and Young People 

• Determinants of Health 

• Promoting and Influencing Health 

• Promoting Healthy Ageing 

• Infection, Prevention and Control Principles 

• Management of Long Term Conditions 

• Developing Leadership Skills 

• Multi-professional Support of Learning and Assessing Practice



BSc(Hons) Specialist Community Public Health 

Nurse - Health Visiting or School Nursing or Sexual 

Health Adviser 

The aim of this programme is to prepare and develop registered 

nurses and midwives to meet the Nursing and Midwifery Council 

(NMC) professional standards for specialist community public 

health nurses. The course offers the opportunity to practice as a 

Health Visitor or School Nurse or Sexual Health Adviser. 

The programme will enable registration as a Specialist Community 

Public Health Nurse (SCPHN) on the third part of the Nursing and 

Midwifery register. The course has been mapped to the NHS 

Knowledge and Skills Framework to assist with career progression. 

The course content incorporates the key principles of public 

health practice in the context of specialist community public 

health nursing, grouped into four domains: 

• Search for health needs 

• Stimulation of awareness of health needs 

• Influences on policies affecting health 

• Facilitation of health enhancing activities 

All students on the programme will undertake the following core 

modules: 

• Social Policy in Community Practice (10 credits) 

• Principles of Public Health (20 credits) 

• Valuing Research (20 credits) 

• Public Health in SCPHN Practice (20 credits) 

• Developing Leadership Skills (20 credits) 

Plus for Health Visiting pathway only 

• Context of Health Visiting Practice (20 credits) 

• Consolidation of Health Visiting Practice (10 credits) 

Plus for School Nursing pathway only 

• Context of School Nursing Practice (20 credits) 

• Consolidation of School Nursing Practice (10 credits) 

Plus for Sexual Health Adviser pathway only 

• Context of Sexual Health Adviser Practice (20 credits) 

• Consolidation of Sexual Health Adviser Practice (10 credits) 

There will also be an option module of a minimum of 10 credits. 


• An effective current registration on either part one or two of the 

NMC register 

• Students are required to have a current CRB clearance which 

will be organised through your employing organisation 

• For 50% of the course time where you will be in practice you 

will be supported by a practice teacher, which is arranged by 

the NHS Trust

BSc(Hons) Nurse Practitioner 

This programme of study offers students an exciting 

opportunity to study towards becoming an autonomous 

practitioner in their own area of clinical practice. The 

modules have been mapped against the RCN Domains and 

Competencies for Nurse Practitioners (2010) and 

prepare students to: 

• Deliver high quality services 

• Admit patients with undifferentiated diagnosis to the 

healthcare system 

• Diagnose, initiate and manage treatment and arrange 

referral as appropriate 

and skills prior to commencing the course 

There are 2 pathways within this programme both 

consisting of 6 modules. 

Pathway 1: 

• Theories Underpinning the Consultation Process 

• Pathophysiology Applied to Practice 

• Comprehensive Patient Assessment and Diagnosis (A) 

• Comprehensive Patient Assessment and Diagnosis (B) 

• Non-Medical Prescribing (40 credits - equivalent to 2 

modules) 

Pathway 2: 


• Theories Underpinning the Consultation Process 

• Pathophysiology Applied to Practice 

• Comprehensive Patient Assessment and Diagnosis (A) 

• Comprehensive Patient Assessment and Diagnosis (B) 

• Practice Based Study 


Students should: 

• Expect to study at the University for approximately one 

day every other week, with a period of time (e.g. half a 

day) during the alternate weeks, with the student’s 

practice supporter 

• There is also an expectation for between 5-10 hours a 

week in private study 

• Be working within a care setting where there is demand 

and exposure to a wide range of clinical consultations 

• Be working a minimum of 18.5 hours a week in an 

appropriate healthcare setting 

• Identify a Practice Supporter within their clinical setting 

who is able to assist with their development of knowledge



BSc(Hons) / PGDip Community Specialist Practitioner 

The aim of this programme is to prepare and develop 

registered nurses and midwives to meet the Nursing and 

Midwifery Council (NMC) professional standards for specialist 

community practitioner (General Practice Nursing, Community 

Children’s Nursing or Nursing in the Home) (UKCC 2001) and 

the ‘Standards for Approval of Higher Education Institutions 

and Programmes’ (ENB 1997). 

The programme incorporates the key principles of specialist 

practice and is grouped into four domains: 

• clinical practice 

• care and programme management 

• clinical practice development 

• clinical practice leadership 

Applicants must have the support of their NHS Trust/ 

employer. 

All students on the programme will undertake the 

following modules: 

• Social Policy in Community Practice (10 credits) 

• Principles of Public Health (10 credits) 

• Valuing Research (20 credits) 

• Practice Based Study (20 credits) 

• Developing Leadership Skills (20 credits) 

• Context of Community Specialist Practice (20 credits) 

This equates with 100 credits for all pathways except 

Community Nursing in the Home where students will also 

undertake an additional compulsory 10 credits through 

completing V100 Community Practitioner Prescribing. 

A further 20 credit option module (minimum of 10 credits 

for Community Nursing in the Home students) is required to 

complete the award.Your Specialist Practice qualification 

can be recorded on the NMC Register, as can your V100 

Prescribing award if you have also successfully completed 

this module within the programme. 

The full-time programme will be delivered over a minimum 

of 40 weeks, including fixed annual leave. A part-time option 

is also available and this can be completed over 2, 3 or 4 years 

as appropriate. 

In practice support of a named mentor / practice teacher is 

arranged by the seconding / sponsoring NHS Trust / employer. 


• An effective appropriate 1st level registration on the NMC 

professional register in respect of the route they wish to 

take, as follows: 

• General Practice Nursing: entry on sub part 1: Adult - RN1 

or RNA or Child - RN8 or RNC 

• Community Mental Health Nursing: entry on sub part 1: 

Mental Health - RN3 or RNMH 

• Community Children's Nursing: entry on sub part 1: Child - 

RN8 or RNC 

• Community Nursing in the Home: entry on sub part 1: 

Adult - RN1 or RNA 

• The ability to be self-funding or have the commitment of 

your employer to support course fees 

• Your manager’s support for the course (where appropriate) 

• You are required to have a current CRB clearance which will 

be organised through your employing organisation

BSc(Hons) 

Child Health 

This BSc(Hons) Child Health programme is specially designed for 

children’s nurses or nurses/healthcare professionals who work 

with children, young people and families to explore healthcare 

issues within the remit of their individual area of practice, with a 

focus on child healthcare including partnership working and 

delivery of client-led services. The aim of the programme is to 

enhance the student’s professional knowledge and competencies 

to cope with the demands and complexities of practice, working 

within health and social care environments with children, young 

people and their families. The programme will enable practitioners 

to critically reflect on their clinical competence; expand their 

clinical capability within the multidisciplinary team, and participate 

in developing and promoting appropriate practice development to 

facilitate the delivery of quality care. 

Students undertake three compulsory modules: 


• Safeguarding and Protection of Children 

• Dissertation or Practice Based Study 

Plus four optional modules from a range that relate to different 

areas of child health practice, including: 

• Enhancing Practice: Child and Adolescent Mental Health 

• Children's Complex Care 

• Responding to Acutely Ill Children and Young People 

• Care of the Highly Dependent Child 

• Shaping the Future for Children's Nursing Practice 


• Interested students must be working within a relevant child 

healthcare area, with children/young people, their carers and 

families 

• Nursing applicants must be first-level registered nurses 

• Other applicants will need to have equivalent health and/or 

social care professional qualifications



BSc(Hons) 

Neonatal Practice 

This programme is designed to equip neonatal nurses and 

midwives with the underpinning knowledge to develop 

their practice and competence in the field of neonatal care 

within a developmental care and family centred framework. 

Depending on entry qualifications students undertake seven 

compulsory modules: 

• Foundations of Practice in Low Dependency Care of the 

Neonate 

• Current Perspectives in High Dependency Neonatal Care 

• Contemporary Management in Intensive Care of the 

Neonate 

• Mentorship in Practice 

• Neonatal Care: A Developmental Perspective 

• Leadership and Organisational Development 


Plus 1-2 optional modules from a range including: 

• Substance Use: Effects on the Pregnant Woman and her Baby 

• Community Care of the Neonate 

• Neonatal Vascular Access: Principles of Management 

• Maternal and Infant Nutrition: Bio-cultural Perspectives 

• Antenatal and Neonatal Screening: Current Perspectives 

• Presentation and Teaching Skills 

• Student Initiated Half Credit 

• Student Initiated Full Credit 

Not all modules are offered every year. 


• First level nurse or midwife currently actively registered 

on the NMC register 

• Working within a neonatal care environment in a role 

that allows them to gain clinical competency

BSc(Hons) Sexual 

Health in Practice 

The aim of this programme is to increase the Sexual Health 

practitioner’s ability to give safe, competent holistic care 

and to be able to extend and innovate that care through 

research-based reflective practice and effective care management. 

The programme will enable practitioners to develop and apply 

specialist knowledge to skills in the care and management of 

clients accessing contraception and sexual health services for 

the asymptomatic screening of sexually transmitted infections 

and HIV. 

Students undertake nine compulsory modules: 

• Contraception and Asymptomatic Screening for Sexually 

Transmitted Infections and HIV (theory and practice) 

(60 credits - equivalent to 3 modules) 

• Effective Communication and Engagement in Sexual Health 

• Research in Practice 

• Sexual Health Promotion 


• Dissertation (40 credits - equivalent to 2 modules) 

Plus three optional modules from a range that addresses the 

development of a ‘practitioner led’ practice including: 

• Cervical Cytology Screening 

• Sexual Health for Teenagers 

• Men’s Sexual Health 

• First Issuing of Hormonal Contraception 

• Prevention and Management of Unplanned Pregnancy 

• Management of Individuals Affected by STI’s and Blood 

Borne Virus 


• First level nurse, midwife, specialist community public 

health nurse with a current registration on the NMC 

register 

• Practitioners that are working in a role that allows them 

to gain clinical competency 

• Ability to study at level 5



BSc(Hons) Midwifery 

Studies 

Due to the changing and expanding role of the midwife, this 

programme has been designed to enable students to focus on 

areas relevant to their practice, and career aspirations. 

Students undertake one core module: 


Plus five optional modules from a range including: 

• Antenatal and Neonatal Screening - Current Perspectives 

• Community Care of the Neonate 

• Contemporary Issues in Midwifery Practice 

• Contraception and Sexual Health Update 

• Critical Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth 

• Ethics and Law in Midwifery 

• Examination of the Newborn 

• Grief and Loss in Maternity Services 

• Health Promotion within Sexual Health 


• Maternal and Infant Nutrition: Bio-cultural Perspectives 

• Multiprofessional Support of Learning and Assessing in Practice 

• Presentation and Teaching Skills 

• Principles of Contraception and Fertility 

• Principles of Sexual Health and STIs 

• Professional Practice and Public Protection – Old Values, 

New Culture 

• Public Health and the Midwife 

• Research in Practice, or Research in Midwifery 

• Sexual Health for Teenagers 

• Sign-Off Mentorship 

• Student Initiated module 

• Substance Use: Effects on the Pregnant Woman and her Baby 


• Registered as a midwife on the NMC Professional Register 

• Currently practicing as a midwife to the equivalent of 6 hours 

per week in an area that allows students to meet module 

learning outcomes 

• DipHE in Midwifery or midwifery related topic or equivalent 

to a minimum of 100 level 5 credits obtained within the last 

5 years

BSc(Hons) Psychosocial Mental Health Care 

Psychosocial Interventions 

This Honours degree was developed as a direct response 

to national drivers, including the NICE guidelines for 

schizophrenia and substance misuse, the Policy 

Implementation Guide for Acute Mental Health Care, as 

well as government directives to increase access to 

psychological therapies and carers. 

These, along with a recovery based approach, professional 

statements and wider agendas for health and social care are 

just some of the guiding principles underpinning the delivery 

of the course. 

Options 

• Advanced Certificate Psychosocial Mental Health Care 

2 core modules: one focusing on the process from 

engagement and assessment to formulation and the 

second on therapeutic interventions and the development 

of clinical skills in the delivery of individual work. 

• Graduate Certificate Psychosocial Mental Health Care 

4 core modules, 3 of which are clinically focused. The core 

modules are designed to provide students with the 

knowledge and skills necessary to work holistically with 

complex clients and their families/carers. 


• Applicants must have 240 credits, 120 of which must be at 

level 5 (Diploma level) 

• They must also have a Health or Social Care professional 

qualification and be currently employed within that field 

working with adults with severe and enduring mental 

illness 

• Students are required to have organisational backing to 

attend the course, be able to set aside 1 day per week for 

clinical practice and have a named suitably qualified 

clinical supervisor 

University Attendance 

The degree is one study day per week for the taught 

modules running in year 1 from September until May. In 

year 2 students complete the Practice Project for which 

they attend University for half a day per week and receive 

individual academic supervision. 

The Graduate Certificate includes all of the taught modules 

running September until May. 

The Advanced Certificate is half a day per week September 

until May. 

• BSc (Hons) Psychosocial Mental Health Care 

6 modules are studied in total, including a practice 

development project. 

The course is for: 

• Professionally qualified Health and Social care staff 

• Typically Mental Health Nurses, Occupational Therapists, 

Social workers 

• Working with adults experiencing severe and enduring 

mental illness 

• Organisational support for study time and supervised 

clinical practice



Advanced Certificate 

Critical Care 

The Advanced Certificate Critical Care award allows students 

to create a personalised, flexible programme of study that 

meets personal, professional and organisational requirements 

whilst working towards a recognised academic qualification; 

the student can choose any two from more than twenty 

different modules. It is important to note that students who 

do not work within ‘critical care’, but from care homes, 

general medical and surgical environment can access many 

of the modules within this award. 

The award has been designed to provide students with the 

opportunity to share professional knowledge and insight. 

Collectively the modules build depth and breadth to learning 

and development, leading to achievement of the course 

learning outcomes. The course will encourage students to 

become ‘lifelong’ learners, one who is eager to continue to 

learn and promote health care values and contribute to the 

development of evidence-based practice and effective clinical 

outcomes. Students may wish to use the modules within this 

programme towards the BSc(Hons) Professional Practice. 

The Advanced Certificate in Critical Care is offered at level 6 

and provides a flexible route of study. Students may choose 

to select two modules in their current specialist area e.g. 

NU3250 and NU3251 (Urgent and Emergency Care), or may 

choose to pick two modules that are relevant to their current 

practice. For example the student may be involved in caring 

for those in a clinical medical environment and for those who 

also have neuromedical disorders. They may choose to 

undertake NU3082 and NU3640. For the full module listing 

go to: http://www.uclan.ac.uk/criticalcare 


• Students must be registered practitioners, working within 

a clinical care setting appropriate to the outcome award 

for a minimum of six months, be contracted to work for 

at least 18 hours per week and are required to be 

supported by their manager and may need to identify a 

clinical mentor for particular modules 

• Pre-registration diplomas and baccalaureate graduates 

must demonstrate 12 months clinical experience to be 

eligible for this course 

BSc(Hons) 

Professional Practice 

Students can accumulate credit from a portfolio of over 

eighty modules to achieve 120 credits at level 6. 

This is a top-up degree offering a wide range of choices to 

help practitioners: 

• develop their career 

• enhance their knowledge and skills 

• gain an academic qualification 

• develop and promote practice development 

As a busy practitioner, you will be able to pace your study to 

suit you – you have up to five years to complete the top-up 

degree. 

You will be required to undertake two core modules: 


• Practice Based Study 

Plus four optional modules selected from the wide range 

available to suit practitioners wherever their area of 

practice may be. See module information for specific details. 

A number of modules can be studied online. 

Student portfolio 

Students are required to produce a portfolio to evidence 

the integration of theory and practice throughout the 

programme. 


• You will need to be in practice, and working a minimum 

of 18.5 hrs per week

BSc(Hons) Professional Practice 

MODULE LISTING 

CLINICAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS ENHANCEMENT 

Code Module Title Credits 

NU3065 Advanced management of asthma and COPD 20 

NU3057 Assessing patients with renal impairment 20 

NU3172 Assessment and monitoring in the intensive care patient 20 

NU3646 Assisting the surgeon during surgical procedures 20 

NU3644 Cancer, cancer treatment and symptom management 20 

NU3637 Cardiac dysrhythmias 20 

NU3194 Care management at the end of life 20 

NU3632 Care of the anaesthetised patient 20 

NU3645 Care of the intraoperative patient 20 

NU3631 Care of the patient following anaesthesia and surgery 20 

NU3647 Care strategies for managing the acutely ill patient 20 

NU3642 Communication in life-threatening illness 20 

NU3630 Concepts of community practice 20 

NU3636 Continuing cardiac care 20 

NU3638 Coronary heart disease: causes, manifestations and management 20 

NU3174 Current contexts of critical care unit practice* 20 

NP3041 Developing practice in diabetes management 40 

NU3640 Enhancing care for people with neuromedical disorders 20 

NU3250 Essentials of emergency care 20 

NU3326 or NU3327 by e-learning Infection prevention and control principles 20 

NU3122 Introduction to chronic oedema management 20 

NU3650 Leg ulcer care and management 20 

NU3180 Management of adult bowel dysfunction 20 

NU3186 Management of dialysis prescriptions* 20 

NU3026 or NU3329 by e-learning Management of long term conditions 20 

NU3620 Management of same day consultation in primary care 20 

NU3181 Management of urinary continence care 20 

NU3173 Managing care delivery of the intensive care patients 20 

NU3187 Musculoskeletal assessment 20 

NU3639 Neurosurgical care and trauma management* 20 

NU3039 Nutritional support and decision making in practice 20 

NU3188 Orthopaedic and skeletal trauma management 20 

NU3041 Palliative care practice 40 

NU3075 Pathophysiology applied to practice 20 

NU3643 Person focused cancer care and the patient journey (pre-requisite is NU3644) 20 

NU3099 Patient safety: harm free care 20 

NU3265 or NU3266 by e-learning Policy, practice and professionalism 20 

NU3655 Principles and practice of cytotoxic chemotherapy and biological therapy administration 40 

NU3626 Principles and practice of triage 20 

NU3197 Principles of safe perioperative practice and management 20 

NU3135 Principles of stroke practice 20 

NU3323 or NU3324 by e-learning Promoting healthy ageing 20 

NU3185 Quality perspectives in renal impairment 20 

NU3082 Recognising and responding to deterioration in the acutely ill patient 20 

NU3081 Safe and effective transfer of patients 20 

NU3058 Support in renal care and treatment 20 

NU3193 The principles and practice of tissue viability 40 

NU3251 Trauma care and resuscitation 20 

NU3641 Treatment and care in haematological disease 20



MODULE LISTING 

MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND THERAPY 


NU3311 Caring for people with dementia 40 

NU3070 Cognitive behavioural interventions for anxiety and depression 40 

NU3090 Dual diagnosis: substance misuse and mental health co-morbidity 20 

NU3161 Enhancing capability for working with personality disorder 20 

NU3024 Enhancing practice in child and adolescent mental health 40 

NU3032 Enhancing solution focused practice (pre-requisite is NU3307) 20 

NU3019 Managing teams, relationships and environments 20 

NU3609 Self harming behaviours 20 

NU3307 Solution focused interventions 20 

NU3008 The concepts of promoting physical health in enduring mental illness 40 

NU3309 Theoretical context of personality disorder 20 

NU3551 Working with individuals from assessment to formulation 20 

NU3633 Working with violence and aggression 20 

CHILDREN, PUBLIC AND FAMILY HEALTH 


NU3049 Care of the highly dependent child 20 

NU3253 or NU3267 by e-learning Change for children: essentials for all those working with children and young people 20 

NU3055 or NU3068 by e-learning Children's complex care 20 

NU3255 Children’s trauma care and resuscitation 20 

NU3315 or NU3316 by e-learning Determinants of health 20 

NU3024 Enhancing practice in child and adolescent mental health 40 

NU3317 or NU3318 by e-learning Promoting and influencing health 20 

NU3236 Principles of public health 10 

NU3254 Responding to acutely ill children and young people requiring urgent or emergency care 20 

NU3034 Safeguarding and protection of children 20 

NU3800 Safeguarding children 10 

NU3270 Safeguarding vulnerable adults 20 

NU3048 Shaping the future for children’s nursing practice 20 

NU3235 Social policy in community practice 10 

NU3801 Working with parents to support family wellbeing 10 

PERSONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 


NU3190 by e-learning Clinical supervison for health and social care practice 20 

NU3268 or NU3269 by e-learning Developing leadership skills 20 

NU3096 or NU3097 by e-learning Multiprofessional support of learning and assessing practice 20 

NU3265 or NU3266 by e-learning Policy, practice and professionalism 20 

NU3192 Practice based study - core module (must be undertaken in last year of study) 20 

NP3306 Student initiated module 20 

NU3047 or NU3059 by e-learning Valuing research - core module 20 

*An e-learning option may be available from May 2012. 

Many of these modules can also be studied as a standalone option to gain specific skills or knowledge of the subject.

POST-QUALIFYING FRAMEWORK 

& TOP-UP DEGREES FOR THE 

MULTI-PROFESSIONAL WORKFORCE 

Further information on all the modules is available at: 

www.uclan.ac.uk/health

YOUR OPTIONS 

ARE NOW WIDE OPEN 

For further information and details of how to apply contact: 

Post-Registration Recruitment 

NHS Contracts Unit 

School of Health 

University of Central Lancashire 

Preston PR1 2HE 

Tel: 01772 893836 / 893839 

Email: nursingcpd@uclan.ac.uk 

www.uclan.ac.uk/health

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