AC7134 - Assessment, Surveillance, and Intervention for Specialist Public Health Practice

This module has a transformational pedagogical approach and is underpinned by Northumbria University Universal Design for Learning principles. Within a positive learning environment, you will engage in self-directed learning, critical evaluation, reflection, knowledge, skills acquisition, and collaborative working, which underpins and shapes teaching and learning on your programme of study. The module will be delivered through a combination of Technology-Enhanced Learning, e-learning materials, using an electronic platform known as Blackboard Ultra. This is supported by guided study, seminars, practical workshops, simulation, simulated practice learning, scenario-based activities and tutorials. Simulated learning will be used as a teaching methodology and simulated practice learning experiences, which are designed to enable you to develop knowledge and skills in some of the complex areas of Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (SCPHN) practice, such as safeguarding and care following bereavement. Action learning sets are incorporated into the delivery to provide field specific learning and are facilitated by academic staff and practice staff with knowledge and experience in the context of Health Visiting or School Nursing.
Your field specific action learning sets will enable you to apply context within your specialist area.


Authentic formative assessments embedded within the module prepare you for summative assessment requirements. All assessments within the programme will be operated in accordance with standard operating procedures and marked and moderated in accordance with the Assessment Regulations for Taught Awards (ARTA), ensuring the academic standards required for student awards are met. The assessment strategy addresses both the theoretical and practical elements of the module, and your summative assessment will be an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) and Practice Assessment Document (PAD). The programme utilises a core lecture and applied seminar approach across the Health Visiting and School Nursing specialisms. You will be required to attend the seminars that are identified as being a core component of your recognised curriculum or standard. Students will be required to complete the assessment applied to their programme specialism.
You will also develop and be able to demonstrate appropriate knowledge, skills and experiences associated with specialist practice through clinical placement, underpinned by the clinical and managerial expertise of your Practice Supervisor and Practice Assessor and supported by your Academic Assessor. Using a variety of robust evidence sources, you will demonstrate level 2 active participation achievement of the Standards of Proficiency for Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Nursing and Midwifery Council 2022).

You will be supported by the module team, who will guide your academic learning and assessment throughout the module. The Module Lead will provide you with an overview of the module, guide you in your studies, and offer opportunities to discuss content, issues, and assessment feedback. Constructive feedback is given on both formative and summative components. Blackboard Ultra supports each module, and all modules adhere to the university’s standards. The site includes module information, assessment information, PowerPoint presentations and e-lectures, reading lists and relevant web links. A discussion board is available to the cohort, through which students can post comments and ask questions of their peers while they are not on campus. As identified above, peer support is encouraged and facilitated via the small group system embedded within this module and your programme of study. A large group tutorial will help you prepare for the summative
assessment. Your Programme Lead and Personal Tutor are also available to offer guidance on academic support throughout the programme. The University Libraries offer an extensive collection of hard copy and electronic material, access to international databases and training in information retrieval. A variety of study-skills-related help sheets and online videos can be found on the library Skills Plus site. You can also access a range of student support and wellbeing services via Student Central or by accessing the student life and wellbeing pages and Ask4Help via your electronic student portal.
You will also have an allocated Personal Tutor who will provide advice and support in relation to academic, procedural, and (where desired
and appropriate) personal matters during the programme of study you have enrolled on. You will have access to 24/7 generic IT support and specific support from the programme team with any specific IT issues related to the e-learning packages.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Using simulation and practice-based scenarios relevant to your specialist field of practice, synthesise a range of evidence and conduct a thorough, concise, and accurate assessment, assimilate the results and formulate an intervention plan.
2. Interpret, understand, and critically evaluate contemporary evidence to make sound judgments, making recommendations for interventions in practice.

Intellectual / Professional Skills & Abilities:
3. Demonstrate critical application and ability to apply advanced knowledge and skills to articulate, document and defend your decisions and judgements.
4. Critical presentation of advanced level communication and interpersonal skills to a range of audiences, including peers, colleagues and people who use services and the interprofessional team.
5. Demonstrate critical evaluation of your progress as a specialist practitioner articulating and presenting relevant evidence to others.
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
6. Work independently and in collaboration with peers, colleagues and people who use services to assess, synthesise and lead interventions in care in accordance with legal, professional, and ethical principles.

Formative assessment:
Part 1: There will be an opportunity to participate in a simulated practice assessment with your peer group before the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).
Group tutorials will provide the opportunity for informal peer feedback and discussion of intervention plans relevant to your area of practice.
Part 2: Practice Assessment Document: You will be required to achieve level 2 active participation at progress review four at the end of year 1 as a formative assessment for your Practice Assessment Document (PAD). You will complete the summative element of
the PAD in year 2 within module AC7126.
Summative assessments:
Part 1: This will be an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), assessing your ability to use advanced communication skills and motivational interviewing strategies to complete an individual physical and biopsychosocial assessment. You will summarise your findings and devise an intervention plan in partnership with the carer/parent of a preschool child (HV) or with a school-age child (SN).
During this assessment, you will be expected to complete two stations each allocated forty minutes, eighty minutes in total.
Station 1: A 40-minute assessment using a simulated scenario.
Station 2: A 40-minute written assessment component demonstrating underpinning knowledge of evidence-based decision- making and evaluation.
Both stations will be relevant to your area of Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (HV) or (SN) practice (MLOs 1,2,3,4,5,6).
Marks and written feedback will be provided electronically via Turnitin within Blackboard
Ultra.

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This core year-long module focuses on assessment, surveillance, and intervention in specialist practice for those on the Post Graduate Diploma Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (HV) or (SN). You will explore and apply contemporary theory to a range of biopsychosocial and challenging situations using practice-based and simulated scenarios pertinent to your field of practice. You will identify and apply strategies to manage and identify risks and develop specialist knowledge, cultural competence, critical thinking, and decision- making skills in person-centred holistic surveillance and assessments. Communicating at advanced level findings, atypical patterns or anomalies to co-design and develop strategies for targeted intervention utilising with individual families and young people. Learning will be supported by e-lectures, interactive seminars, simulations, and group tutorials. This module will prepare you for your specialist role with
knowledge, skills and values desired in the workplace. The summative assessment for this module is an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). The Practice Assessment Document is formatively assessed at the end of the module.