Nursing Pre-Registration Learning Disability- Blended Learning MSc

This course provides the opportunity for those who have studied an undergraduate degree to undertake a two-year full-time Master's. This innovative blended learning nursing Master’s is designed to provide a great foundation for your future career as a learning disability nurse. It provides the opportunity for you to study in a flexible way, that fits around work and life, whilst assisting you to develop both practical and theoretical skills, in order to achieve your full potential.

• This course is regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and has strong partnerships with NHS Trusts, private and voluntary organisations.
• You will be supported by a team who really understand what it’s like to be a learning disability nurse and will learn through lectures, seminars, group work, simulation and role play.
• You will practice and develop your skills through a variety of clinical placements in a range of statutory, private and voluntary services, in order to prepare you to pursue your career.
• You will learn how to work in partnership with service users, their families, carers and other professionals to promote health and wellbeing.
• You will have the opportunity to hear the experiences and viewpoints from service users and carers, who are part of the Public Partnership Group.

This course uses mainly digital technologies and includes practical hands-on experience. Although the theoretical component is predominantly delivered online, you will attend the campus in Huddersfield (or similar venue close to your home) for a maximum total of four one-week blocks for simulation and skills training. You will do this in each year of the course, providing the opportunity for you to practise skills in a safe and controlled environment. You will also undertake practice placements across the NHS and healthcare organisations in a setting close to home.

Learning disability nursing is an exciting and rewarding career where you can support people from a range of backgrounds to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. Learning disability nurses provide hands on care, as well as emotional and educational support in order to promote an individual’s independence. They work in people’s homes, schools, respite units, hospitals and secure services to empower individuals to achieve their potential and have more choice and control over their lives. Working in partnership with the individual and their families, learning disability nurses work independently and with other professionals, learning how to respond to individual needs.

You must have the following:

• An Honours degree (2:2 or above) and work experience relevant to the programme to be followed. Applicants with an Honours degree and considerable relevant experience may also be considered if they can demonstrate their ability to study at Master’s Level.
• Completed 12 years of general education.
• GCSE English Language or Literature and Maths at grade 4 or above, or grade C or above if awarded under the previous GCSE grading scheme, or equivalent.
• Applicants are required to successfully demonstrate that they have completed 550 hours of theory through studying/reading and 325 hours of practice before they start the course using Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) (Nursing and Midwifery Council [NMC] requirement).
• If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum of IELTS 6.5 overall with no element lower than 6.0, or equivalent will be considered acceptable

During the course you will undertake a number of practice learning experiences in a diverse range of health and social care settings, reflecting the diversity of services accessed by people with a learning disability. This may include community teams, nursing and residential homes, supported living services, schools, short breaks services, day opportunities or hospitals and clinics. You may also have the opportunity to work within forensic services, prisons, palliative care and youth offending services. Throughout your practical experiences you will be supported, supervised and assessed by a qualified nurse or other suitably qualified professional to ensure you receive all the expert help and advice you need.

To allow you the broadest professional experience possible, practice experiences are generally offered across West Yorkshire and beyond, covering 24 hour care including evening, weekend and occasional night shifts. You will be required to travel to and during your placements