Specialist Community Practitioner Student (District Nursing)

To work towards gaining the standards of proficiency for entry to the NMC register/recordable for Specialist Community Practitioner.

To provide the Specialist Community Practitioner Student with a learning environment which will enable the student to develop knowledge, skills and competencies to take on the role of a qualified Specialist Community Practitioner within a defined pathway.

To gain the knowledge and skills and competence required in order to exercise higher levels of judgment, discretion and decision making in clinical care focusing on four broad areas:

Clinical practice

Community Engagement

Leadership in clinical practice

The post of Specialist Community Practitioner Sponsorship Student is a development post building on existing knowledge, skills and competencies to achieve a higher level of practice resulting in an academic qualification as well as a recordable/registerable qualification with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Main duties of the job

Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust are looking to sponsor highly motivated qualified nurses with minimum 2 year clinical nursing experience who are interested in undertaking the Post Graduate Diploma (PGDip) Specialist Community Practitioner (District Nursing) qualification in January 2026 at University of Greenwich.

The fundamental responsibilities of the post holder are to attain the academic credentials and the clinical skills required to practice as a NMC registered Specialist Community Public Health Nurse on a defined pathway. These are summarised below:

To fulfil the requirements of the Specialist Community Practitioner programme by attending university course dates and practice placement days in accordance with University regulations

To work with the Specialist Community Practice Teacher and Experienced Practitioners to develop the skills and competencies to achieve NMC Registration Standards for Specialist Community Practice

With the support of the Specialist Community Practice Teacher to link the theoretical knowledge gained through the university programme to the practice situation

To demonstrate an understanding of current and emerging National, Regional and local healthcare legislation, policies and guidelines as they pertain to chosen pathway

To develop/build on skills of caseload and team leadership and management

To work within University Regulations pertaining to academic work and student conduct

About us

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:

• Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
• Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
• Improving the experience of staff with disability
• Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
• Making equalities mainstream

Job responsibilities

This course is undertaken with University of Greenwich

Applicants to the Post Graduate Diploma pathway are required to havea relevant honours degree at 2:2 classification or above.

To be aware of and act in accordance with agreed policies, procedures, legislation and NMC standards.

To adhere to Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust policies and procedures at all times.

To ensure that records are kept and maintained in line with NMC guidelines, Trust record keeping and information governance policies.

To adhere to national and local infection control procedures and standards at all times.

To be willing to expand nursing knowledge/skills by undertaking further professional training, to keep up to date with professional developments and maintain current PREP portfolio.

To set appropriate objectives and review them regularly with the District Nurse Team Manager.

To meet regularly with the District Nurse Team Manager in order to review own performance.

To participate in clinical audit in order to promote the development of patient centred evidence based practice.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

• Registered on part 1 of the NMC register
• DipHE (or above) qualification to 120 credits at level 5 or evidence of previous education and learning to this level.
• Evidence of continual professional development over the last 2 years
• Recognised teaching and mentoring qualification

Experience

• Minimum two years' post qualifying experience
• Experience of working within multi-disciplinary teams
• Evidence of involvement in the management of difficult situations and conflict resolution
• Evidence of working without direct supervision and managing own workload
• Experience of the audit process and clinical governance
• Evidence of researched based practice
• Experience of working as a registered nurse in a community setting
• Experience of managing staff within a team

Knowledge & Skills

• An understanding of the role of Specialist Practitioner (District Nursing)
• Evidence of current clinical competencies
• Knowledge of long term conditions management
• Knowledge of safeguarding vulnerable adults
• Knowledge of the NMC Code of Professional Conduct, standards of conduct and ethics and its application to nursing practice
• Academic ability to study independently at degree or postgraduate level

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.