Course outline
Course summary
The Return to Practice Programme offers you the opportunity to develop academically and in practice so that you are in a position to seek re-entry to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Health Education England (HEE) are currently funding students residing in England for this course.
Those students not being funded by HEE will need to self fund or be sponsored to take the programme. For those students being funded by HEE, and who live in the North West region ,placements will be sourced for you within our Partner Trusts.
For those students being funded by HEE, and who live in the North West region ,placements will be sourced for you within our Partner Trusts. You will be allocated a practice assessor who will support your learning ,affording you the opportunity to meet the required NMC proficiencies.
For those students not living in the North West Region, you will be required to source an appropriate placement within your field of nursing. You must also secure a practice assessor who will support your learning ,affording you the opportunity to meet the required NMC proficiencies. If you have any questions about this process, please contact the postgraduate admissions team who will give you the contact details for the programme lead.
The number of hours that you spend in practice will be dependent on the number of years you spent in practice compared with the length of time you have been out of practice. You will have an opportunity to discuss this with the RTP team at interview. Your hours will be negotiated in practice between you, your practice assessor and your academic assessor.
Modules
Overview
This is a 6 month programme with compulsory theory and practice elements. The academic assessment is a 3500 word reflective essay based on your practice experiences.
Programme Specification
Assessment, Feedback, and Teaching and Learning methods
Timetables
Entry requirements
Entry Requirements
Evidence of prior successful study at underpinning level.
Selection criteria
- You will need to provide proof of previous registration with NMC. You will be interviewed for selection for this programme by a member of the programme team and possibly a senior representative from practice.
- To support your application you will also need to provide two professional or academic references. Additional to this, and for your application to be considered, you will need to complete a supporting statement outlining the reasons why you wish to return to nursing practice at this time.
- All places are offered subject to successful interview and numeracy test, as well as Disclosure and Barring Service clearance (DBS formerly CRB), medical fitness to practise and proof of qualifications. These will be completed through the University of Cumbria, and you may be required to attend a pre-course workshop. If you are planning to do your placement in Scotland, please note you will need to arrange a Disclosure and Barring Service check through your placement as the Scottish and English DBS clearances are different.
- Students returning to practice for whom English is a second language may be required to provide evidence of passing an International Language Testing System (IELTS) with a score of 7.0.
- You require a nominated Practice Assessor and Supervisor, and a clinical placement with a NHS Trust or other relevant employer, which has been subject to an educational annual audit of the learning environment.
- For students supported by Health Education North West, placements will be arranged in partnership with the University; Medical and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks will be arranged by the University.
- Students residing outside the North West should contact the University for advice regarding placements and clearances and their Local Education and Training Board (LETB) for advice regarding funding.
- The European Working Time Directive (2003) stipulates a maximum of 48 hours of work in one week. Therefore, this course is not suitable to those who work full time hours due to the requirement of placement hours and expected academic study.
Fitness to practise and health requirements
All offers of a place are subject to satisfactory health screening. Further information will be provided following the offer of a place.
Please note that Professional Bodies such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) have certain requirements regarding health and character status of applicants and their ability to meet the required core professional competencies and to practise safely without direct supervision. Please read theNMC and HCPC information to find out more. Please ask us for advice and/or support as early as possible in the application process if you have any questions about this requirement.
For more information about core competencies and medical fitness to train please click here. There are fitness standards provided here for most programmes of study: health professions, social work and teaching.
In some instances, an applicant may be invited to attend a professional practice panel to discuss any recommended reasonable adjustments, and whether or not core professional competencies are achievable.
In order to be admitted and continue on the course, students must be deemed as medically fit for both practice and theory by the Occupational Health Department. If you have any concerns about a health condition/issue and its impact on your ability to undertake the course please contact the Occupational Health Department (International Diagnostics Company (IDC) as early as possible in the application process.
Disclosure and Barring Service check
If you are offered a place we require you to comply with an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) background clearance check. Read the DBS policy.
