Job summary
- Main area
- Student Specialist Community Public Health Nurse
- Grade
- Band 5
- Contract
- Secondment: 52 weeks (Internal successful candidates will be seconded from their substantive post. External successful candidates will be offered a Fixed Term 12-month contract with WCHC.)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday 9-5pm)
- Job ref
- 844-7985560
- Employer
- Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Knowsley 0-25 Health and Wellbeing Service
- Town
- Kirby
- Salary
- £32,073 - £39,043 per annum (pro rata)
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 19/06/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Student Specialist Community Public Health Nurse -School Nursing
Band 5
Wirral Community Health & Care NHS Foundation Trust's common purpose:
We will support you and your community to live well.
Our values:
Compassion
Supportive and caring, listening to others.
Open
Communicating openly, honestly and sharing ideas.
Trust
Trusted to deliver, feeling valued and safe.
Wirral Community Health & Care NHS Foundation Trust provides high quality community health and care services which are responsive to the needs of our local population. Services are delivered by our dedicated and innovative multi disciplinary professionals and supported by equally committed staff behind the scenes. We strive to continue developing and improving our services by working with and listening to our populations, partners, commissioners and staff.
WCHC offers you a great opportunity to be a part of a talented, passionate and committed team delivering excellent community based services across Cheshire and Merseyside.
Job overview
This is a unique opportunity to complete the Post Graduate Diploma in Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (SCPHN), starting September 2026, with pathways in Health Visiting or School Nursing. The 52‑week Level 7 programme, delivered by Liverpool John Moores University, will equip you with the advanced skills and knowledge required to meet the NMC SCPHN Standards of Proficiency.
You’ll gain hands on experience through high‑quality placements across our Knowsley 0–25, St Helens, Cheshire East, and Wirral 0–19 teams, supported by a dedicated Practice Assessor, Practice Supervisor, and Academic Assessor. This is an exciting development route into a specialist public health nursing career, making a real impact on children, young people, and families.
The selection procedure will be undertaken jointly between Service representatives and the University. If you have been successfully shortlisted by the Trust, you will be offered an interview during May/June 2026.
Internal successful candidates will be seconded from their substantive post. External successful candidates will be offered a Fixed Term 12-month contract with WCHC.
Main duties of the job
On completion of this programme the student will have the specific knowledge, skills and proficiencies required to enable them to fulfil the role of Specialist Community Public Health Nurse within a defined area of practice.
Students must successfully complete the taught theory and practice elements of the programme before they can register and practice as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse.
Throughout the Specialist Community Public Health Nursing programme the student must experience practice in a range of different settings and areas of practice to enable them to develop understanding of the breadth of Specialist Community Public Health Nursing practice.
To develop an understanding of the principles of working in partnership with others to prevent the occurrence of needs and risks related to health and well-being.
Working for our organisation
Wirral Community NHS Foundation Trust is a high‑performing, forward‑thinking organisation committed to delivering outstanding, compassionate care across our communities. We are proud to be rated ‘Outstanding’ for Caring by the CQC and recognised for our strong culture of teamwork, innovation, and professional development.
As a Trust, we are passionate about supporting our workforce to grow, thrive, and achieve their career ambitions. Colleagues benefit from a welcoming, inclusive environment where wellbeing, continuous learning, and high‑quality supervision are prioritised. We champion flexible working, value diversity, and actively encourage staff to bring ideas that help shape and improve our services.
Joining us means becoming part of a community‑focused organisation that makes a real difference to children, young people, families, and adults across Wirral and beyond. Whether in clinical practice, leadership, or education, you will be supported to deliver excellent care and to develop the skills and confidence needed for the next stage of your career.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To enable the Specialist Community Public Health Nursing student to develop the skills and competencies to:
- Provide comprehensive assessments of the health needs of clients.
- Raise awareness about health and social well-being and related factors, services, and resources.
- Raise awareness about the actions that groups, and individuals can take to improve their health and social well-being.
- Develop, sustain, and evaluate collaborative work.
- Collaborate in a multi-disciplinary environment to ensure children are safeguarded.
- Develop capacity and confidence of individuals and groups, including families and communities, to influence and use available services, information and skills, acting as an advocate where appropriate
- Identify and evaluate service provision and support networks for individuals, families, and groups within in the local area.
- Identify individuals, families and groups who are at risk and in need of further support.
- Develop and sustain relationships with groups and individuals with the aim of improving health and social well-being.
- Undertake screening of individuals and populations and respond appropriately to findings
Person specification
Qualifications and professional training
Essential criteria
- A current first level registration
- Holds a degree in Nursing or midwifery or is able to evidence recent successful study at level 6 or 7
- 2 years post-registration experience of professional practice
Desirable criteria
- Up to date Professional Portfolio demonstrating evidence of reflective practice
Experience and knowledge
Essential criteria
- Appreciation and application of research in professional practice
- Demonstrate excellent communication skills both written and verbal
- Ability to plan and organise own work
- Ability to study independently at Level 7
Desirable criteria
- Experience of supervising or assessing students
Skills and attributes
Essential criteria
- Understanding of the role applied for
- Computer literacy skills
- Sound knowledge of health policy relating to Public Health and Primary/ Community Care
- Aptitude to work cohesively within a team
Personal qualities
Essential criteria
- Leadership potential
- Be able to independently travel across a defined geographical area to deliver care
- Reliable
- Innovative
- Flexible
- Good interpersonal skills
- Be able to adapt to student role / status
Desirable criteria
- Provide an academic reference
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Amy Bulmer
- Job title
- Knowsley 0-25 Education lead
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07788300272
- Additional information
The interview will involve a 10-minute presentation. The presentation will be in a format of your choosing. The title of the presentation will be:
Please deliver a 10‑minute presentation explaining how and why you are ready to undertake the Post Graduate Diploma in Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (SCPHN) starting in September 2026. In your presentation, please cover the following:
1. Your motivation for pursuing the SCPHN qualification and your chosen pathway (Health Visiting or School Nursing).
2. The skills, experience, and personal qualities you have that demonstrate your readiness for Level 7 study and specialist public health practice.
3. Your understanding of the SCPHN role, including the impact it has on children, young people, families, and communities.
4. How you will manage the demands of a 52‑week academic and clinical programme, including balancing study, placement, and personal commitments.
5. What you hope to contribute to the service during training and as a future SCPHN.
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