Learning Disability Nursing

Course overview

The aim of learning disability nursing is to place the service user at the centre of all decision making, therefore, teaching methods involve the inclusion of service users and carers in classroom settings and practice placements. You will also be taught by academics who are registered nurses with a wealth of skills, knowledge and expertise in their field of nursing and research.

Enquiries

If you have any enquiries about the course content, please use these contact details for Nursing.

Email
uocnursingenquiries@chester.ac.uk

Why Study Learning Disability Nursing with us?

This is a dynamic, interactive professional course which places the needs of service users, their families and carers, students and Learning Disability Nursing practice at its centre. The programme team are committed to supporting students to realise their potential to become compassionate, competent and autonomous Learning Disability Nurses, able to meet current and future healthcare demands.

The University of Chester provides excellent pastoral and academic support during the course of your studies, with excellent teaching and learning facilities supporting opportunities to develop the academic, professional and clinical skills required to be a confident, competent and professional practitioner.

Typical Entry	112 UCAS points
GCE A Level	112 points from GCE A Levels. Typical offer BCC-BBC.
BTEC	BTEC Extended Diploma - DMM; BTEC Diploma - DD
Irish/Scottish Highers	Grades BBBB
International Baccalaureate	26 points
Access requirements	Access to HE Diploma, to include 45 credits at Level 3, 30 of which must be at Merit or Distinction
OCR	OCR National Extended Diploma: Merit 2; OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma - DMM; OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma - DD
Extra Information / General Entry Requirements	Please note that we accept a maximum of 8 points from GCE AS Levels and that the Welsh Baccalaureate (core) and General Studies A Level will be recognised in our offer. We will also consider a combination of A levels and BTECs/OCRs. FETAC Level 5 (Major Award) with all 8 subjects at Merit. Applicants must have GCSE Grade C/Grade 4 or above in English and Maths or equivalent. Please note that applicants must also have evidence of recent study within the last 5 years. A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is carried out on all students. For details about the cost of the DBS and for further information please visit: www.chester.ac.uk/dbs

If you have any questions, or are unsure if your qualifications meet these requirements, please contact us using the details below.

Health and Social Care Admissions

Email
hscadmissions@chester.ac.uk
Telephone
01244 511000

English Language Requirements

IELTS Academic: 7.0 (no less than 7.0 in any band)

Select your country

If you have any questions, or are unsure if your qualifications meet these requirements, please contact us using the details below.

International

Email
international@chester.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 1244 512465 / 512472 / 512335
Facebook
@International.Chester
Twitter
@UoCInter

Learning

This section aims to provide you with a course overview, as well as information on how you will be taught and assessed.

Staff

Joanne Skellern

Programme Leader, Learning Disability Field

I am a Registered Nurse for people with Learning Disabilities and since qualifying in 1992 have worked in a variety of settings, including: assessment and treatment, forensic, residential services and respite care. After successfully completing my MSc (Professional Practice) in the subject of violence and aggression within learning disabilities services, I have continued to conduct further research into this area and I am currently studying for my PhD in the subject of aggression and sexuality.

I joined the University in 2008 and I am currently employed as a Senior Lecturer within the Department of Mental Health and Learning Disability.

How will I be taught?

You will be taught using lectures, tutorials, e-learning, group learning practical skills sessions, simulation and student- led activities. Theory will be delivered at the Riverside Campus, and placements within the agreed geographical location, during which you will be expected to work a full range of clinical shifts, which may include early/late/long days in addition to some weekend and night shifts.

You will be taught in small class sizes during the field programme, and have a wide range of practice placement opportunities within health, social, and independent sectors.

The total hours for the course is 4,600. This is broken down into 2,300 theory and 2,300 practice. This equates to 20 weeks practice and 20 weeks theory per year.

When you are in class for teaching, this will be from Monday to Friday.
When you are in practice, you will work a variety of shifts (including nights and weekends) in order to achieve Nursing and Midwifery Council competencies.

You will also be expected to dedicate a number of directed/online reading and private study hours.

Level	Scheduled (Hours)	Independent (Hours)	Placement (Hours)	Total (Hours)
Level 4	256	633	722	1612
Level 5	228	695	689	1612
Level 6	182	714	745	1642

How will I be assessed?

The course uses a number of assessment methods in both theory and clinical practice, such as written assignments, clinical practice assessments, skills assessments and exams.

Level	Written exam (%)	Coursework (%)
Level 4	25	75
Level 5	0	100
Level 6	0	100

Work Based Learning

The University of Chester has excellent links with practice learning providers, such as local NHS Trusts, the independent sector and primary care. This ensures that you will gain a wide variety of learning experiences in a range of practice learning environments and clinical and healthcare settings. Furthermore, this relationship ensures that you will be fully supported by mentors, academic links to practice, lecturers, practice education facilitators and practice leads during placement learning experiences.

One exciting aspect of the curriculum is that the University of Chester has a well-established Erasmus scheme currently facilitated by the European Office. Therefore, you may have an opportunity to experience learning outside of the United Kingdom.

Fees and Funding

UK/EU
International
Additional Costs
Bursaries

The University’s tuition fee for UK/EU students starting a full-time undergraduate degree in 2018 is £9,250 a year.

The University may increase these fees at the start of each subsequent year of your course in line with inflation at that time, as measured by the Retail Price Index. These fee levels and increases are subject to any necessary government, and other regulatory, approvals.

Email
finance.tuitionfees@chester.ac.uk
Telephone
01244 512810

Undergraduate Pre-Reg Nursing Pathways: £9,250 + £3,000 placement

The University of Chester offers generous international and merit-based scholarships for postgraduate study, providing a significant reduction to the published headline tuition fee. You will automatically be considered for these scholarships when submitting an application and any award given will be shown on your offer letter.

Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials, specialist clothing, travel to placements, optional field trips and software. Compulsory field trips are covered by your tuition fees.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is carried out on all students, the cost of which is currently met by the Health Education England North. However please note: with recent changes to the NHS Bursary, this is currently under review, and may mean that for September 2017 start, you will need to pay for a DBS check through the University.

For details about the cost of the DBS and for further information please visit: www.chester.ac.uk/dbs

If you are living away from home during your time at University, you will need to cover costs such as accommodation, food, travel and bills.

Bursaries are a form of financial help in addition to student loans and grants that do not have to be paid back. The bursaries we are offering for 2017 entrants are listed below.

Application Process for University Bursaries

There is no application process (except for the part-time bursary); but do remember to give consent to share your household income with the University of Chester when you apply for student funding.

We will automatically review your eligibility and notify you if you are eligible; normally by letter to your home address.

If you are not sure whether you have consented to share your information with the University, you can contact the Consent to Share Helpline on 0845 603 4016 and agree to share your information over the telephone. Please note that your parents or sponsor will also have to contact the helpline.

Please email university.bursary@chester.ac.uk if you have specific questions.

Chester Bursary

Available to new full-time undergraduate students (paying a tuition fee of over £6,000) who have a means tested household income of £25,000 or less.

Bursary: £1,500

Cash payment and ‘in-kind’ beneﬁts of £500 per year of study.

Chester Bursary for Part-Time Students

Available to new part-time undergraduate students (paying a tuition fee of at least £7,000), enrolled for a minimum of 40 credits at the start of Level 4, and with a declared residual household income of £25,000 or less.

Bursary: up to £1,500

Cash payments made on a pro-rata basis depending on the number of credits studied each academic year.

Care Leavers Bursary

Available to new full-time Level 4 undergraduate home students under the age of 25, paying a tuition fee of over £6,000, who have evidence of their care leaver status.

Bursary: up to £7,000

Mixture of cash, 'in-kind’ beneﬁts and fee waiver.

Contact the Bursary Team at University.Bursary@chester.ac.uk for more information about the Care Leavers Bursary.

Young Adult Carers Bursary

Working in partnership with Young Carers organisations locally, this bursary is available for eligible young carers.

Bursary Package totalling: £4,500

Contact Martina Ferrari at m.ferrari@chester.ac.uk for more information about the Young Adult Carers Bursary.

Careers

Career Services
Progression Options

Our Careers and Employability Service

The University has an award winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum; through employer contact and through tailored group sessions and individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs and work shadowing. We offer practical one-to-one help with career planning including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We deliver group sessions on career planning within each taught programme. We have extensive information on graduate jobs and postgraduate study.

Students and graduates of the University of Chester can use our services free of charge for up to three years after graduating. Graduates of other UK universities within three years of graduation are also welcome to use our services during vacations. A charging policy applies to other clients - please contact us for more details.

Should you decide to further your journey in Higher Education, we offer a broad choice of professional, internationally recognised qualifications. This can be a popular option for students interested in developing their knowledge within a specialist area, or gaining the necessary qualification to further their career.

Here are just some of the areas our students have gone on to:

Master of Public Health

Learning Disability Nursing
BN (Hons)

Course overview

Enquiries

Email

Why Study Learning Disability Nursing with us?

Entry Requirements

Health and Social Care Admissions

Email

Telephone

English Language Requirements

International

Email

Telephone

Facebook

Twitter

Learning

Staff

How will I be taught?

How will I be assessed?

Work Based Learning

Fees and Funding

Email

Telephone

Undergraduate Pre-Reg Nursing Pathways: £9,250 + £3,000 placement

Application Process for University Bursaries

Chester Bursary

Chester Bursary for Part-Time Students

Care Leavers Bursary

Young Adult Carers Bursary

Riverside Campus, Chester

Careers

Our Careers and Employability Service

Visit Us

Health and Social Care Admissions

Email

Telephone

Nursing

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