Careers

Return to practice

Health visiting

The London Deanery is now managing the recruitment for those wishing to return to practice as a health visitor.

Those joining the return to practice programme will receive a funded university education and a bursary provided by London Deanery. Successful completion of the course will give you a degree level qualification and NMC registration as a health visitor or specialist community public health nurse.

Benefits of the programme:

• Funded university education
• Hands-on training within an NHS organisation
• Choice of university and London NHS organisation
• Salary paid while training
• Qualification at degree level
• NMC registration as a health visitor
• Support in finding a training place

The course is offered at a number of Universities, for more information about these and for all enquiries regarding training for health visiting and health visiting return to practice please contact the London Deanery dedicated recruitment enquiries team on SCNrecruitmentenquiries@londondeanery.ac.uk

Midwives and paediatric nurses

The return to practice course currently runs twice a year through the Faculty of Health and Social Care Sciences Kingston University and St George's, University of London. The course is aimed at registered practitioners across all the nursing disciplines and midwifery, however, St George's Healthcare NHS Trust is currently only supporting return to practice for children's nursing and midwifery.

Who should apply?

We are currently only offering placements to nurses retuning to paediatric nursing, and midwives who have been out of practice for more than three years and whose registration has lapsed. Anyone wishing to apply for return to practice as a health visitor should contact the London Deanery as above.

How long is the return to practice course?

The course comprises of 14 half days (09.30-14.00hrs) of theory and 75 hours of practice and each student is expected to undertake additional self-directed study. The study days take place in the faculty in March and September of each year. The clinical practice is undertaken alongside the theory but may be extended over a slightly longer period.

What if you have been out of practice for over 10 years?

A number of nurses have successfully returned to practice despite absences of 10 years or more. The course will give you the confidence to adapt to changes in practice. It will enable you to re-awaken the knowledge you have and to benefit from the wealth of experience that you gained during those intervening years.

What is the process for applying to undertake the course?

Once you have decided to return to practice you will need to obtain advice from the Nursing and Midwifery Council(NMC) who may issue a detailed letter of instructions regarding continuous professional development and practice requirements for entry to the register. You can then contact potential employers to secure a clinical placement. A clinical placement is required before processing the application for the academic component of the course. During this process a numeracy and literacy test will be undertaken; this will be completed by either the Faculty of Health and Social Care Sciences or the Trust. If applicants feel they want to prepare academically for the course the faculty runs a study skills short course for practitioners.

Where will you get your clinical experience?

The practice element of the programme is undertaken in one clinical setting. We aim to offer you a placement in an area in which you may have had previous experience and are most likely to feel comfortable. You will be supernumerary and therefore able to concentrate on your learning needs. There is a degree of flexibility in negotiating your shifts but you will need to consider undertaking sufficient hours each week to make the placement a worthwhile learning experience.

Are there academic credits for this course?

The course awards 15 academic credits at Level 5. Previous students who have successfully completed the course have used this as a stepping stone to further study and academic achievement towards diploma and degree awards.

Is support provided during the course?

You will be allocated a mentor in the clinical area to support you during your placement and help gain the most from the practical experience. This mentor will confirm that you have achieved the required clinical competencies for re-entry to the register. A lecturer from the university will act as an academic adviser and will direct you to meet the academic requirements of the course and meet your learning outcomes.

Is there any financial support?

St George's Healthcare NHS Trust commissions a limited number of places on this course each year so generally there will be no cost to the individual for the academic component of the course. The Trust issues nurses wishing to return to practice an honorary contract as they will be supernumerary in the clinical setting and they will not normally be awarded a financial payment for this component of the course. Midwives and health visitors wishing to return to practice will receive financial support from NHS London – more details will be provided as part of the recruitment process.

Will there be job opportunities at the end of the course?

The return to practice course prepares you for re-entry to the professional register. It does not automatically guarantee employment but will provide you with the knowledge and skills to seek employment as a registered nurse in a variety of clinical settings. St George's Healthcare NHS Trust is keen to recruit nurses to roles within the acute or primary care settings on completion of the course. Vacancies are advertised on www.nhs.uk/jobs website.

What should you do now?

For all enquiries regarding returning to practice as a health visitor please contact the London Deanery dedicated recruitment enquiries team on:SCNrecruitmentenquiries@londondeanery.ac.uk

For general enquires about returning to practice as paediatric nurse please email your CV and NMC decision letter to return2practice@stgeorges.nhs.uk

For general enquires about returning to practice as a midwife please email your CV and NMC decision letter to Georgina Sims via georgina.sims@sgul.kingston.ac.uk

 

 

 

 

 

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