Job summary
Student Health Visitor - Commencing Oct 2025
Student Health visitor- University of Surrey (Clinical placements available across West Sussex and Brighton & Hove).
Are you an NMC registered nurse (child, adult, mental health or learning disability) or an NMC registered midwife interested in a career in Specialist Community Public Health Nursing - Health Visiting?
Sussex Community Foundation NHS trust is offering an exciting opportunity to undertake a fully funded sponsorship to qualify as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse- Health Visitor. This course is offered full or part-time at level 7 (Post Graduate Diploma or Full Masters degree options).
You will be able to demonstrate:
- An understanding of the Healthy Child Programme and service delivery model
- A keen interest in public health, high impact areas and wider determinants of health
- Excellent communication and assessment skills
- Motivation, commitment to learning and ability to link theory to practice
- Leadership skills, self-awareness and ability to reflect on practice
- That you meet the criteria for the course:
Public Health Practice (SCPHN) (Health Visiting) MSc masters course | University of Surrey
Please note posts are subject to confirmation of NHS England funding.
Main duties of the job
Health Visitors & School Nurses lead the Healthy Child Programme in Brighton and Hove and West Sussex.
Health Visitors work with children aged between 0 and 5 to provide key public health messages to all families; to identify and assess health or development needs, and then offer targeted support where it is most needed, with the aim that every child has the best possible start to life. Health Visitors have contact with families in homes, community venues and virtually from the antenatal period up to school entry.
As a student, you will be an adult learner and this requires you to be self-motivated, enthusiastic, resilient and dedicated to the role, with a keen interest in public health, and as a qualified SCPHN you will be leading the Healthy Child Programme (HCP). You will have a passion for public health and improving outcomes for children in West Sussex and Brighton & Hove through progressive universalism and early intervention. We are looking for compassionate and child focused nurses and midwifes who are able to demonstrate an understanding of holistic assessment, and the wider determinants of health and capacity building. You will need to have excellent communication skills and some experience of working collaboratively with other agencies.
This is not just a set of letters but the pathway to a varied, worthwhile and rewarding career.
Don't miss out on an incredible opportunity, apply now.
About us
We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.
Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.
Why work for us?o Positive 2024 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeingo Varied environments: community hospitals, patients' homes, and bases across Sussexo Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retiremento Excellent training, development, and research opportunitieso Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brightono Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networkso Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trusto Beautiful Sussex location near the South Downs and coast
Our values--Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence--guide everything we do.
We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.
This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see job description and person specification.
Please note that clinical placements can be anywhere in West Sussex and Brighton and Hove, and we do take into consideration where you live. and caring responsibilities.
We will offer you:
- A dedicated Practice supervisor, Practice Assessor and Academic Assessor for the duration of the course
- A high level of support with regular meetings and opportunities to discuss your progress and learning needs
- Support from the wider Practice Educator team
- Group supervision sessions during consolidation
- A trust that offers a wide range of support and benefits for its staff including; a Diversity & Inclusion Team, a Disability and Wellbeing Network, and a new Mental Health and Wellbeing Support Service
Please use your application and supporting information to demonstrate how you meet the person specification for this role
If you would like more information please email us at: sc-tr.hcppracticeeducators@nhs.net
Successful candidates will also need to apply to the University separately and meet the academic entry requirements for the course at level 7.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see job description and person specification.
Please note that clinical placements can be anywhere in West Sussex and Brighton and Hove, and we do take into consideration where you live. and caring responsibilities.
We will offer you:
- A dedicated Practice supervisor, Practice Assessor and Academic Assessor for the duration of the course
- A high level of support with regular meetings and opportunities to discuss your progress and learning needs
- Support from the wider Practice Educator team
- Group supervision sessions during consolidation
- A trust that offers a wide range of support and benefits for its staff including; a Diversity & Inclusion Team, a Disability and Wellbeing Network, and a new Mental Health and Wellbeing Support Service
Please use your application and supporting information to demonstrate how you meet the person specification for this role
If you would like more information please email us at: sc-tr.hcppracticeeducators@nhs.net
Successful candidates will also need to apply to the University separately and meet the academic entry requirements for the course at level 7.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Active registration as a registered nurse on NMC register or pre-registration student due to qualify by the start of the course
- Able to meet University requirements for SCPHN course
- Evidence of previous academic study to support your application
- Understand level of commitment required, and able to undertake the course, combining advanced level professional practice with academic studies
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of working without direct supervision and managing own workload
- Evidence of working effectively in a team
- Experience of working with Clients and their Families
Desirable
- Evidence of working within the community
- Experience of multi-agency working
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding the role of the SCPHN and HCP
- A good understanding of the public health agenda and recent policy developments
- Current knowledge of safeguarding issues
- Understanding of the range of health needs and lifestyle of different client groups
- Ability to demonstrate evidence-based practice and use of research
- Ability to demonstrate excellent communication and assessment skills
- Ability to demonstrate leadership skills
- Confident in use of IT including Microsoft Word and PowerPoint
Other
Essential
- Full driving license with no restrictions to drive - unless exempt under the Equality Act 2010
- Access to a car for work
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Active registration as a registered nurse on NMC register or pre-registration student due to qualify by the start of the course
- Able to meet University requirements for SCPHN course
- Evidence of previous academic study to support your application
- Understand level of commitment required, and able to undertake the course, combining advanced level professional practice with academic studies
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of working without direct supervision and managing own workload
- Evidence of working effectively in a team
- Experience of working with Clients and their Families
Desirable
- Evidence of working within the community
- Experience of multi-agency working
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding the role of the SCPHN and HCP
- A good understanding of the public health agenda and recent policy developments
- Current knowledge of safeguarding issues
- Understanding of the range of health needs and lifestyle of different client groups
- Ability to demonstrate evidence-based practice and use of research
- Ability to demonstrate excellent communication and assessment skills
- Ability to demonstrate leadership skills
- Confident in use of IT including Microsoft Word and PowerPoint
Other
Essential
- Full driving license with no restrictions to drive - unless exempt under the Equality Act 2010
- Access to a car for work
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
