Public Health Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship BSc (Hons)

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Focus on critical issues in public health – such as smoking, physical activity, air pollution – whilst addressing numerous occupational duties and key knowledge, skills and behaviours. Develop a wide-ranging public health literacy that meets the Institute of Apprenticeships & Technical Education approved occupational standard.

Overview

This apprenticeship will take an integrated approach to delivering key public health skills. The curriculum presents modules that will focus on critical issues in public health such as smoking, physical activity and air pollution. This apprenticeship will also address numerous occupational duties and key knowledge, skills and behaviours, which meet the recommended and contemporary standards.

This integrated approach, (rather than the traditional method of focusing on a single area of interest) is unique as it will allow you to develop a wide range of public health knowledge that meets the Institute of Apprenticeships & Technical Education approved occupational standard. Importantly, this programme will help you to understand the links between the different domains of public health and apply these into their practices.

Given the often rapidly changing landscape of Public Health, we work closely with employers to inform our delivery so that it matches and adapts to the needs of both apprentices and employers. The close links we have with public health providers and healthcare more generally allow us to inform our programme with the latest developments in public health policy and practice.

Why us?

The Bachelor of Science Public Health (Integrated degree) is one of the first degree level Public Health Apprenticeships to be offered in the UK.
This apprenticeship has been created in collaboration with regional/national employers and Public Health England to inform our delivery so that it matches and adapts to the needs of both apprentices and employers
The programme has been developed with a focus on the needs of prospective apprentices and employers who operate within Public Health settings.

This course will equip the candidate to apply for registration as a Public Health Practitioner in the relevant registry.
The University of Sunderland work closely with public health providers and healthcare to inform our programme with the latest developments in public health policy and practice.
Constant engagement with the stakeholders will outshine this programme among the other public health educational opportunities.

Course structure

Teaching will consist of lectures, presentations, online and face-to-face sessions where the apprentice will spend one day per week dedicated to university learning.

Bespoke delivery can be available for closed cohorts.

Students will be assessed in a variety of ways, including presentations, developing infographics, essays, reports and group work. All apprentices will take an End Point Assessment (EPA) at the end of their final year which assesses key public health competencies in a series of practical assessments. The assessments will be done according to the standards of Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.

Year 1

Smoke-free living-a human right? Towards a smoke-free society for all (40 credits)

Explore and become familiar with monitoring, surveillance and evaluation of the tobacco industry. Develop an understanding of data on prevalence of tobacco smoking, patterns of tobacco use, burden of tobacco-related diseases, and the use of smoking cessation services leading into an introduction of the social determinants of health and health inequalities in tobacco consumption and tobacco-related diseases.

Physical activity and a healthy diet - the new class divide (40 credits)

Develop your public health practitioner skills by reviewing the evidence relating to physical activity, overweight and obesity. Build upon your epidemiological skills by finding, reviewing and critiquing overweight and obesity data and intelligence and by learning outcome measures in relation to overweight and obesity and its associated diseases and conditions.

Addressing the challenges of alcohol and substance abuse-a modern perspective (40 credits)

Gain contemporary knowledge of alcohol related issues in the community. Develop the required sets of skill to understand the scientific literature and performing your own research. The epidemiological knowledge, combined with the understanding of policy making, will equip you with the skills to advocate the necessary changes for potential stakeholders.

Year 2

Mental well-being, the new frontier: Building emotional wellbeing (40 credits)

Engage and explore the mental health issues embedded in society using various scientific tools of research. Learn how to approach communities to assess their needs and proceed with providing solutions by bringing positive change through holistic ways.

Let’s talk about sex: Sexual health in modern day Britain (40 credits)

Focus on building knowledge and communication skills when discussing topics relating to sex, sexual orientation and reproductive issues that are very sensitive and private matters. Learn how to handle these issues as a public health practitioner and address them using the existing national and international practices.

Oral health – like pulling teeth? (40 credits)

Develop the ability to provide evidence-based knowledge to the communities using all available epidemiological and statistical data. As a future public health practitioner apprentice, you will be well versed to deal this one of the most neglected issue of oral health. Explore and appraise health promotion practices to curtail this public health problem.

Year 3

Plasters on pandemics: Health Protection-effective responses to major incidents (40 credits)

Learn how to deal effectively with everchanging dynamics of epidemics and pandemics. Practice epidemiological knowledge to your learning and its uses in disease surveillance. Examine the approaches to reducing the burden of diseases in the population through community engagements.

Green policy versus economic reality: Clean air for all (40 credits)

Learn to mitigate the issues of environmental health both nationally and internationally. Study epidemiological methods, behavioural change and other related public health approaches to reduce the harmful effects of air pollution. Examine the health promotion approaches which can be beneficial for the communities to sustain their health environment.

Independent research project (dissertation) (40 credits)

Explore a topic of interest to you and use the relevant research tools to identify the magnitude of the problem and suggest its solutions. Use a variety of research methods including analysing secondary data or conduct your own research to dissect the grass root public health issue of interest. Learn the scientific ways of dissemination of data so that it can make an impact on the scientific communities.

Facilities

This course is based in the Sciences Complex at our City Campus, which boasts excellent facilities and cutting-edge equipment thanks to multi-million-pound investments.

Entry requirements

We don’t currently display entry requirements for United States. Please contact the Student Admin team on studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk or 0191 515 3154.

The programme is work based and, as such, is subject to the apprentice being employed by an organisation throughout the duration of the programme. The employer must confirm apprentices comply with the apprentice eligibility criteria including funding requirements.

We also require Level 2 English and Maths (Grade C or above) or equivalent (eg an appropriate Functional Skills programme).

Significant experience will also be considered on a case by case basis.

If English is not your first language, we require a minimum of IELTS 7.0 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 6.0 in each element.
To search for apprenticeships offered by employers in your area go to: gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship

Fees and finance

Larger organisations can use their apprenticeship levy and government top-up to pay tuition and professional fees of higher apprenticeships. For smaller employers, the government pays 95%, with the remainder co-invested by the business.

For a discussion around your specific requirements please call 0191 515 3361 or email apprenticeships@sunderland.ac.uk

This information was correct at the time of publication.

Students graduating at the Stadium of Light

Career ready

The Public Health Practitioner (Public Health Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship) is a highly practical qualification. After the successful completion of this course, you will be eligible to apply for registration on UK Public Health Register as a Public Health Practitioner.

Related courses

Contact

For a discussion around your specific requirements please contact:

0191 515 3361 / apprenticeships@sunderland.ac.uk

If you’re looking to start an apprenticeship, it is the employer that will advertise this opportunity, not the University. To search for apprenticeships offered by employers in your area go to: gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship

Page last updated: 18 January 2023

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