Scotland: National Rural Network
Connecting Rural Scotland - Promoting Rural Growth

Duration:  8^th & 9^th February, 7^th & 8^th March 2012

This is a blended course of four days face to face time together with online elearning.

Venue: Drumossie Hotel, Inverness

Background

This course has been developed by NHS Health Scotland to enable staff to take forward the health improvement agenda. It is accredited by Robert Gordon's University Aberdeen for 15 points at level 9 of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). The course usually covers 6 days face to face contact time over a period of 4 months. However, a blended version has now been developed.

We encourage participants from a range of disciplines and agencies. Most people gain greatly from networking and learning about each others' experience and roles.

Aim

• To enable participants to increase their confidence in promoting health by providing a framework which will guide reflection on practice and encourage the development of effective practice.

Course Objectives

Participants will:

• Critically examine concepts and theories of health and health promotion and how they may influence guiding principles for practice
• Analyse the guiding principles of health promotion and appraise their implications for the development of best practice
• Critically examine their own current practice in relation to the planning, implementation and evaluation of health promotion interventions
• Demonstrate their use of a reflective process to generate experiential learning

Course content

The course covers:

• Exploring health promotion and improvement and current context
• Health inequalities
• Promoting health with individuals
• Improving health through communities
• Needs assessment and asset mapping
• Planning and evaluating interventions
• Identifying local resources

Who should attend?

This course is aimed at all occupational groups in the NHS and partner agencies who are involved in delivering or planning health improvement. It will be of value to participants who wish to explore the scope of their health improvement and health promotion role in day to day practice and their role in delivering the current health improvement agenda.

Accreditation and Assessment

Those who wish to work towards the credit are required to complete a short assignment and will be expected to spend additional time in guided and self-directed study. However, all participants who complete the course will be given a Certificate of Attendance even if they do not submit an assignment.

The course will also be of interest to staff from all agencies wishing to work towards registration with the UK Public Health Voluntary Register through the Public Health Skills Careers Framework. It will be of interest to community nurses and public health nurses involved in Modernising Community Nursing.

KSF competencies:

KSF Core 1, 2, 4, 5, 6. HWB 1, 2. IK 2. G 2

These will be covered at Levels 2 or 3 in most instances.

Public Health Skills Careers Framework Competencies (PHSCF)

The course touches on many of the core and defined competencies identified in the PHSCF.

Health Improvement targets

This course relates to all of the Scottish Government Health Improvement Targets for both Local Authorities and the NHS for 2010-11.

Teaching methods and principles

The course uses creative and active learning methods. It embodies the key principle of reflection on practice, and encourages learning though sharing of experiences and consideration of application.

Course Fees and costs

The course fee is £100.  This contributes towards lunches, venue costs, and a textbook. Those participants who wish to submit an assignment to Robert Gordon University will be charged an extra £40 submission cost. This course is subsidized and the course fee takes this into account.

Further information

Contact Jane Groves, Public Health Network Coordinator jane.groves2@nhs.net (01463 704960), or Carol Stirling, Course Administrator, carol.stirling@nhs.net (01463 704992) at NHS Highland, Assynt House, Beechwood Park, Inverness, IV2 3BN.

To Apply: NHS staff should apply electronically through NHS Highland Intranet using the AT-Learning booking system which is linked to eKSF. Bookings for all staff will also be taken on receipt of the Public Health Network booking form.

 You can get the application form here.