UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL LANCASHIRE
Programme Specification
This Programme Specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme
and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and
demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
Sources of information on the programme can be found in Section 17
1. Awarding Institution / Body
University of Central Lancashire
2. Teaching Institution and Location
of Delivery
Preston (main campus) and Alder Hey Children’s NHS
Foundation Trust
3. University School/Centre
Nursing
4. External Accreditation
N/A
5. Title of Final Award
Graduate Certificate in Paediatric Critical Care
6. Modes of Attendance offered
Part Time
7. UCAS Code
N/A
8. Relevant Subject Benchmarking
Group(s)
N/A
9. Other external influences
Paediatric Intensive Care Society
10. Date of production/revision of this
form
28 March 2013
11. Aims of the Programme

To facilitate the student to develop the clinical skills required to safely and effectively manage
the care of neonates, children or young people in a paediatric intensive care unit.

To develop a student who is able to work effectively within the multi-professional team in the
delivery of evidence based, safe and innovative paediatric intensive care practice.

To facilitate the student to reflect on their own experiences, challenge assumptions and
consider alternative courses of action to support the development of a high quality service
that takes appropriate account of service/carer/user views.
12. Learning Outcomes, Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
A. Knowledge and Understanding
A1. Demonstrate a critical awareness of holistic approaches to care for the child requiring intensive
care and their family
A2. Critically evaluate and demonstrate the assessment of critically ill neonates/children/young people
A3. Demonstrate and critically evaluate effective communication within the multi-disciplinary team in
paediatric intensive care practice
A4. Critically analyse strategies to enable and empower children, their carers or family, as
appropriate, to become partners in their care
A5. Critically analyse the contemporary knowledge base influencing management and care of patients
in the paediatric intensive care setting within a changing National Health Service
Teaching and Learning Methods
In order to facilitate this learning, a number of learning and teaching strategies are utilised. Direct
University classroom contact includes key lectures, group discussion and use of practice based
scenarios. Practice based sessions will be undertaken in skills labs and will facilitate the application of
theory to practice.
The specialist nature of the course content will also facilitate the student to apply the knowledge and
understanding within the paediatric intensive care unit. Students will be directed to explore both
national and international evidence. Professional development is achieved through critical analysis of
practice and supervised practice with a paediatric intensive care practitioner.
Assessment methods
The assessment methods used are chosen to ensure that students are able to demonstrate their
knowledge and understanding. Written examinations and evidence based case presentations are
utilised to ensure students have the required knowledge base and are able to link this theory to
practice. OSCEs, oral case presentations in practice and assessment of clinical competencies enable
students to demonstrate appropriate application of theory in practice.
B. Subject-specific skills
B1. Analyse the altered physiological processes of specific disease processes and explain how these
manifest in clinical practice.
B2. Critically analyse the data obtained through clinical assessment, monitoring and surveillance to
inform and evaluate clinical interventions.
B3. Critically evaluate the specialist evidence base to determine how it may influence care provision
in the paediatric intensive care unit.
B4. Critically reflect on the contribution of the multi-disciplinary team, service users/family/carers in
the delivery of effective high quality care in the paediatric intensive care setting.
Teaching and Learning Methods
A range of learning and teaching strategies are utilised to ensure that students are able to develop
these subject-specific skills. Direct University classroom contact includes key lectures, group
discussion and practice based scenarios. Practice-based sessions include skills practice in skills labs
and supervised experience in an alternative practice area. Service users are involved in practice
based learning and assessment for the programme.
The development of subject-specific skills related to this course requires the student to apply
knowledge and understanding within the paediatric intensive care unit setting. This will facilitate
critical analysis of practice with the support of a mentor within the paediatric intensive care practitioner
setting.
Assessment methods
The assessment methods used are chosen to ensure that students are able to demonstrate all the
required subject-specific skills. Written examinations and evidence based case presentations are
utilised to ensure students have the required knowledge and evidence base to underpin the subjectspecific skills. OSCEs, oral case presentations in practice and assessment of clinical competencies
enable students to demonstrate these skills and provide rationales for their use.
C. Thinking Skills
C1. Critically appraise key research and drawing on relevant evidence, challenge practice
C2. Actively engage in and develop critical reflection skills
C3. Effectively contribute to decision-making in the management of critically ill neonates/ children/
young people
Teaching and Learning Methods
The course has been designed to equip the student with the skills to be a lifelong, independent
learner. Fundamental to this is a range of thinking skills, which the teaching and learning methods
used will facilitate. These include critical reflection, critical reading, critical evaluation of practice
based scenarios, debate, observation and critical evaluation of clinical practice.
Assessment methods
Assessment of thinking skills is undertaken through written examination, clinical practice, OSCE, oral
case presentation and evidence based case presentation.
D. Other skills relevant to employability and personal development
D1. Communication skills: written and verbal
D2. IT skills including use of on-line classroom technology
D3. Working with others and working independently
D4. Problem Solving
D5. Personal development planning
Teaching and Learning Methods
Each module will adopt a range of learning and teaching strategies that aim to promote personal and
professional development. This will include class room based discussion to enable student to reflect
on their own practice and share ideas with others. It will also include group work activity which will
utilise problem solving exercises and case studies. Activities which require the students to undertake
reflection and identify learning needs / development needs will be incorporated both in the classroombased sessions and as part of the practice-based learning. IT skills will be developed through the use
of on-line or electronic resources such as Blackboard and Adobe Connect.
Assessment methods
The development of these transferable skills will be assessed by a range of assessment methods.
Written examination will assess written communication skills and problem solving. The evidence
based case presentation will require students to develop skills in IT, such as use of power-point. The
review of clinical practice, OSCE and oral case presentation will assess verbal communication,
independent and team working skills and problem solving. The reflective elements of the clinical
practice assessment and the evidence based case presentation will enable assessment of personal
development planning.
13. Programme Structures*
Level
Level 6
Module
Code
NU3701
Module Title
Assessing and Responding to
the Critically Ill Child
14. Awards and Credits*
Credit
rating
40
Graduate Certificate in
Paediatric Critical Care
Requires 60 credits at Level 6
Level 6
NU3702
Paediatric Intensive Care:
Advances in Care Management
20
15. Personal Development Planning
Students are encouraged to develop skills of reflection through the use of a reflective diary which will be
utilised to develop a learning contract and personal development plan. This will ensure the student is
able to set goals and identify the required actions which are directly relevant to their learning and
developmental needs. Students will be supported in this process by a named personal tutor and by a
named mentor in practice. The identified learning needs will be revisited regularly by the student and
the mentor to ensure they are being met.
16. Admissions criteria
Programme Specifications include minimum entry requirements, including academic qualifications,
together with appropriate experience and skills required for entry to study. These criteria may be
expressed as a range rather than a specific grade. Amendments to entry requirements may have been
made after these documents were published and you should consult the University’s website for the
most up to date information.
Students will be informed of their personal minimum entry criteria in their offer letter.
Students must be working within the paediatric intensive care environment at the point of applying for
the course. There are specific requirements relating to paediatric experience. The following are eligible
to apply:


Those nurses who have been qualified for 18 months and over and have worked for the last
year of practice in paediatric intensive care
Those nurses qualified for 18 months and all the 18 months have been within paediatric
intensive care
Students must also have ability to study at level 6 (usually demonstrated by successful completion of a
level 6 module prior to application).
Students must have completed Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (Paediatric Intensive Care Society, 2010)
orientation competencies prior to application.
It is essential that students obtain the support of their managers to be released from work to attend
study sessions and to be provided with appropriate learning opportunities.
Students are responsible for identifying an appropriate mentor
17. Key sources of information about the programme

Course Information on UCLan website (course searches)

Course Leader
18. Curriculum Skills Map
Please tick in the relevant boxes where individual Programme Learning Outcomes are being assessed
Programme Learning Outcomes
Core (C),
Other skills relevant
Compulsory
to employability and
Module
(COMP) or
Knowledge and
personal
Level Code
Module Title
Option (O)
understanding
Subject-specific Skills
Thinking Skills
development
LEVEL 6
A1
Assessing & Responding
NU3701 to the Critically Ill Child
NU3702
Note:
Paediatric Intensive Care:
Advances in Care
Management
A2
A3
A4
A5
B1
B2
B3
B4
C1
C2
C3
Comp
Comp
Mapping to other external frameworks, e.g. professional/statutory bodies, will be included within Student Course Handbooks
D1
D2
D3
D4
D5