Courses that we run* and other network-wide courses that we support are listed below. For more details about course requirements, how to apply, dates, etc, just click on the course you are interested in:
Courses
Paediatric Pre-Assessment Practitioner Course*
Aimed at: Registered children’s nurses, nurse associates and adult nurses working in paediatric pre-assessment within Thames Valley & Wessex and the South West.
Brief description: This course aims to provide nurses and nurse associates with the knowledge and skills to lead and deliver safe, high quality paediatric pre-assessment. Through (virtual) classroom teaching, self-directed learning and supported clinical practice candidates will complete an associated competency document to enable them to provide effective, person-centred pre-assessment that will result in an efficient pathway for children undergoing surgery/procedures under anaesthesia.
Course Delivery: 3 virtual study days delivered via MS Teams. Attendance at all 3 study days is compulsory. Complimentary e-learning and resources available via online learning management system (Moodle and Padlet).
Course Duration: Taught days spread over 3-5 weeks; followed by 6 months to complete a competency document.
Course Requirements: 100% attendance at taught study days. Will need an allocated Lead Assessor (A registered Paediatric Anaesthetist or an Anaesthetist with current and relevant paediatric experience) +/- co-assessor for the duration of the course.
Pre-Requisites: Minimum Paediatric Safeguarding level 3 required; minimum Resuscitation training Paediatric Intermediate Life Support (PILS) required to attend the course.
Assessment: Completion of competency document to the required minimum level (including 3 records of discussion with Lead Assessor, and 2 reflective accounts).
Cost: Free
Next Course Start Date: Spring 2027
Closing Date for applications: When booking for our next course is open, a link to the application form will be available here.
Please send your completed application form to england.tvwsicodn@ouh.nhs.uk
“Really good informative course. I learnt so much, it has given me the confidence to push the need for a service in my area.”
Spring 2025 Candidate
“I thoroughly enjoyed the course and feel it has really helped me to consolidate my clinical knowledge into a more structured method that I can use in pre assessment. The lecturers were all supportive and on the one occasion I had an IT issue, it was resolved swiftly.”
Spring 2025 Candidate
“Overall, a very good course. Study days had a lot of information in them and could sometimes be long however they were not boring. Enjoyed meeting people from different areas, being able to discuss different challenges and ways to improve pre assessment.”
Spring 2025 Candidate
“The taught sessions were very good, the speakers delivered their presentations concisely and with lots of useful information and resources. The engagement with colleagues during breakout sessions were well thought out, it helps us learners learn from each other and gain some insights to the process of pre-assessments from their department. I like Padlet! Very useful!”
Autumn 2024 Candidate
The course was excellent and has helped me to consolidate my knowledge and enable me to move forward with improvements with the service we offer to our patients and their families.”
Autumn 2024 Candidate
Paediatric Recovery Practitioner Course*
Aimed at: Registered children’s nurses, Operating Department Practitioners (ODP) and registered adult nurses caring for infants, children and young people within a stage 1 recovery area or Post Anaesthetic Care Unit (PACU) within the South West or Thames Valley & Wessex.
Brief description: The course aims to develop the learner’s knowledge of infants (babies), children and young people (BCYP) and their care needs specific to paediatric recovery. Through a blended learning approach, and completion of a clinical skills competency document, candidates will be able to provide appropriate, holistic care of BCYP in a stage 1 recovery area.
Course Delivery: 3 virtual study days delivered via MS Teams. One face-to-face practical day at one of the host hospitals within TV&W or SWODN. Complimentary e-learning via online learning management system (Moodle and Padlet).
Course Duration: 9 months from first study day to complete the competencies. Virtual taught days spread over 4-6 weeks; practical day 2-3 months after the course start date.
Course Requirements: 100% attendance at taught study days including face-to-face practical day; completion of all required e-learning elements. Will need an allocated Lead Assessor (A registered Paediatric Anaesthetist or an Anaesthetist with current and relevant paediatric experience or a registered professional with 2 or more years of recent experience working in Stage 1 Recovery with BCYP.) +/- co-assessor for the duration of the course.
Pre-Requisites: Minimum Paediatric Safeguarding training required as per local Trust statutory requirement (recommend minimum level 3 for all practitioners caring for BCYP regularly); minimum Resuscitation training Paediatric Intermediate Life Support (PILS) (or equivalent) required to attend the course.
Course Assessment: Completion of competency document to the required minimum level (including 3 records of discussion with Lead Assessor).
Cost: Free
Next Course Start Date: 15 October 2026
Closing Date for applications: August 2026
Download your application form here.
Please send your completed application form to england.tvwsicodn@ouh.nhs.uk
“I have really enjoyed increasing my knowledge in this area of recovery. I would recommend others in my team do this course.
Autumn 2024 Candidate
“I thought all aspects of the course were beneficial and very informative. Obviously, the course has been thoughtfully and carefully constructed and proved to be an excellent learning experience. I thought the taught lessons being taught remotely was excellent and the support through the course was excellent.”
Autumn 2024 Candidate
“The course was very informative, and I am very grateful I had the opportunity to do it. The online days were very interesting, and a lot of new information given. Definitely the practical day was a must have. The competency document was long but detailed, my lead assessor and co-assessor were very engaging and helpful.”
Autumn 2024 Candidate
“The course was very informative and helpful improving my confidence and knowledge in paediatric recovery. The teaching session, discussions and competency assessments supported my learning and development in clinical practice.”
Autumn 2024 Candidate
Paediatric Critical Care Course – Level 1*
Aimed at: Registered nurses (child or adult), 12 months post preceptorship, working in a clinical area caring for children with Paediatric Critical Care Level 1 (PCCL1) clinical care needs i.e. ward, paediatric assessment unit or paediatric Emergency Department.
Brief description: PCCS Accredited PCCL1 course. The Paediatric Critical Care Nursing Competencies Level 1 course was developed to support the delivery of level 1 paediatric critical care across tertiary and district general hospitals in the Thames Valley and Wessex region. The course supports specialist knowledge and skill development and is based on guidance from the ‘Time to Move on’ (RCPCH, 2014) paper in line with Paediatric Critical Care Standards.
Course Delivery: Blended learning of 2 virtual study days, 1 in-person study day, and complimentary e-learning resources.
Course Duration: 9-months from first taught day to complete competencies. 2 virtual study days spread over 2-3 weeks, 1 practical day at local Trust within the 9 months.
Course Requirements: 100% attendance at all taught study days; completion of e-learning. You will need an allocated supervisor/mentor with PCCL1 course or equivalent qualification.
Pre-Requisites: 12 months post preceptorships, working in a clinical area with children with PCCL1 clinical care needs.
Course Assessment: Summative: 10-minute recorded case presentation and completion of the PCCS National Nursing Competencies document L1 skills. Formative: 3x documented reflective discussions.
Cost: Free to staff working in Thames Valley & Wessex
Next Course Start Date: 17 June 2026 (cohort 6)
Subsequent start dates: 17 September 2026 (cohort 7); 22 October 2026 (cohort 8)
Closing Date for applications: 2 weeks prior to cohort starting
Application for this course is via own Trust education lead.
“I have found this course to be highly informative and very relevant to my role as a paediatric nurse. The course help improved my understanding and management of the deteriorating patient, this includes prompt monitoring, escalation, and assessment of care. The different competencies allow for research as well as seeking new learning opportunities relevant to my scope of practice.”
Sept 2024 learner
“I enjoyed the mix of hybrid and in person learning, meaning we could put theory into practise. I believe the competencies has allowed me to put myself forward for more complex/HDU patients…The assignment has allowed me to continue research on a chosen HDU patient for practice.”
Sept 2024 learner
“I rated the course as excellent because it successfully bridged the gap between academic theory and high-level clinical practice. As an experienced nurse, I found the curriculum highly relevant to the realities of a busy paediatric unit. Most importantly, the course challenged and refined my clinical judgement, specifically regarding the early recognition of deteriorating paediatric patients and age-specific assessment nuances. It provided me with the evidence-based tools needed to make more confident, rapid decisions on the floor, ultimately enhancing patient safety and the quality of family-centred care I provide.”
June 2025 learner
“Course made it really easy and clear to see what goals needed to be achieved in a high care setting and also made it possible to achieve said learning goals.”
June 2025 learner
“[This course] significantly contributed to enhancing my confidence.”
April 2025 learner
“This course was well organized and clearly structured. Things were explained in a way that made them easy to understand, and the practical helped reinforce the material.”
April 2025 learner
“I really enjoyed the course; it gave me a good base for working on a busy level 2 unit. I have since started the level 2 course and found a good cross over that built on my understanding.”
April 2025 learner
Paediatric Critical Care Level 2 course
Aimed at: Registered nurses working with paediatric critical care level 2 (PCCL2) children either in a designated PCCL2 unit, or where PCCL2 criteria children are cared for. Applications from all hospitals within Thames Valley and Wessex accepted.
Brief description: PCCS Accredited PCCL2 course. The course aims to provide an educational opportunity for nurses to achieve knowledge and skills in Level 2 (enhanced) care as defined by the Time to Move on Document (2014).
Course Delivery: Primarily delivered through taught sessions face to face and clinical skills acquired in practice with some self-directed pre-learning content.
Course Duration: 3 months from start of course to complete competencies. 6x taught days, 1x clinical placement day and 1hr face-to-face assessment at UHS.
Course Requirements: Attendance at all taught study days (minimum 90%). Engagement with assessment process.
Pre-Requisites: Prior completion of the PCCL1 or equivalent course. Equivalent experience without PCCL1 course will be considered on an individual basis. Will need an allocated supervisor/mentor with prior PCCL2 course or equivalent qualification.
Course Assessment: 20 minute in-person case presentation of a PCCL2 child and completion of the PCCS National Nursing Competencies Document – PCCL2 skills.
Cost: £600
Dates for next course: 21st April 2026.
Course leads: Rebecca Joslin and Amy Brewer.
Contact: PaedsNursingEducation@uhs.nhs.uk
Course Delivery: Taught sessions face-to-face, in-person poster presentation and competency completion. There will be some self-directed study expected before the course and before each taught day.
Course duration: 7x taught days, 1 x reading week SD, 1x poster presentation assessment day.
Course Requirements: Attendance at all taught study days (minimum 6 out of 7). Completion of essential pre-course learning.
Pre-Requisites: Minimum 18-months experience working in children’s services. Prior completion of the PCCL1 or equivalent course. Equivalent experience without PCCL1 course will be considered on an individual basis. Will need an allocated supervisor/mentor with prior PCCL2 course or equivalent qualification.
Course Assessment: Develop a Poster critically analysing an aspect of Level 2 nursing care with recommendations for practice and provide a 15 min presentation on this poster. Completion of the PCCS National Nursing Competencies Document – PCCL2 skills.
Cost: £600
Dates for next course: September 2026
Closing Date for applications: July 2026
Course lead: Cat Leeman
Contact: catherine.leeman@ouh.nhs.uk
Paediatric Neurosciences Course – Advanced
Aimed at: Registered at nursing staff who have a good understanding of the basic principles of paediatric neurosciences nursing working within a neurosciences field, minimum of 2 years’ experience in speciality.
Brief description: This course aims to deliver a greater understanding of neuroscience nursing and awareness of the neuroscience specialisms delivered in tertiary paediatric neuroscience units.
Attendees have the opportunity to show their posters at the Paediatric South Neuro Festival hosted by the PNS ODN.
Course Delivery: Mixed delivery of on-line and in-person at Bristol, Oxford and Southampton. There is also an expectation that you will undertake 1 day of Situated Learning – either within your own clinical environment or another. In-person poster presentation at venue TBC. The face-to-face study days are delivered between the Children’s Hospitals at Bristol, Oxford or Southampton. Course content is provided by a wide range of professionals within the multi-disciplinary team. The course is supported by the Moodle platform hosted by Bristol.
Course duration: 6 face-to face study days and 2 virtual study days. 8 months from course start to presentation.
Course Requirements: Prior completion of the Paediatric Neuroscience: Foundation course or minimum of 2 years experience in speciality.
Course Assessment: Summative – completion and presentation of an academic poster and a short 1500-word reflective case study assignment.
Optional: APEL credits can be applied for to support University courses.
Cost: £600
Next Course Start Date: June 2027
Closing Date for applications: TBC – expected January 2027, confirmation by February 2027
Course leads: Sarah Shinn (Course Lead Bristol); Danielle Cox, Jayne Hall, Cat Leeman (Course Leads, Oxford); Emma Crowley, Mandy Frisby (Course Leads, Southampton)
Paediatric Neurosciences Course – Foundation
Aimed at: Registered Nurses post-preceptorship with minimal experience of caring for children within a neuroscience setting, or experienced nurses from a non-speciality setting who care for children with a neuroscience diagnosis. Open to Tertiary, DGH and community nurses.
Brief description: The Foundation Level course is focused on the skills and knowledge required by nurses caring for children with a neurosciences diagnosis. The course develops knowledge on the core topics of neurological anatomy and physiology, neurological assessment, hydrocephalus, neurological trauma, epilepsy, neuro-oncology, CNS infections and neuro metabolic / vascular / muscular disorders and their application to safe and effective nursing care and interventions.
Course Delivery: In Person at OUH
Course duration: 5 taught days with day 6 MCQ assessment
Course Requirements: Full attendance at taught days and completion of post-course MCQ.
Course assessment: MCQ assessment paper, access via MLH. Approx 4hrs allowance for completion.
Cost: £600
Next Course Start Date: 9 April 2026
Closing Date for applications: end March 2026
Course leads: Course Leads: Danielle Cox, Jayne Hall & Cat Leeman
Contact: Danielle.cox@ouh.nhs.uk
Course Delivery: In Person at Bristol – UHBW
Course duration: 6 days study (14, 21 October, 5, 12, 18 November, 3 December)
Course Requirements: 12 months post registration experience. Working in a clinical environment where children with a neuroscience diagnosis will be cared for.
Course assessment: In class MCQ assessment and completion of clinical competencies
Cost: £699
Next Course Start Date: 14 October 2026
Closing Date for applications: please contact BRHCFacultyofNursingEducationAndResearch@uhbw.nhs.uk
Course lead: Sarah Shinn
Contact: Sarah.Shinn@uhbw.nhs.uk