Post grad funding - NHS

[jesper1]

Hi hoping someone might have a better idea if this than me

DD has graduated with a psychology degree, she would like to do post grad pre reg in mental health nursing but the funding is so confusing

Some say loans then NHS funding is mentioned and we just can't work out what she can actually get

Also an idea of time so we know if she can work one day a week as well

Thanks !

Bump for the day crowd

Loans for fees and maintenance (repayable) plus £5k training grant (non-repayable).

Placements could be any days so don't assume one fixed free day a week. Could do bank HCA shifts though.

DD is a 2nd year med student who does bank HCA shifts in a mental health wing. She speaks very highly of the mental health nurses. It required a lot of training initially (all paid) including a self defence course. But there is no shortage of work available and the pay is exceptionally generous if you're prepared to work night shifts or weekends. You don't have to commit like in normal jobs - you just sign up to shifts when it suits you.

Thank you, she already works on a ward , in fact a mental health PICU as a CSW, so really experienced, just needed the nursing element

We will have a look at the loans again as it seemed to say you can't get them if you got NHS support

Has she made enquiries with the NHS Trust to see if on the job nursing apprenticeships come up and will be available to her? Or would that route be too slow for her?

Is she definitely set on nursing? I know of a few occupational therapists in mental health who first did psychology degrees. The OT course used to be available as a masters conversion type course for grads of other disciplines. Hopefully it still is. Are you sure there's not a postgraduate conversion type course for MH nursing?

RNDA (registered nurse degree apprenticeship) course through her Trust would be cheapest if it was on offer. You get paid as a Band 4 and basically sponsored by the trust.

I guess it will depend on whether the Trust offer it and how many places. We have some wards with a queue of people wanting to do it and others with no one.

As others have said, a degree apprenticeship through her trust if this is offered ( usually competitive). Alternatively, a masters in mental health nursing as she already has a bachelors degree. Two year course, with masters funding ( further student loan).

Are you sure there's not a postgraduate conversion type course for MH nursing?

There is - that's what she's doing!

I've looked into this extensively as DD is doing a Psychology degree and has always known she wanted to work in mental health, but couldn't decide between nursing and OT, hence the general degree.

You definitely get the fees paid and the usual student loan (as for undergrads) along with a £5k (although I think it's 6 for mental health nursing) bursary a year. There are also travel and subsistence costs paid and I think if your course is longer than 30 weeks your loan goes up too.

Dd has now (year 2) decided on OT for the better work life balance.

Thanks all some good points. I will get her to look at OT as well.

She has asked her trust but they don't seem to have any routes , will get her to ask again

"titchy · Today 09:34

Are you sure there's not a postgraduate conversion type course for MH nursing?

There is - that's what she's doing!"

Ah yes, I misread the OP and thought she was looking to do a second undergrad.

Depends - the devolved nations do it all differently

See if her employer do a flex route for HCSW where they pay her her salary and she gets part time release to study nursing. Can take a little longer but worth it

Update for anyone who is interested. We managed to find someone in her trust who has put her forward for an apprenticeship. She has an awareness session soon. She can fast track too because of her degree so fingers crossed

Thank you all for the advice