MNSW (Hons) Children’s Nursing & Social Work

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Edge Hill University

Program Overview

If you’re passionate about supporting children and young people through both healthcare and social care, the MNSW (Hons) Children’s Nursing & Social Work at Edge Hill University offers an exciting and unique pathway. This four-year programme equips you to register as a qualified children’s nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and to apply for registration as a social worker with Social Work England, giving you two professional routes to make a real difference in children’s lives.

Curriculum structure

Year 1 – Building Your Foundations
In your first year, you’ll discover how nursing and social work complement each other while establishing a strong professional foundation. Modules such as Contemporary Nursing and Contemporary Social Work introduce you to core values, ethical practice, and professional contexts, while Foundation Science, Theory and Method in Nursing and Social Work and Foundations for Integrated Practice build your knowledge of anatomy, psychosocial principles, and early practical skills in preparation for placements.

Year 2 – Connecting Knowledge with Practice
The second year helps you bring theory into real-world practice. Modules like Adults Within an Integrated Health and Social Care Context and Children, Young People and Their Families Within an Integrated Health and Social Care Context, alongside Developing Capability for Integrated Practice and Law and Policy in Nursing and Social Work, deepen your understanding of ethical, legal, and practical issues while giving you hands-on experience in a variety of care settings.

Year 3 – Exploring Complexity and Research
Year three focuses on complex challenges in health and social care and the research that supports professional practice. Through modules such as Aspects of International Health and Social Care, Enhancing Confidence and Capability for Integrated Practice, Research Methods in Health and Social Care, and Working with Complexity in Health and Social Care, you’ll analyse real-life situations and start applying research to improve outcomes in practice.

Year 4 – Professional Practice and Leadership
In your final year, everything comes together with extended placements and leadership-focused learning. Modules including Achieving Competence and Proficiency for Professional Registration, Leadership in Integrated Health and Social Care, and the MNSW Dissertation allow you to consolidate your nursing and social work skills, demonstrate professional judgment, and complete a substantial project reflecting your learning and leadership growth.

Focus areas: children’s nursing practice, social work assessment, integrated care, law and policy frameworks, leadership and research in health and social care

Learning outcomes: person-centred nursing and social work skills, holistic assessment and intervention, legal and ethical practice, leadership, and reflective professional development

Professional alignment (accreditation): Eligible to register as a children’s nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and apply for registration as a social worker with Social Work England

Reputation (employability rankings): Delivered in partnership with the Cheshire & Merseyside Social Work Teaching Partnership and meeting national professional standards, this programme equips graduates for integrated roles highly valued by employers across health and social care

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

On the MNSW (Hons) Children’s Nursing & Social Work degree at Edge Hill University, you’ll gain as much hands-on experience as you do academic knowledge. Right from the start, you’ll take part in professional practice placements across a variety of health and social care settings in the North West — including NHS, independent, and voluntary organisations — working alongside qualified nurses and social workers to support children, young people, and families in real-life situations. On campus, the Clinical Skills and Simulation Centre provides lifelike environments such as mock wards, consultation rooms, and community care suites, complete with full-body patient simulators, so you can safely practise your clinical and communication skills before heading into placements. Seminars, tutorials, simulations, and digital learning tools further support your growth, helping you build confidence, judgment, and professional skills step by step.

Here’s how your practical learning is structured to prepare you for your future career:

Professional Practice Placements: Spend significant time in real health and social care settings, applying your skills with children, young people, and families while working in multidisciplinary teams and building professional networks.
Clinical Skills and Simulation Centre: Practise essential nursing techniques and care scenarios in realistic simulated spaces — including ward environments, consultation rooms, and community care areas — using advanced equipment and patient simulators.
Multidisciplinary Learning Activities: Participate in group workshops and case discussions through the Cheshire & Merseyside Social Work Teaching Partnership, mirroring real integrated practice across nursing and social work.
Simulated and Technology-Enhanced Sessions: Reinforce theory, sharpen clinical reasoning, and prepare for a variety of situations with a mix of digital tools, simulations, lectures, and seminars.
Guided Reflection and Professional Development: Receive support from practice assessors and educators throughout placements and simulations to reflect on your learning, strengthen communication skills, and meet professional standards.
Campus Learning Resources: Access the Catalyst library and study spaces to prepare for placements, research case studies, and connect academic learning with real-world practice.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from the MNSW (Hons) Children’s Nursing & Social Work at Edge Hill University opens the door to a wide range of meaningful careers supporting children, young people, and families. Many graduates move into roles such as Registered Children’s Nurse, Social Worker, Child Protection Practitioner, Safeguarding Lead, Community Care Coordinator, or Family Support Manager, where clinical skills and social care knowledge come together to make a real difference in people’s lives.

Tailored careers support: Edge Hill’s Careers team provides one-to-one guidance, help with CVs and interview preparation, job alerts, and networking opportunities to support you as you take your first professional steps.
Strong graduate outcomes: Related nursing and social work programmes at Edge Hill show around 90–95% of graduates in highly skilled work within 15 months, often in professional roles that are closely aligned with their studies.
Salary prospects: Early-career graduates can expect earnings of around £28,000, with opportunities to progress and specialise as you gain experience.
Valued partnerships and professional experience: The Cheshire & Merseyside Social Work Teaching Partnership connects you with NHS and local authority organisations, giving hands-on experience in integrated care settings and valuable professional networks.
Accreditation with lifelong value: Successful completion allows you to register as a children’s nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and apply for registration as a social worker with Social Work England, giving you two professional pathways.
Meaningful career outcomes: Graduates often find roles where they can directly apply their skills and make a difference, reflecting the practical and integrated nature of the programme.

Further Academic Progression:
After this dual-professional degree, you can continue your studies with postgraduate programmes in areas such as Advanced Practice, Leadership in Health and Social Care, Child Protection, or Integrated Care Management. These pathways can lead to senior clinical, research, policy, teaching, or management roles, while ongoing professional development through your regulatory bodies helps you grow throughout your career.