19 OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2025CXO INSIGHTSCAN YOU EXPLAIN THE EXPERIENCES AND QUALIFICATIONS THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO YOUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND LED TO YOUR CURRENT ROLE? After qualifying as a registered nurse, I worked within healthcare systems across the globe for over two decades, gaining relevant clinical and academic experience. Teaching has always been my passion. Even as a newly qualified nurse, I was interested in instructing students and supervising clinical support workers. To pursue my career in healthcare education, I went on to complete postgraduate qualifications in advanced nursing practice and healthcare education. I have also worked in various education roles, such as practice assessor, practice educator, and academic lecturer practitioner, before assuming my current position as the head of clinical education. As a senior leader, it is important to continuously develop and upskill myself. As part of my ongoing development, I am undertaking an Executive Senior Leadership Programme at the University of Oxford.WHAT ARE YOUR KEY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN YOUR CURRENT POSITION, AND WHAT SKILLS ARE REQUIRED FOR THIS ROLE? As the head of clinical education at a large community and Mental Health NHS Trust, I collaborate closely with various stakeholders and commissioners within our organisation and across the broader healthcare systems to develop and implement the clinical education strategy in line with the national workforce development agenda. My team offers high-quality pre-registration training programs to grow our future workforce while supporting the continuing development and upskilling of our existing clinical workforce. My ultimate objective is to ensure that we have an adequate number of competent clinicians to meet the health and care needs of local communities. Additionally, I aim to empower our clinicians to attain job satisfaction, professional growth, and career advancement, ultimately resulting in decreased staff turnover and enhanced staff retention.EDUCATING FOR EXCELLENCE: NURTURING TOMORROW'S HEALTHCARE LEADERSPearly Thomas, Head of Clinical Education, Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation TrustI have been in this position for six years, and the key skills required for this role include excellent communication, compassionate leadership, finance management, and strategic thinking. As a leader, it is important to ensure a productive service while taking care of the well-being of my team. WHAT ARE THE KEY ELEMENTS OF A GOOD CLINICAL EDUCATION STRATEGY? The most important elements of a clinical education strategy typically include. Training Needs Assessment: Understanding the priorities of the organisation and the training needs of the various workforce groups within it is crucial to ensure robust finance and resource planning.Clinical Education Finance Plan: Once the training gaps and priorities are identified, a detailed business plan is required to outline Pearly Thomas
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