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Clinical Educator National Development Programme

In 2024, we ran a national needs analysis survey for clinical educators. Over 800 educators across the NHS told us that they needed a dedicated programme to develop their skills and confidence. 

We designed this programme to support clinical educators to develop their skills to effectively educate and develop the clinical workforce of the present and future, while developing personal leadership and practical skills.

Find out more about the programme and its content below. 

Registration is now open for Autumn 2025

Why is developing clinical educators important?

Supporting the educator workforce is a key priority for the NHS, underscored by the publication of the NHS Educator Workforce Strategy.

Given the ever-growing pressures on the NHS, the importance of education and training cannot be overstated. There is a crucial link between ensuring the NHS has a future workforce, and development of and support for a high-quality educator workforce, however there is limited opportunity for training and development of educators themselves.

To help reverse this trend NHS Elect is working with teams across the NHS to develop solutions that will help them thrive not just survive.

Who is this programme for?

This programme is aimed at those working in a role with protected time for education delivery, coordination or strategy, within the health and care setting. We aim to develop skills, confidence and community, to enable more effective and efficient education provision for the health and care workforce.

How does the programme work?

Over 6 months, participants will attend 8 3-hour online modules, led by our clinical education specialists, Lydia Lofton and Julie Combes.

Programme content focuses on development of practical and leadership skills required for educators working and leading within systems. It is delivered within a supportive, multi-professional environment utilising practical application and peer learning. The final module is a collaborative learning event to celebrate learning and progress at the end of the learning pathway.

Programme content includes aspects of:

  • designing and delivering education
  • creating effective learning environments
  • improving interpersonal communication
  • personal leadership
  • healthcare business skills
  • leadership in systems

You can find further detail below.

Self-directed learning, reflective exercises, and application to personal practice are integral to participation. You will need to undertake self-directed reading and activities in advance of the online modules, estimated to be approximately 2 additional study hours per month.

You will also be encouraged to create a community of practice with other participants throughout the programme and will have access to various digital tools to enable this and apply your learning.

What does it cost?

This programme is available to staff at both member and non-member organisations. The cost for staff at member organisations is £995 per participant or 3.5 tokens, subject to approval from your account lead.   

Staff at non-member organisations can join this programme for £1,200 per person.

Self-directed learning

Acquisition of knowledge through websites, video, podcasts, publications

Practice

Practical application with active analyses and self-reflection to develop your practice to take back to your workplace

Collaborative learning

Community of practice to share best practice and a provide a supportive peer network

Reflection

Celebrating success and a chance to reflect on what we learnt about ourselves and from peers

20241028 - Two clinical staff looking at tablet

Bespoke programme for organisations and ICSs

We now offer a tailored programme to help you develop your clinical educators in-house. We will discuss your requirements, so the content is focused on your staff needs. By understanding the context of your organisation or wider system, we can create a training plan that addresses any challenges or knowledge gaps unique to you.

While all our courses build clinical educator capabilities, the benefit of an in-house programme is the emphasis on system-level thinking, including space to reinforce improvements and collaborative practices with participants.

Please get in touch to discuss your requirements.

Programme dates

Autumn 2025
  • Welcome session: Wednesday 3 September 2025, 12pm to 1pm
  • Module 1: Tuesday 16 September 2025, 9:30am to 12:30pm
  • Module 2: Thursday 23 October 2025, 9:30am to 12:30pm
  • Module 3: Tuesday 18 November 2025, 9:30am to 12:30pm
  • Module 4: Thursday 18 December 2025, 9:30am to 12:30pm
  • Module 5: Tuesday 13 January 2026, 9:30am to 12:30pm
  • Module 6: Tuesday 10 February 2026, 9:30am to 12:30pm
  • Module 7: Tuesday 3 March 2026, 9:30am to 12:30pm
  • Module 8: Tuesday 24 March 2026, 9:30am to 12:30pm

Programme content

Module 1: Designing and delivering education

Building a community of practice with digital enablers

We will delve into the transformative power of digital tools in education, exploring their relevance to the teaching and learning experience. Together, we'll examine various platforms such as Mural and Microsoft 365 that enhance educational delivery and foster collaborative learning environments within our developing community of practice.

Module 2: Designing and delivering education

Learning theories and instructional design

We will explore the fundamental theories of behaviourism, constructivism, and cognitivism in education. You will gain practical insights into how these theories shape curriculum design and instructional methods. You’ll analyse and apply various instructional design models such as ADDIE model and The Double Diamond to optimize your teaching strategies and create dynamic learning experiences.

Module 3: Designing for people

Effective learning environments

Gain deeper insights into essential considerations such as accessibility, neurodiversity, interprofessional education, and psychological safety, forming a framework for establishing supportive educational environments. You will explore practical strategies to effectively address diverse learner needs and cultivate inclusive learning environments during our discussions.

Module 4: Developing People

Interpersonal communication skills

We will explore interpersonal communication skills crucial for educators, examining the styles, contextual applications, and impacts on oneself and others. Key elements covered include emotional intelligence, feedback techniques for education, and the effective use of the Radical Candor framework.

Module 5: Developing self

Leadership. We will explore your unique leadership style using the Merrill and Reid social styles model, gaining insights to enhance your impact. You’ll learn key concepts for effective leadership and consider practical strategies to cultivate these skills, to navigate change within an educational context.

Module 6: Healthcare business skills

Project management, analytics and finance

Find out about project management methodologies crucial for healthcare settings. Gain practical skills to efficiently plan, execute, and monitor projects. Learn how to use healthcare analytics for data-driven decision-making and take away tips for business case development. Consider essential financial principles to confidently navigate clinical education budgeting and resource allocation.

Module 7: Leadership in systems

System thinking and leading change

You will delve into system thinking methodologies, such as Peter Senge's "The Fifth Discipline," to gain insights into how different components of the system interact and influence each other. Additionally, we'll apply the "Water of Systems Change" framework to explore how shifting conditions at various levels can lead to sustainable, systemic change.

Module 8: Collaborative learning event

Celebrating learning and progress

By celebrating achievements we encourage the group to reflect on their development collaboratively and as individuals. Reflection and celebration helps everyone value a learning culture and keeps progress and achievements visible.

Action Learning Sets to continue the work together

If you would like to express interest in working in an action learning set with peers from this programme, please let us know.

Action learning is a long established and powerful method for developing critical-thinking, problem-solving, creative solutions and innovative practice.

Working in action learning sets, peers and leaders come together to work through organisational issues and challenges and share ideas and experience in a trusting, structured and supportive environment.

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