Professor Claire Thurgate

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Claire Thurgate
About
Teaching and learning
Research
Business, knowledge transfer and international
Professional practice, knowledge exchange and impact
Leadership and management

About

As the Head of School of Nursing I have strategic responsibility for all areas of the School's work including the student experience, our courses, research, and partnership working with experts by experience, practice partners, the Nursing and Midwifery Council and government.  I work with colleagues within the School, Faculty and University to ensure an excellent education experience which supports the professional development and employability of our students.  

I have extensive leadership experience both in practice as a Children's Nurse leading services and within Higher Education where I have led a Centre for Work-Based Learning and a School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work.  I have worked with employers across a range of sectors to develop, validate and lead flexible work-based learning programmes which enable the development of the workforce to meet local service need.  This includes leading the development and successful tendering for apprentice programmes (in particular Nursing Associates, Registered Nurse Degree Apprentice and Advance Clinical Practice) and preparing for Ofsted inspection.     

I am passionate about a quality student experience and working in partnership with students to enhance their university experience. 

My research interests include understanding the experience of those who work and learn, learning in the workplace and transitions. My publications include managers experience of the assistant practitioner role and the experience of those who journey from health care assistant to assistant practitioner.  

I am a member of Kingston Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education Leadership Group and Kingston University's Senior Leadership Group

Academic responsibilities

Head of School

Qualifications

  • PhD
  • MA Work Based Learning Studies (Health Care Education)
  • BSc (Hons) Health and Learning Disabilities
  • Registered Nurse: Adult and Child
  • PGCLT

Teaching and learning

As an experience health care educator I have experience in leading the validation of both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in nursing and health care, particularly work-based learning and courses which meet local service needs. 

I have taught on leadership and management and research to undergraduate and postgraduate students.  My main area of teaching and learning is work-based learning and the facilitation of learning to meet individual student workplace development need.

I am a research supervisor and have examined a number of PhD vivas.

Qualifications and expertise

  • PhD
  • PGCLT
  • Fellow Higher Education Academy
  • Registered Nurse: Adult and Child

Research

My research is primarily focused on work-based learning and in particular understanding the lived experience of those who work and learn.  My current research is making sense of the stakeholders experience of introducing the nursing associate role and enabling learning in the workplace.  

Qualifications and expertise

  • PhD

Areas of specialism

  • Work-based Learning
  • Learning in the workplace

Business, knowledge transfer and international

i have a wealth of experience working with employers across nursing, health and care to develop flexible programmes of learning to support local workforce need.  This has included, for example, working with workforce leads to develop and implement a General Practice Nursing Fellowship and a community pathway at Masters level.  i have worked closely with employers to support the development, implementation and evaluation of apprenticeships including nursing associates, registered degree nurse and advance clinical practice. 

Alongside delivering accredited courses I have worked with employers to provide short courses and study days to support the upskilling of their workforce. 

Areas of interest

  • Workforce development

Professional practice, knowledge exchange and impact

My professional background is Children's Nursing with an interest in Children with Complex Health Needs. 

Qualifications and expertise

  • Registered Nurse: Children's Nursing

Leadership and management

I am an experienced leader in Higher Education, having previously led:

- A Centre for Work-Based Learning and Continuing Development

- A School of Public Health, Midwifery and Social Work

- A School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work

I have led Faculty-wide projects including work-based learning and apprentices.  Cross-university leadership has involved leading a subject TEF working group.