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Clinical Research Leadership and Management, October 2026

Clinical Research Leadership and Management, October 2026
Online Course, 4.5 CPD hours
Fri 16 Oct 2026

This educational, one-day course was designed to benefit the whole Clinical Research Team. The day offered practical advice on the planning and delivery of an effective research trial. Sharing both practical and strategic tools and focusing on the expression of interests, achieving high levels of feasibility and data integrity.

Key learning outcomes

By offering practical guidance to NHS clinical research teams, this event tackled the key components that ensure delivery of optimal research. This was a day dedicated to gaining insights from industry experts and concentrating on:

  • Refining leadership and management skills
  • Enhancing team dynamics through strong leadership
  • Understanding expressions of interest
  • Achieving high levels of feasibility
  • Developing research mapping skills
  • Improving oversight within their teams
  • Achieving integrity in their data
  • Getting the most out of trial monitoring

Remote NHS online courses

Taking away useful techniques and new skills to use in day-to-day work routines, plus the attendees benefitted from:

  • Evidence-based examples and referrals: appropriate, relevant support and signposting were provided
  • Interactive presentations: concerns were addressed with sensitivity and care
  • Closed room discussions: attendees benchmarked and engaged with one another
  • Agreed action plan: participants left the course with the confidence to make changes

Click here to view the full list of clinical research courses available.

Available for in-house training

Available as bespoke training to teams of 25+ people. Please do contact us if you would like this course delivered exclusively to your team, with the content developed to drill into the specific needs of your service. Please email Sarah Kemm or call 01732 897788 for further details.

Learning & development

Oncology National Networking Forums are pleased to be featured as part of the ACCEND Framework

The ePortfolio platform is available via the Greater Manchester Cancer Academy and supports professional development in cancer care.

This forum and all of our events are mapped to the ACCEND Framework and can be recorded in the ACCEND ePortfolio to help you evidence your learning, reflections and competencies.

To find out more, click on the ACCEND Framework tab.

9:30
Join, tech support and opportunity to network in your meeting room
10:00
Introduction, instructions and leader’s opening remarks
Karl Ward, Lead Nurse for Research and Innovation (Education), Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Lead for the LTHT Research Academy, NIHR GCP Facilitator and Fellow, Higher Education Academy
The changing clinical research landscape
10:10
Management and leadership in clinical research
  • What are the drivers and tensions in clinical research?
  • What type of manager/leader do you prefer? Leadership in healthcare
  • Choosing a leadership style: self-assessment and common styles
  • How do you lead your team? Team dynamics
  • What makes a good team? How do good teams operate?
  • Teaming strategy and team building: practical tips
11:10
Screen break
Setting strategy in clinical research
11:20
Clinical research strategy: identifying your direction and priorities
  • National vs local research strategy
  • Local divisional research strategy: How did we develop this?
Expression of interest, feasibility and projection
11:50
Interactive discussion: How is research chosen to be conducted in your area?
  • The challenges in clinical research feasibility planning
  • How will you manage your feasibility planning going forward
12:05
Feedback from interactive discussion: How is research chosen to be conducted in your area?
12:15
Feasibility: why is this important?
  • Things to ask yourself when undertaking feasibility
  • Horizon scanning / forecasting: what is out there?
  • Workforce projection: taking a realistic approach
  • What do sponsors look for in a Research Site?
  • Identifying the barriers to research in the UK
  • Building a balanced portfolio: How to achieve this
12:45
Lunch time screen break
Establishing, maintaining and facilitating oversight
1:20
Facilitating oversight: investigating the ‘what’ and ‘why’?
  • Is facilitating oversight complicated?
  • Direct/indirect, formal/informal oversight
  • How to achieve facilitation of oversight?
  • Importance of good communication: both written and verbal
  • Direct annotation and note to file
  • Meetings, corridor conversations and email correspondence
  • Role of the team in facilitation of oversight
Quality assurance in clinical research
2:20
Interactive discussion: where do you think problems can arise?
  • What measures can be taken to reduce error in trials?
2:40
Screen break
2:50
Feedback from interactive discussion: where do you think problems can arise?
3:00
Data quality in clinical research
  • Why do we have quality control and quality assurance?
  • Mistakes or misconduct: the effects
  • Data quality and data integrity: source data
  • Data collection and recording: data queries and resolution
  • Study monitoring: central, onsite, targeted and internal monitoring
  • Examples of documentation: transcription errors
3:30
Leader’s closing remarks and end of course
  • When you leave the conference, please do complete the evaluation form you have been sent. We really do want to know what you think! Also £1 will be contributed to the charity 'Gift of a Wedding' for every form that is completed.

Sharing in first-hand experience

Karl has been described as a “brilliant presenter, very engaging and informative”, “very engaging” and “down to earth”. Karl shared his top tips and first-hand experiences to ensure the participants are at the top of their game for leading and managing clinical trials.

Karl Ward

Lead Nurse for Research and Innovation (Education)
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Lead for the LTHT Research Academy, NIHR GCP Facilitator and Fellow, Higher Education Academy
Biography

Who came?

Designed for Clinical Research NHS professionals, we were joined by the likes of:

  • Heads and Directors of Research
  • RM&G and Research and Development Managers
  • Trail Co-ordinators, Facilitators and Managers
  • Lead and Senior Research Nurses

If you have a team that is 25 people or more, you can have a bespoke workshop delivered online to your team alone. Please contact Sarah Kemm or telephone 01732 897788.

Past attendee feedback

This event followed on from our previous Clinical Research Leadership and Management courses which took place in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. Don’t take our word for how much past attendees have enjoyed the training, check out the feedback:

'Overall, I found the Clinical Research Leadership and Management course to be highly informative and enriching. It provided comprehensive coverage of a wide range of essential topics within the field, including both the theoretical foundations and practical applications of leadership in clinical research settings. The course also offered valuable insights into various leadership styles and approaches, allowing me to explore and appreciate multiple perspectives on effective management. Through its structured content and diverse viewpoints, the course significantly enhanced my understanding of what it means to lead successfully in the context of clinical research'
- Royal Papworth NHS Foundation Trust, June 2025
'The topics discussed were definitely what I wanted to know in terms of my role. Plenty of tips and new concepts that I will definitely bring to my practice'
- University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust, June 2025
'Very informative, very engaging host, very positive with each and every comment made'
- The Princess Alexandra, June 2025
'Loved the examples that related to the various topic we covered today and how we can change some of the ways we might be able to adapt to take into practice'
- Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, May 2024
'Excellent speaker, you can always tell when someone has lived it or learned it'
- Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, May 2024
'Very engaging and relevant content. The timetable worked very well with bite-sized sessions interspersed with breaks'
- The Princess Alexandra NHS Trust, July 2023
'Very interactive and great to hear from different perspectives of many different professionals'
- Imperial NHS Trust, July 2023
'Karl was very engaging, it made the training far more enjoyable'
- St George's Joint Research and Enterprise Services, July 2023
'Informative, interactive, engaging speaker'
- Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, July 2023
'Karl is knowledgeable, engaging and very practical in his ways of working and solutions to problems'
- The Princess Alexandra NHS Trust, July 2023
‘It was extremely well organized and presented’
- University Hospitals Morecambe Bay, June 2022
‘Karl is an excellent presenter. He gave great examples from his own experience. A really enjoyable and informative day. Thank you’
- University Hospitals Morecambe Bay, June 2022
‘Just a huge thank you for a really useful day. It was great to spend time with people who understand the role of research delivery’
- Oxford Health NHS FT, June 2022
'The Speaker has a versatile knowledge on research, kept the course very interesting throughout the day. Very useful, enjoyed the topic on 'Clinical research strategy'-highlights why it is essential, such an eye opener. Helps identify strengths and areas for improvement'
- The Imperial college Healthcare NHS Trust, February 2022
‘Delivered very well. I learnt a lot of stuff that i will be implementing in my work area. Thanks’
- ESNEFT, February 2022
‘Great workshop well organized very informative and well presented’
- National University of Ireland Galway, February 2022
'Brilliant experience, friendly setting where ideas are encouraged and welcomed'
- Clinical Research Leadership and Management, October 2021
'I have really enjoyed my time spent in this forum. It has given me some food for thought and validated some others'
- Clinical Research Leadership and Management, October 2021
'I think the course was brilliant, it was really well set up and moderated'
- Clinical Research Leadership and Management, October 2021
'I wasn't sure what to expect but I have really enjoyed the content, the sharing and the potential to use this to develop my own knowledge and to help in developing the team I will be managing'
- Clinical Research Leadership and Management, October 2021
'Really good, informative course with really good interactive sessions. Best leadership course I have attended yet'
- Clinical Research Leadership and Management, October 2021
'Very good content and a lot to think about and develop within my team'
- Clinical Research Leadership and Management, October 2021
'I am very happy to have been nominated for this event and have taken several ideas to develop once I start my new job and things to read and follow up ahead of that. Great day!'
- Clinical Research Leadership and Management, October 2021
'The networking and collaborative dynamic has been great and really enjoyable. I've learnt a lot from others and Karl. Karl's experiences have been interesting to hear as they put the content into perspective and make them more relatable'
- Clinical Research Leadership and Management, October 2021

About the ACCEND Framework

The ACCEND Framework is designed to enhance cancer care by providing a structured approach to education and professional development for healthcare professionals.

  • It defines the essential Cancer Capabilities in Practice (CiPs) and offers a tailored educational structure to support progression at every stage of a cancer care career.
  • Launched in January 2023, the framework aims to transform career pathways and improve training and development opportunities across the cancer workforce.
  • It provides access to the education and training needed to meet role-specific competencies and includes dedicated resources for nurses, allied health professionals and those in cancer-related support roles.
  • The ACCEND Framework delivers a nationally agreed career and education structure underpinned by clearly defined capabilities in practice.

Map your learning

All Oncology National Networking Forum courses listed on the Greater Manchester Cancer Academy’s ACCEND ePortfolio are fully aligned with the ACCEND Framework.

You can easily log your attendance and map your learning to the Cancer Capabilities in Practice (CiPs) through the ACCEND ePortfolio.

To do this:

  • Register and log in to the ePortfolio
  • Click ‘Add Entry’
  • Select 'Choose an item from the library'
  • Change the provider to Oncology National Networking Forums
  • Choose the relevant event you have attended (or plan to attend)

This tool offers a central space to track your professional development, reflections and achievements - supporting your ongoing career in cancer care.

Click here to access the ePortfolio


Sponsorship engagement

Our role at SBK Healthcare is to bring industry together with healthcare professionals so that you can educate and inform your audience. These trail-blazing oncology forums offer dedicated presentations, Q&A, networking and discussion time, each sponsor will be fully immersed into the event and able to effectively engage with your NHS audience.

Your event, managed by us

SBK Healthcare also provides in-house forums. Working closely with you as the client we can research, produce, market and deliver the conference or online forum that best suits the audience and meets your goals.

Reach out today

If you would like more information on our sponsorship options an in-house forum or if you wish to discuss your needs and what solutions may be appropriate for your business, please contact: 

Vanessa Jarman
Contact: 01732 897788 
Email: vanessa.jarman@sbk-healthcare.co.uk