ABOUT ME
Cheryl Thomas
Life Coach
RM BSc MA FHEA, PGCert
From a very young age I recognised my passion and desire in helping others. It seemed the most natural thing to do as I found supporting others very rewarding. After starting a family, the vocation of midwifery called upon me.
I commenced my midwifery studies in 1999 and upon qualification secured a post in a busy inner-city midwifery unit as a rotational midwife. My passion lay within labour ward, caring for women who presented with complexities but also gave care to those women labouring within the midwife led unit. After 5 years of working within the hospital, my career path changed, and I began practising as a community midwife. This role led onto me securing a secondment for a specialist midwife role in teenage pregnancy where I gained a vast amount of experience within safeguarding.
After 12 years of working for the same NHS organisation, I moved NHS trust and became an antenatal/postnatal ward manager. Within this same organisation I was appointed the role of maternity matron and gained a wealth of understanding with regards to leadership, staff management, project management, clinical governance, audit, change implementation and trust guidelines.
I became a Lecturer in Midwifery in 2017, and I was registered as a Midwifery Teacher on the Nursing and Midwifery Council Register in 2018. Within that same year, I became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. I was also a Supervisor of Midwives (a role that no longer exists within midwifery) but felt the need to complete a bridging course to acquire the certification as a Professional Midwifery Advocate. Within this role I supported student midwives undertaking the midwifery programme to enable sourcing solutions to both their personal and professional problems. I facilitate restorative supervision sessions which enhances their resilience in both the academic and practical setting.
Within my role as a Professional Midwifery Advocate and as a Senior Lecturer in midwifery, I gained a vast amount of experience in restorative supervision and am passionate about supporting others to aid with achieving their goals. I recognised that I was able to develop resilience in others and empower people to achieve. I felt that my skills could be extended further and decided to undertake a post graduate certificate in coaching and mentoring for which I was awarded a distinction. These additional skills complimented my role as a Professional Midwifery Advocate and in time I felt that my skill set could be applied to not only supporting student midwives, midwives and nurses within the NHS but also outside of the NHS and university setting. I am currently contracted to facilitate external PMA sessions and coaching workshops for midwives and nurses at a London based maternity unit. My skill set can transform the attendees thought process and enable self-awareness and eagerness to re-energise, change and flourish using positive thinking strategies and techniques. I am proud of my achievements and feel a sense of self satisfaction and pride when my clients achieve their goals.
During the global pandemic I worked on a commissioned coaching project supporting front line staff within a London based maternity unit. My findings were presented at a national conference and additionally these findings supported my thesis.
In January 2024 I set up a company ‘The Little Bears Company’ with my daughter Alexandra. My role within this company is to conduct antenatal classes, breastfeeding support and private midwifery. I am contracted by The Little Bears Company to also facilitate Mummy MOT’s which a thorough postnatal assessment. This assessment involves a bespoke program tailor made for a women’s return to full health following childbirth. Additionally, Mummy MOTs are offered to women who have undergone abdominal surgery and those who suffer incontinence. Please click on the link if you are interested in accessing services from ‘The Little Bears
Company:
I resigned as a Senior Lecturer in Midwifery in April 2024 to focus on my external PMA and coaching contracts and to support women during pregnancy and the postpartum period through ‘The Little Bears Company’.
I ensure that I keep myself updated with professional development in both midwifery and coaching practice and am registered as a professional coach with the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC).
For leisure I enjoy long walks and have a passion for running. I feel that running aids with me processing and compartmentalising any issues or stress related thoughts that may cause anxiety. My parents have been influential, constant and supportive and their unconditional love fuels my desire to be a better version of myself. I am a proud mother to 6 wonderful grown-up children, four that I grew myself and 2 stepdaughters. I have 5 grandchildren who melt my heart and a wonderful supportive husband who without, none of this would have been possible.