Building a Senior Leadership Career as a Nurse at Priory

Job Role

What’s your job title and what does your role involve?
I am the Associate Director of Quality for the South West and Wales region within adult care for Priory. We cover 73 services of different specialisms, including mental health, learning disability, autism, Prader-Willi syndrome, and personality disorder.

I lead a team of quality improvement leads and work closely with the operations team to support those services in delivering excellent person-centred care.

Did you come into this role from a healthcare background?
Yes, I’m a nurse by background. I left the NHS in 2003 and joined the adult social care sector. My background is in care of the older person. I followed the usual career path—nurse in a care home, then sister, senior sister, deputy manager, and then home manager. Around 2011, I moved into quality. My experience had always been in older people’s care until I joined Priory about three years ago and took on new specialisms. It was a leap of faith.

Are you a general or mental health nurse?
I’m a general nurse.

Day-to-Day Work

What does a typical day look like for you?
Every day is different, but I always start by checking in on our services and reviewing any serious incidents from the previous day—anything involving harm or needing external escalation. That usually takes up a good chunk of the morning.

I also look at business data from different platforms to identify any potential risks—whether to people, colleagues, or potential regulatory concerns. I look for trends, themes, and any lessons to be learned so we can share them across the region or division.

The rest of the day varies. I might be catching up with my team or the Managing Director, planning site visits, or attending meetings. These could be quality meetings with services, or representing the division on committees like Infection Prevention and Control or governance.

I like to spend time with my team—making sure they are equipped with everything they need to undertake their roles effectively. As individuals and as a team, we can measure our success through our alignment with the Organisational Strategy and goals.

Who do you report to, and who reports to you?
I report to the Managing Director for the South West and Wales, but there’s a dotted line into the central quality support function, headed by the Chief Quality Officer. So while I’m regionally aligned, I also work divisionally—reviewing policies, sitting on committees, and representing the division. It’s a diverse role.

Job Satisfaction

Would you say your role is stressful?
Any role can be stressful at times, it is how you manage that and how you’re supported that matters. I am responsible and accountable for the quality of the region so I understand the responsibility I have - although I genuinely, enjoy my work.

What’s it like working for Priory?
I feel really supported. I feel psychologically safe at work. I can be myself, share my thoughts and ideas, and raise professional challenges without feeling dismissed or undermined. I always feel listened to, and my Manager and team are there to support me. My experience of working at Priory is a positive one.

Career Pathways at Priory

Does Priory support career progression?
Absolutely. We have annual professional development reviews, and career progression is always part of the conversation. If I wanted to follow the Quality career pathway and move into a Director of Quality role, I’d speak with my line manager, and we’d work with the people and learning & development teams to enable me support me aiming for that goal.

The same goes for my team. I’ve always believed in preparing my team for their next step, including enabling my team to be the next Associate Director of Quality if that is their goal.

Have you always been curious about new roles?

Yes—I’m a naturally curious person. I like to see what other people do and explore whether that might interest me. Sometimes I’ll look at a role and think, “Great for them, but not for me.” However, when I was introduced to a colleague in a quality role many years ago, it really caught my attention and I pursued that pathway. I’ve always been outcome-focussed, and quality aligned perfectly with that.

Looking back, do you miss working directly with patients?
Some days, yes. But I’m in a privileged position where I manage my own diary, and I make time to visit services. I’m not delivering care directly anymore, but I still get to be with our colleagues and the people we support. I play a supportive role in practice leadership. Quality allows me to stay connected to practice while also being analytical, which I love.

Working at Priory

What made you choose Priory in the first place?
As I mentioned earlier, it was a big leap of faith when I joined nearly three years ago. I was stepping into specialisms I hadn’t worked in before. But Priory’s values stood out to me—striving for excellence, being positive, putting people first, acting with integrity, and being supportive. Those values align with my own, and I can honestly say they’re not just straplines. We live and breathe them every day. That’s why I joined—and why I’ve stayed.

Skills and Advice

What soft skills are essential for your role?
Quality is not for everyone—you need a balance of both practical and analytical skills. For me, organisation is key. I’m known for being super organised with note books, sticky notes, files—etc.

I also like solving problems. I don’t just deliver problems—I want to be part of the solution. There is a great saying that if you are not part of the solution, you may be part of the problem. I try to practice that every day.

The role of ADOQ is definitely suited a completer-finisher. This ensures completeness in all areas of quality.

Final Thoughts

Is there anything else you’d say to someone considering working at Priory?
Priory has given me opportunities to grow, explore new specialisms, and stay aligned with my values. It’s a place where you’re supported, listened to, and encouraged to be yourself—and I think that’s incredibly important.