Proud To Be A Cygnet Nurse - Kerryanne’s Story

Proud to be a Cygnet Nurse is a year-long campaign celebrating the nurses across Cygnet Group and recognising the unique experiences, motivations and career journeys that shape their work.

Launched by Shane Mills, Cygnet’s Group Director of Nursing & Quality, the initiative reflects his commitment to safe, high-quality and compassionate care, while encouraging nurses at all stages and across all specialisms to share their personal stories.

At its heart, the campaign promotes the belief that supporting and celebrating great nurses helps create the best possible care for those they support, while highlighting the diversity, dedication and development of Cygnet’s nursing community.

Leading with Purpose, Never Losing Sight of People

People often ask me what I'm most proud of in my career.

Of course, I'm proud to be the Hospital Manager at Cygnet Wallace Hospital. I'm proud of the exceptional ratings we've achieved and the recognition we've received as a service. I'm proud of how far we've come as a hospital.

But those aren't the things that make me Proud to be a Cygnet Nurse.

Even today, if our team needs support, I'll step in and cover whatever role is required, including Support Worker and nursing shifts. Not because it's expected, but because I know how important consistency is for the people in our care. Our service users deserve to see familiar faces, people they trust and people who know them well. Those relationships matter. They build confidence, reduce anxiety and help people feel safe.

It's also why you'll find me working on weekends and over the festive period.

For many people, Christmas is a time spent at home with family. But for those in our care, it can be a particularly difficult time. As leaders, it's important that we're there too. Leadership isn't something you switch on during office hours. It's about purpose, commitment and setting an example for others. If we're asking our teams to provide outstanding care every day of the year, we should be willing to stand alongside them and do the same.

When I first joined Cygnet Wallace Hospital, it was a very different place.

But from the moment I arrived, I saw something others perhaps couldn't.

I saw a team that cared deeply.

I saw people who wanted to do the right thing.

I saw colleagues who genuinely wanted the very best outcomes for the people we support.

Together, we focused on creating the right culture. We invested in retaining good people, developing our workforce, creating opportunities for progression and ensuring staff felt valued, listened to and supported.

That question continues to guide everything we do today.

The journey hasn't always been easy. We've faced challenges, setbacks and difficult conversations. We've made mistakes and learned from them. But every experience has helped us grow stronger and improve the care we provide.

Throughout my nursing career, one belief has always remained constant: our role is to advocate for people who may not always have a voice.

Too often, people with learning disabilities or complex needs are defined by their limitations rather than their potential.

I don't believe that's good enough.

For me, nursing is about seeing the person before the diagnosis. It's about focusing on what people can do, not what they can't.

If someone wants to go to the pub to watch football, let's find a way to make that happen.

If they want to attend a concert, let's help them plan for it.

If they want to socialise with friends, let's support them to be part of those experiences.

If they want employment, let's explore opportunities and help them achieve their goals safely.

The answer shouldn't automatically be "no".

The answer should always start with, "How can we make this happen?"

Watching someone gain confidence, develop their independence, try something for the first time or reach a personal goal is incredibly rewarding. Those moments remind me why I became a nurse in the first place.

Today, when I look around Cygnet Wallace Hospital, I feel immense pride in what our team has achieved together. Our success has never been about one individual. It belongs to every member of staff, from our nurses and support workers to our multidisciplinary teams, administrators, domestic staff, catering teams and maintenance colleagues.

Everyone on our team has played a role in building the culture we have today.

When we achieved exceptional ratings with no requirements or recommendations, it wasn't because we had spent months preparing for an inspection. It was because we had spent years building a culture where doing the right thing had become part of who we are.

Recognition matters because it reflects the positive impact we're having on people's lives, but inspections are never the destination. They are simply milestones on a journey of continuous improvement.

What matters most is what happens every single day. Treating people with dignity. Listening. Learning. Supporting one another. Putting patients first.

Those fundamentals are what create excellence.

Looking back over the last two decades, I can honestly say every challenge, every sacrifice and every difficult day has been worth it.

Not because of the positions I've held.

Not because of the recognition we've received.

But because I've had the privilege of being part of people's lives, supporting them through difficult times and celebrating their successes.

That's why I became a nurse.

That's why I continue to love what I do.

And that's why I am Proud to Be a Cygnet Nurse.

Because nursing is about people. It's about compassion, advocacy, commitment and never giving up on someone's potential. After more than 20 years in care, I am just as proud to call myself a nurse today as I was on my very first day.

Discover Cygnet's dedicated nursing microsite here.