Safeguarding is a vital part of everyday care, and behind it are colleagues who help turn guidance into confident, real-world practice. In this interview, James shares what it’s like to support teams across the North of England and Scotland, what makes safeguarding training truly effective, and why empowering colleagues to act with confidence can have a lasting impact on safety and wellbeing.

1. What is your role at Priory, and what do you enjoy most about it?

I’m a Regional Learning Partner for Safeguarding. I’m responsible for our sites across the North of England and Scotland, and I’m responsible for the development and delivery of our safeguarding training packages, as well as other related subjects. I deliver these sessions both online and on-site, adapting content to meet the needs of different teams and settings.

What I enjoy most about this role is having the opportunity to empower colleagues to feel confident in recognising and responding to safeguarding concerns, and seeing that moment when someone connects theory to practice, when they realise how the guidance applies directly to their day-to-day work and can make a real difference to someone’s safety and wellbeing. My role also allows me to be creative.

I actually started my career as a Healthcare Assistant at one of our secure hospitals, before progressing to the role of Senior Healthcare Assistant.

During that time, I worked across a couple of wards over several years, supporting patients with a wide range of complex diagnoses. It was a challenging but incredibly rewarding experience that really shaped my understanding of patient care, communication, and trauma-informed practice.

Alongside my clinical work, I qualified as a restraint instructor and went on to deliver various models over the years, right up to the RRIT model that we currently use in Healthcare today.

After several years on the wards, I moved into a new post within the same site, focusing on quality and compliance. This role also gave me the opportunity to take on additional training responsibilities, which is really where my passion for teaching and developing others developed further.

I then left the hospital after successfully gaining a post in central services as Learning and Organisational Development Coordinator for the North of the UK. This allowed me to develop a better understanding of the organisation as a whole, and meant that I was now in regular contact with various stakeholders around the organisation.  After a year in post, I then became a Regional Learning Partner. 

3. What support or opportunities have helped your development at Priory?

During my time working as a Healthcare Assistant, I took on a variety of additional qualifications to support both my practice and my professional growth. These included Level 3 certificates in Conflict Management, Physical Instruction, and the Use of Restraint Equipment. I also gained qualifications in Phlebotomy, Team Leadership, Teaching, and Risk Assessment.

During the pandemic, I completed a course in Qualitative RPE Fit Testing to help ensure staff were properly protected while escorting patients who required ICU admissions. It was a very practical skill at a time when safety and flexibility were crucial.

After moving into the Learning and Organisational Development team, I continued to build on my professional development by completing the Leadership and Management Programme. Ongoing learning has always been important to me, so I’ve continued to engage in regular CPD opportunities, attending safeguarding conferences each year, taking part in sessions delivered by government departments and the police, and completing further Train the Trainer courses to enhance my knowledge and delivery.

I’m also really fortunate to receive ongoing professional development from our Jackie, our Head of Safeguarding, and Amanda, our Named Nurse for Safeguarding Children and Transitions — who provide regular updates and CPD for the team and myself. Their expertise and support help ensure that our training remains current, evidence-based, and aligned with best practice.

Aside from all of this, the experiences I had while working in one our services played a huge role, as well as the support I have had from the teams and Management I have worked with.

4. What advice would you give to someone considering a career at Priory?

I would say go for it, but also have an idea what direction you want to go in. I took a very different path in comparison to those I worked with on site. Many of them became nurses, occupational therapists, and psychologists, whereas my focus was really on learning and development. My university days training to be a teacher probably played a big part in this also. 

The truth is, the opportunities don’t always come along when you expect them, but when they do, grab them. Every experience, every role, and every challenge adds something valuable to your journey.

Ready to take the next step in your career and explore a rewarding role in mental health? Explore our latest opportunities at jobs.priorygroup.com today.