Priory, the UK’s largest independent provider of mental health and adult social care services, has launched a new Professional Nurse Educator (PNE) programme to drive excellence in nursing education, development and clinical practice.
PNEs are experienced registered nurses who support other nursing colleagues through teaching and mentoring.
The new Priory initiative builds on a national pilot of the PNE role originally introduced by NHS England in 2022, which demonstrated significant benefits to both patient care and workforce development. While funding for the role was withdrawn in 2024, Priory has chosen to invest in and enhance the model, establishing its own structured development programme with Royal College of Nursing (RCN) accreditation.
Following the appointment of two PNE leads in early 2025, Priory has now recruited 16 frontline colleagues, at deputy ward manager and ward manager level, who will take on additional PNE responsibilities alongside their clinical roles.
This dual position ensures that those shaping education and development remain closely connected to real world practice, providing vital insight into the challenges and opportunities of frontline care.
The PNEs will work across clusters of sites, supporting colleagues with tailored training and development. They will also form a strong internal network to help inform organisational policy and future training priorities, ensuring education remains consistent and aligned to the highest standards of care.
To ensure clarity and consistency, Priory has designed the first structured developmental programme of its kind, equipping PNE leads with enhanced skills in coaching, leadership, quality improvement, evidence-based practice, learning theory and cultural leadership.
The RCN-accredited programme reflects national standards of nursing education and underscores Priory’s commitment to innovation and excellence.
As part of the initiative, Priory has worked with NHS England’s deputy director for mental health nursing to re-establish the national PNE network, which had lapsed following the end of the pilot scheme.
Priory will now lead this network with a dedicated page on the FutureNHS platform to support collaboration and best-practice sharing across the independent sector and NHS.
Georgina Turner, Head of Nursing at Priory, said: “This is an exciting and important step forward for nursing at Priory, with this RCN-accredited programme highlighting our commitment to innovation and excellence.
“The PNE role allows us to build a strong culture of continuous learning, ensuring our nurses are supported to develop their skills and deliver the very best care.
“By investing in this role and helping to re-establish the national network, we are strengthening the profession for the future and creating clear pathways for clinical excellence.”
Colin Quick, Chief Quality Officer and Chief Nurse at Priory, added: “Our nurses are the backbone of the care we deliver, and investing in their development is central to our mission of driving excellence across Priory.
“By embedding professional nurse educators into our workforce, we are ensuring that education is led by colleagues with genuine clinical insight, creating a direct link between training and practice.
“We are proud to be leading the way in shaping this role nationally, and of the recognition our programme has received from the RCN.”
