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  • Black leaders at Priory share their experiences to inspire future leaders from inside and outside the organisation
  • “Representation matters,” says Hospital Director at Priory Kneesworth House Hospital
  • Diversity champions declare: “If you can see it, you can be it”
  • Black Leaders Awareness Day takes place on 18 July 2023

Priory is celebrating black leaders to mark Black Leaders Awareness Day 2023.

“Representation matters,” says Priory’s diversity and inclusion champion, as the organisation highlights the enormous contribution of some of its successful black leaders.

Black Leaders Awareness Day was created to enable people from all cultures to experience the wisdom of past, current, and next-generation leaders.

Priory – the UK’s leading independent provider of mental health and addiction rehabilitation services – hopes to inspire future leaders by sharing wisdom and knowledge from those who came before them.

Senior managers at Priory have shared their personal experiences and spoken about what is needed to support the black leaders of the future, to mark the awareness day on 18 July.

Priscilla Masvipurwa, Hospital Director at Priory Kneesworth House Hospital, said: “When I became chair of Priory’s Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (EDIB) Network I posted some updates on LinkedIn. Since then, I have been inundated with messages from people within Priory and beyond, asking me for advice to further their career, how I have dealt with challenges and what it is like to be a black leader.

“Representation matters and I now understand better why it is important for people from all communities to see different types of leaders. If you can see it, you can be it. It sounds so simple but we know it’s not."

Yvette Birchell, Head of Facilities at Priory Hospital Enfield, said: “As I reflect on my career journey, I am filled with gratitude. Overcoming barriers and challenges has required resilience, determination, and a strategic approach. I also firmly believe that fate has its own plans.

“There is an inclusive and supportive environment at Priory; which stems from a commitment to actively work on diversity and equal opportunities, inclusive policies and practices, employee support and development initiatives, employee networks and support groups, and a focus on staff well-being. By prioritising these aspects, Priory has created an environment where employees feel like they are part of a big family.”

“My top tips for future black leaders include seeking out mentors, taking up development, advocating your goals, taking on responsibilities, viewing challenges as learning experiences and prioritising self-care.”

Angela Ntiero, Professional Lead Dietitian at Priory Kneesworth House Hospital said: "I got to where I am now by not being afraid to fail, staying focused, always being keen to learn new skills, being open to new challenges and remaining positive. I have been fortunate enough to have worked in a number of different clinical specialisms at Priory and have always had great mentors along the way.

“I have faced challenges over the years, but I’m clear that things have worked out in my favour. The message is, with the right support, everything is about timing. When it is your time, it’s your time.”

Read the full interviews below:

Priscilla Masvipurwa's interview
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Angela Ntiero's interview
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Yvette Birchell's interview
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ENDS

Note to editors:

Contact: communications@priorygroup.com

About Priory and MEDIAN

Priory is the UK’s leading independent provider of mental health services. We treat more than 70 conditions including depression, anxiety, addictions, and eating disorders, as well as children’s mental health, across our nationwide network of sites. We also support autistic adults and adults with a learning disability, Prader-Willi Syndrome and brain injuries, as well as older people, as a leading provider of specialist residential care and supported living – helping as many people as possible to live their lives.   

Priory is part of MEDIAN, one of Europe’s leading providers of high-quality mental health and medical rehabilitative services. Overall, there are 430 facilities in the MEDIAN Group, comprising 307 Priory facilities with 5,364 beds in the United Kingdom caring for 35,000 people, and 123 facilities and 20,000 beds and therapy places in Germany, caring for around 260,0000 patients, with approximately 35,000 employees overall.    

MEDIAN manages patients who have experienced symptoms of COVID-19, and/or Long COVID, and shares information for medical professionals at: www.long-covid.de

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