Executive Chairman
John is the founder, owner and Chairman of Potens.
John is a Learning Disability Nurse.
He said: “Born near Birkenhead docks a long while ago – I’ll admit to being in my fifties!
Concert Pianist, Astrophysicist, Raconteur and Olympic Athlete are just a few of the things I’m not known for.
Trained as an Learning Disability Nurse in early 80’s which started the incredible journey leading to the privileged position I am at today.”
Chief Operating Officer
Registered Nurse (RNMH)
Nicki is Potens Chief Operating Officer, with over 20 years’ operational experience in the Health and Social Care Sector. Whilst Nicki has previously worked in both Local Authority and Charitable organisations, the vast majority of her experience is in the Private sector. Nicki joined the company as the Registered Manager of the one and only Registered Home and has grown alongside the Organisation in partnership with those who live and work within.
Nicki has been with Potens since 1996
Finance Director
ACA & BA (Hons) Economics
Tom is the Finance Director for Potens. He is a chartered accountant with over 20 years finance experience working in the health and social care sector. He has previously worked as a Finance Director of a GP out of hours service and a company providing healthcare in secure environments.
Tom has been with Potens since 2004
Director of Quality
Noreen has over 30 years’ experience working in social care across a range of organisations. Noreen completed a BA (hons) Community Management & Post Grad Diploma in Management.
As Potens Director of Quality Noreen takes overall responsibility for the organisations quality functions and framework to ensure the people we support receive the highest possible standard of support and Services continue to be developed and operated to comply with our Regulators (CQC / CIW / RQIA / Ofsted) and all relevant best practice. Noreen is keen to support practice development and improvement by visiting services and talking & listening to people across the organisation.
During her down time Noreen likes strength training with weights, getting out and going for a long walk in the fresh air. She enjoys reading and crosswords, sudoku, wordle, scrabble – anything to keep her brain active.
Noreen has been with Potens since 2007.
Operations Director - South
BA (hons) in Sociology and Social Policy. Advanced Diploma in Dual Diagnosis (Mental Health & Substance Misuse)
Bettina has over 30 years’ experience in the social care sector, 15 of these working in senior manager positions. Bettina has worked across third sector and private companies, predominantly supporting people with learning disabilities, mental health conditions or a range of additional complex needs. She has delivery experience from a range of different types of services including; registered care, supported living, floating support and community activity based services.
Bettina joined Potens in the summer of 2017
Operations Director - Wales
Registered Nurse (RNMH), Registered Managers Award (RMA), ILM Level 5 Management and IOSH.
Glenn is responsible for Potens’ Welsh provision and is the Responsible Individual working closely with CIW to maintain compliance. With over 30 years clinical experience in both Learning Disability and Mental Health, Glenn has worked in a variety of settings and locations throughout England & Wales.
Glenn joined Potens in 2006 as a registered manager, progressed to Area Manager for North Wales, Regional Director for Wales and is now the Operations Director – Wales.
Workforce Development Director
Associate CIPD, BSc (Hons) Degree Technology Management, L5 Dip Business Advisor & NEBOSH Certificate
Frank has over 20 years’ experience working with organisations from a variety of sectors in helping them to develop their workforce development practices. At Potens he is responsible for planning, reviewing and evaluating the company Learning & Development, HR and Health & Safety strategies.
Frank Joined Potens in 2011
Business Development Director
BSc Human Psychology
Guy is Potens Business Development Director and has over 19 years experience within Health and Social Care in both the public and private sectors. With a background in Psychology he has worked in both relationship management and development roles as well as a contracts and commissioning roles – understanding both sides of the sector. Guy has a real passion for developing services that meet the needs of the people we support to evolve with them.
Guy joined Potens in December 2022
Director of Commercial Operations
Dan is Potens Director of Commercial Operations. Dan leads several operational support functions within Potens, enabling front-line colleagues to focus on delivering amazing outcomes for the people we support. He has overall responsibility for the commercial operations management, financial performance, and relationship building within Potens, while driving the companies service development and growth strategies.
Outside of work, Dan is a husband, father to two primary school aged children, and a dog owner. He is active is his local community where he is a school governor and coach to his son’s junior football team.
Dan joined Potens in September 2023.
Operations Director - North
PGCE (QTLS), MEd Leadership & Management, MSc Psychology, Level 5 Health & Social Care
Marie has over 17 years of leadership experience gained within educational settings and social care services (adults and children). She has significant experience as a Registered Manager, and over the past 10 years she has fulfilled various senior operational management positions at regional and national level within the charity sector, developing specialist supported housing services for adults with learning disabilities, autism, forensic histories, challenging behaviour and mental health conditions, catering for high and low intensity support needs. In her spare time, she is also a charity trustee.
Marie joined Potens in October 2023.
Area Manager - South East and Central
Sam has worked in Social Care since 1996, starting her career working as a support worker and progressing into management and senior management roles.
Throughout her Career, Sam has completed relevant training including the Registered Managers Award and Level 4 in Health and Social Care. Sam has experience of supporting both children and adults with mental health, learning disabilities and associated complex needs in registered care, supported living, community support and day opportunities services.
Sam joined Potens in 2015 as a Registered Manager and took a break to develop and expand knowledge in other areas of social care. Sam returned to Potens in January 2024 in the position of Area Manager, supporting the South East and Central Services.
Area Manager - South Wales
Jarryd has a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care Services (Adults’ Residential Management), IOSH Manual Handling Of People Train The Trainer, and Certificate in Social Work.
Jarryd has over 12 years’ experience working with learning disabilities, physical disabilities and complex health. In his career, Jarryd started as a Support Worker in 2012 and has experience in front line, management and senior management roles, managing residential homes and a respite service.
Jarryd joined Potens through an acquisition in November 2023 as a Senior Manager and is now Area Manager for South Wales.
Area Manager - North Wales
Registered Managers Award Level 4 and Diploma in Health and Social Care Management (Wales) Level 5
Natalie has over 22 years experience working across several different settings in learning disability and mental health services. Natalie has held roles including Registered Manager, Operations Manager and Locality Manager.
Natalie joined Potens in 2014 as a registered manager, progressing to Locality Manager and now is the Area Manager for North Wales.
Area Manager - Wirral
QCF Level 3 & 5 Leadership & Management in Social Care.
Danny has over 17 years’ experience in Health & Social Care settings including learning disability, mental health, dual diagnosis, nursing and residential settings. He has worked in depth with challenging behaviours, complex and palliative care along with transforming care and transitions.
Danny joined Potens in January 2023 and is the Area Manager for Wirral supported living and residential services.
Area Manager - Midlands
Dave has over 30 years’ experience working in the health and social care sector.
A Registered Nurse, he has significant experience working with adults with learning disabilities and mental health needs.
Dave joined Potens in 2015 and is the Area Manager for our East Midland services.
Area Manager - South West
Bsc (Hons) Psychology, QCF level 5 in Leadership and Management in Adult social care.
Tara has over 10 years experience working within the adult learning disability sector. After graduating university Tara began her career as a support worker, and has since progressed into several management and senior management roles – specialising in homes that support people with complex needs and behaviours that challenge.
Tara joined Potens in September 2021
Area Manager - Northern Ireland, Liverpool, Warrington and St Helens
Dip HE Management; Level 5 Disabilities Studies; Certificate in Counselling.
Mike has over 30 years’ operational experience working in the Health & Social Care sector both in the UK and Ireland, within a variety of roles and settings including; housing associations, charitable, voluntary and private sector companies.
Mike oversees Potens’ services in Northern Ireland, Liverpool, Warrington and St Helens.
Mike Joined Potens in 2011 as a Registered Manager and is now the Area Manager for Northern Ireland, Liverpool, Warrington and St Helens.
Area Manager - Lancashire
Leadership and Management Level 5
Michelle has worked in Social Care since 1988, with a focus on working with adults with learning disabilities and mental health and a passion for promoting good mental health and the recovery model within our services.
Joining Potens as a Registered Manager in 2009, Michelle lead Potens’ CQC outstanding (across all 5 domains) service Mansard House, she was promoted to Locality Manager in 2018 and is now Potens’ Area Manager for Lancashire.
Business Development Manager - East
Health and social care professional with over 25 years experience working in a range of Public sector, commissioning, provider and strategic roles before moving into the private sector in 2017.
Richard has a real passion for developing services which meet the needs of people to ensure everybody lives a fulfilled life with support from our great front line staff.
He joined Potens in 2024 and is the Business Development Manger for the East and North East Region.
Business Development Manager
Dip HE Health & Social care, Level 5 in Leadership & Management and Level 5 in Commissioning for Wellbeing.
Over 23 years experience in the sector with a background in operational management and clinical care.
Moved into Business Development 4 years ago. Passionate about ensuring people with a LD/MH diagnosis receive outstanding care and support in homes they are proud of.
Joined Potens Septemnber 2024
Service Development Manager
Stuart has worked in Health and Social care for over 25 years.
He has worked across all levels from Support worker, Team leader, Deputy Manager, Registered Manager to Senior Manager mainly in Residential Services and dual qualified for Children and Adults.
Stuart has worked with Potens since 2016 but did have a 12 month break to work across Crisis Childrens centres.
Stuart is passionate about developing systems to promote positive team working to deliver quality care, enrichment and wellbeing.
Quality Assurance Manager - South Central
Quality Assurance Manager – South Central
RMA, A1 assessor, NVQ 5, Portage HV award.
Jayne has work across most care sectors including babies, children and family services , adults with mental health, learning disabilities, addiction, duel diagnosis, challenging behaviours, autism PMLD , specialised complex physical and health needs and people with life limiting diagnosis, in the NHS, local authority, and private sector.
Alongside her senior management and operational roles she has been working in service crisis management, safeguarding and part of the WSCC emergency response team.
Jayne started at Potens in February 2021.
Service Development Manager
Lorraine has worked in Health and Social Care for over 30 years and is a Service Development Manager.
She has worked across all levels from Practitioner to Senior Manager. Lorraine has developed and managed a number of multi-disciplinary teams including Residential Services, Day Services, Community Treatment Teams for both Adults and Young People.
Before joining Potens in October 2019 Lorraine worked for a National Charitable Organisation within the People Directorate as the lead for Management Development.
Operational Support Manager
MA Community Care Management
Chris has over 25 years’ experience in social care primarily working with people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health issues as well as experience in housing and working with people with physical disability.
Chris is experienced in national governance issues having sat on national boards, holding a national brief for the support of children with disabilities and been the organisational lead on child protection.
Chris joined Potens in March 2018
Positive Behavior Support Facilitator - West Region
Degree in Psychology, Advanced Professional Diploma in PBS
Dave is Potens’ Positive Behavior Support Facilitator – West Region, he has worked in the social care sector since 2002, starting off in children’s’ care, supporting people with Autism as a care officer before moving on in to team leader and manager roles. During this time Dave became an Advanced Practioner in Intensive Interaction and is PECS and Makaton trained. Dave also worked as a Behaviour Management Trainer delivering 3 day BILD accredited courses and behaviour support co-ordinator.
Dave joined Potens in 2018
Positive Behavior Support Lead
RNLD, BSC Hons Health & Social Care, Certificate in Education (PTLLS).
Georgia is Potens Positive Behaviour Support Lead. She is a registered Learning Disability Nurse and has been in this field for over 30 years. She has worked in a vast number of settings private, voluntary and public sectors including with children, young people, adults and elder care and mental health. Georgia has previously worked in management and has taught Health and Social Care courses for over 18 years.
Georgia joined Potens in January 2017.
Commercial Finance Manager
Graeme is Potens’ Commercial Finance Manager. He has over 15 years finance experience in public and private sector organisations, gaining a real passion and expertise for the health & social care sector previously working for a leading national care provider.
Graeme has worked in Senior Operational Finance roles for over 7 years, partnering with leadership teams to improve their overall commercial and strategic performance.
Graeme joined Potens in August 2018
Finance Manager
ACCA (certificate Level) & AAT
Nikki is the Finance Manager for Potens supervising the accounts team and providing support to operations, she works closely with the Finance Director.
She has over 20 years accounting experience within a range of organisations including; charitable, voluntary and private sector with considerable expertise working within the health and social care sector and understanding the needs of the business.
Nikki has been with Potens since 2010
Facilities Director
Matt is Potens’ Facilities Director heading up the facilities and estates team at Potens.
Matt has over 20 years experience within the construction and property industry, with Health and Care sector focus, is a member of the IWFM and holds a Prince 2 Project management qualification.
Matt joined Potens in 2019.
Office Manager
Pauline has over 10 years’ experience in a variety of roles covering Human Resources, Quality Assurance and Administration Management.
Based at Potens Head Office in Birkenhead, Pauline’s role manages and supports the administration function across all Potens services and areas.
She has significant experience working within the health and social care sector, understanding the needs of the business.
Pauline started with Potens in 2015
Operational Support Manager
MA Community Care Management
Chris has over 25 years’ experience in social care primarily working with people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health issues as well as experience in housing and working with people with physical disability.
Chris is experienced in national governance issues having sat on national boards, holding a national brief for the support of children with disabilities and been the organisational lead on child protection.
Chris joined Potens in March 2018
