ABOUT ME
Putting people first. Always.
I’m Nicola Youens, a safeguarding consultant, trainer, advocate, and the founder of Purple People Limited. With more than 20 years of experience in advocacy, adult social care and safeguarding , I’ve worked with some of the UK’s most respected organisations to improve care and protect people’s rights.
Now, through Purple People, I support families with advocacy to ensure their loved ones are getting the best care.
I also support care providers, charities and local authorities with audits and training and consultancy – helping you make informed, compassionate, and compliant decisions that prioritise people.
Why I do this work
Advocacy That Comes From the Heart
For me, this work is personal. I believe everyone receiving care, whether they are in a care home, nursing home, mental health unit, hospital, or receiving support at home, deserves to be treated with the same compassion, dignity, and respect we would want for our own loved ones.
I’m not just speaking as a professional with over 20 years of experience, I am also a daughter. My mum has Alzheimer’s, and I am incredibly fortunate that my background means I know how to advocate for her. I understand the system, I know the questions to ask, and I know how to make sure she receives care that meets her needs, upholds her rights, and brings her joy in the everyday.
I want all families to have that peace of mind and to feel confident that their loved one is safe, supported, and treated with real dignity.
Watch the video below to hear more about why I do what I do.
Safeguarding should never be a tick-box exercise. It’s about people, their safety, dignity, and right to be heard.
I’ve reviewed the deaths of people with disabilities. I’ve supported families through the stress of the care system. I’ve trained professionals who are desperate to do the right thing, but lack the confidence or clarity to do it. During lockdown I supported advocates who were working in care and nursing homes, as well as mental health units. I also have vast experience working in hospital settings, supporting medical professionals to apply the mental capacity act and care act.
That’s why I started Purple People, to offer expert safeguarding support rooted in empathy, integrity, and accountability.
MY BACKGROUND
I started Purple People in 2023 after working across the health and social care landscape, in both frontline and leadership roles. Some of my past roles include:
Alongside my professional work, I’ve also trained hundreds of practitioners and coached frontline staff across disciplines, from statutory services to the voluntary sector. I’m passionate about improving practice, boosting confidence, and supporting those delivering care to better understand their safeguarding responsibilities.
At my core, I am an advocate. I have spent my career standing up for people’s rights and making sure their voices are heard, especially when they are at their most vulnerable, this is where my passion lies.
Advocacy isn’t just part of what I do – it is who I am.
MY QUALIFICATIONS
I’m fully qualified to deliver safeguarding audits, training, and family advocacy — holding a rare combination of professional credentials that reflect my commitment to high standards and lifelong learning. These include:
I combine academic knowledge with real-world experience, which means I can successfully bridge the gap between policy, legislation, and practice, making safeguarding understandable and actionable for everyone.
WHO I WORK WITH
Whether you are commissioning safeguarding training for staff, requesting an independent audit of your services, or looking for family advocacy support for a loved one, you will be met with professionalism, discretion, and an unwavering commitment to high-quality care.
Let’s work together…
My work is always bespoke, collaborative, and outcome-focused, designed around the real people at the heart of safeguarding.
If you want to raise standards, feel more confident in your safeguarding responsibilities, or simply don’t know where to start? I’m here to help.
Contact me today and let’s start a conversation.
Learn more about how I can help you, your business or your loved ones.
Take the First Step
Whether you are a service provider wanting to enhance safeguarding practice, or a family member seeking guidance, I can help.
Let’s work together to ensure safer, better care for all.
Contact me today and start a conversation.