Meet the team

Kathryn Hyde-Bales

Job title: Associate Director

Kathryn joined Niche in late 2019. She has a wealth of experience in investigations, regulation and governance, gained in the public and private health sector. She previously worked for Mazars and Verita, where she gained extensive consultancy experience. Kathryn also has hands on operational experience, having worked as the Head of Governance at the HCA Princess Grace Hospital. Kathryn worked for several years at the Healthcare Commission, and later Care Quality Commission, in a range of investigations, analytical and management roles. She was a member of the independent oversight team examining the NHS and Department of Heath investigations into matters relating to the Saville inquiry.

Qualifications: Kathryn has a BSc (hons) in Psychology from the University of Surrey.

Relevant experience

Kathryn’s recent experience includes:

• A review of mental health care in a combined safeguarding adult and mental health homicide for NHS England
• Numerous independent Mental Health Homicide care and treatment investigations
• An independent review of a Trust’s handling of a complaint
• An independent care and treatment review at a Trust following a patient safety incident.
• The assessment and review of a Trust’s Serious Incident investigation process and reports on behalf of a CCG
• An LD care and treatment review, involving multiple providers across a number of years.
• Assurance reviews of Trust internal investigations and the implementation of resultant action plans
• ‘Mock’ CQC inspections and support for NHS and social care providers
• Root Cause Analysis training for a private healthcare provider