Turnaround Manager – Neurological Rehabilitation Services
Contract: Permanent or 18-Month Fixed-Term Contract
Salary: £55,000 – £60,000 DOE + Excellent Benefits
Location: Milton Keynes
Lead One of the UK's Most Important Service Improvement Programmes
Are you an experienced healthcare leader with a proven track record of transforming underperforming services and achieving outstanding regulatory outcomes?
Brainkind, the UK's leading neurological care and rehabilitation charity, is seeking an exceptional Turnaround Manager to lead the transformation of one of our specialist neurological rehabilitation services in Milton Keynes.
This is far more than a Registered Manager opportunity. We are looking for an experienced interim or peripatetic healthcare leader who thrives in complex environments, can inspire cultural change, and has successfully led services from Requires Improvement or Inadequate to GOOD under CQC.
If you are passionate about improving lives whilst delivering meaningful operational change, this is an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy.
About Brainkind
Brainkind is the UK's leading charity supporting people with acquired brain injuries, traumatic brain injuries, strokes and a range of complex neurological conditions.
Across our nationwide network of specialist hospitals, residential rehabilitation services and supported living environments, we deliver expert, person-centred care that enables individuals to maximise their independence, rebuild their confidence and achieve the very best quality of life.
Our multidisciplinary teams combine specialist nursing, therapy, psychology and rehabilitation expertise to deliver outstanding neurological care that truly changes lives.
About the Service
This opportunity is based within one of Brainkind's larger specialist neurological rehabilitation services in Milton Keynes.
The service provides highly specialised assessment, rehabilitation and long-term support for adults living with:
- Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Stroke
- Complex neurological conditions
- Physical disabilities requiring specialist rehabilitation
- Complex nursing and behavioural support needs
Supporting individuals with highly complex presentations requires exceptional clinical leadership, operational oversight and collaborative multidisciplinary working.
The service has significant potential, and we are investing in experienced leadership to drive sustained improvement and deliver the high-quality care our residents deserve.
About the Opportunity
This is a genuine turnaround position.
Working alongside the Regional Manager, Operational Director and senior clinical leadership team, you will lead the service through an ambitious improvement programme to achieve a GOOD CQC rating within 12 months.
You'll take ownership of operational performance, clinical governance, workforce engagement, regulatory compliance and service culture, ensuring improvements become embedded and sustainable for the future.
This role would suit someone who enjoys stepping into challenging environments, building high-performing teams and delivering measurable results.
What You'll Be Responsible For
Leading Service Transformation
- Develop and deliver a comprehensive service improvement and turnaround strategy.
- Drive the service from Requires Improvement/Inadequate to GOOD.
- Embed a positive, accountable and high-performing culture.
- Lead organisational and cultural change across the service.
- Coach, mentor and develop the leadership team.
- Create clear performance expectations and accountability throughout the workforce.
Clinical & Operational Leadership
- Provide strong operational leadership across all aspects of the service.
- Strengthen multidisciplinary working across nursing, therapies and clinical teams.
- Review existing care pathways and implement best practice neurorehabilitation models.
- Ensure consistently high standards of personalised, outcome-focused care.
- Improve service quality through robust governance and clinical oversight.
- Drive continuous improvement using audits, data and quality metrics.
CQC, Governance & Quality
- Lead all regulatory improvement activity.
- Develop and implement action plans against previous inspection findings.
- Ensure full compliance with CQC Fundamental Standards.
- Strengthen governance frameworks, audits, incident management and risk processes.
- Prepare the service for future CQC inspections.
- Build strong relationships with CQC inspectors, ICBs and commissioning partners.
Workforce & Culture Change
- Stabilise and motivate the workforce.
- Address performance concerns confidently and fairly.
- Improve engagement, morale and staff retention.
- Reduce agency dependency through effective workforce planning.
- Implement learning, development and neurorehabilitation training programmes.
- Create a culture centred around accountability, compassion and continuous improvement.
Financial & Commercial Performance
- Improve occupancy and service sustainability.
- Optimise staffing structures and skill mix.
- Work closely with finance teams to manage budgets effectively.
- Deliver operational efficiencies without compromising quality of care.
Partnership Working
- Rebuild confidence with residents, families and external stakeholders.
- Develop strong working relationships with NHS partners, commissioners and ICBs.
- Represent Brainkind professionally with external organisations.
- Promote the service as a centre of excellence for neurological rehabilitation.
What We're Looking For
We're looking for a resilient, confident healthcare leader who has successfully delivered service turnaround programmes within regulated healthcare environments.
You'll bring:
Essential Experience
- Proven experience leading services from Inadequate or Requires Improvement to GOOD.
- Significant experience as a Registered Manager, Interim Manager, Turnaround Manager or Peripatetic Manager.
- Strong background within neurological rehabilitation, acquired brain injury, stroke services or complex clinical care.
- Excellent knowledge of CQC regulations, governance and compliance.
- Experience leading large multidisciplinary teams.
- Demonstrable experience delivering culture change and service improvement.
- Strong understanding of quality assurance, audits and regulatory frameworks.
- Experience building relationships with CQC, ICBs, commissioners and external stakeholders.
- Level 5 qualification in Health & Social Care, Leadership or equivalent.
We'd Love To Hear From You If You Have
- Neurorehabilitation experience.
- Nursing or Allied Health Professional background.
- Previous experience within complex residential care or specialist neurological services.
- Experience managing change across large healthcare services.
- Registered Manager status.
- Financial and budget management experience.
What Success Looks Like
Within your first 12 months, you will have:
- Successfully achieved a GOOD CQC rating.
- Embedded a sustainable culture of continuous improvement.
- Improved workforce stability and staff engagement.
- Reduced agency dependency.
- Strengthened governance and clinical quality.
- Improved occupancy and financial performance.
- Increased confidence amongst residents, families, commissioners and regulators.
Why Join Brainkind?
At Brainkind you'll become part of the UK's leading neurological rehabilitation provider, where innovation, compassion and specialist expertise combine to change lives every day.
In return you'll receive:
- Salary of £55,000–£60,000 DOE
- Permanent or 18-month Fixed-Term Contract
- Generous annual leave entitlement
- Excellent pension scheme
- Ongoing leadership and professional development
- Opportunity to shape a high-profile service transformation
- Support from experienced operational and clinical leaders
- The chance to make a lasting difference to the lives of people living with complex neurological conditions
This is more than a management role.
It's an opportunity to transform a specialist neurological rehabilitation service, inspire a team, improve lives and leave a legacy of sustainable excellence.
If you have the resilience, experience and leadership to drive meaningful change, we'd love to hear from you.
