Job Description
Turnaround Manager – (Brain Injury & Stroke Services)
Location: Milton Keynes
Salary: £55,000 - £60,000 per annum DOE
Hours: 35hrs per week
Permanent or Fixed Term (18 Months)
Why this role matters
Brainkind is a leading charity dedicated to improving the lives of people with brain injuries across the UK. This is a rare opportunity for an experienced senior leader to take on a visible, high-impact turnaround assignment: stabilising a complex ABI and referrals care service, strengthening governance and culture, and leading measurable improvement for the people we support. You will work alongside operational and clinical leaders, build confidence with regulators and commissioners, and leave a lasting legacy of safe, person-centred, sustainable care.
THE OPPORTUNITY:
We are looking for a confident, values-led Turnaround Manager to work with our operational and clinical teams to transform a fast-paced ABI and referrals care service currently rated Inadequate by the CQC. This is a senior leadership role with a clear mandate: deliver rapid, sustainable improvement and support the service to achieve a GOOD rating within 12 months. You will implement robust governance, raise clinical quality, improve compliance and financial sustainability, and ensure every change strengthens outcomes, dignity and quality of life for people with brain injuries and neurodegenerative conditions.
WHAT YOU WILL LEAD:
1. Strategic Turnaround & Visible Leadership:
• Own and deliver a focused 12-month turnaround plan to achieve a CQC GOOD rating, with clear milestones, grip and pace.
• Lead, motivate and stabilise the workforce, addressing cultural and performance challenges while investing in capability, confidence and best practice.
• Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with CQC regulations, safeguarding, and best practice in neurorehabilitation.
• Work with the Regional Manager and Operational Director (South) to strengthen relationships with CQC, ICBs and commissioner partners, clearly demonstrating progress and the impact of change.
2. Clinical & Operational Excellence:
• Review and strengthen care pathways for brain injury, stroke and other complex needs.
• Implement robust clinical governance, risk management, and audit processes.
• Ensure MDT (Multidisciplinary Team) effectiveness, including therapy, nursing, and specialist input.
• Develop high-quality, person-centred care packages that are clinically robust, commercially sustainable and tailored to individual goals.
3. Regulatory & Compliance:
• Address all CQC improvement areas, ensuring full compliance with recommendations from previous internal and external inspections.
• Oversee policies, documentation, and reporting to meet CQC and legal standards.
• Lead CQC engagement, preparing for inspections and responding to action plans.
4. Financial & Resource Management:
• Optimise staffing, agency use, and skill mix to improve efficiency.
• Work with finance teams to ensure service viability while improving care quality.
5. Stakeholder & Reputation Management:
• Rebuild trust with service users, families, commissioners, and external partners.
Strengthen relationships with NHS partners, ICBs and specialist neuro providers, positioning the service as a trusted provider of complex neurorehabilitation and care.
ABOUT YOU: You will be an experienced manager who brings credibility, resilience and calm authority to complex regulated services. You will know how to create clarity in challenging environments, bring people with you, and translate improvement plans into measurable outcomes.
• Qualified to Level 5 in Health/Social Care, Nursing, or Management.
• CQC compliance/leadership training.
• Proven turnaround experience in healthcare (CQC RI/Inadequate to Good).
• Leadership in brain injury/stroke pathways.
• Strong knowledge of CQC KLOEs and regulatory frameworks.
• Strong leadership, change management, and decision-making.
• Ability to analyse data, implement audits, and drive improvements.
• Excellent communication with stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience of changing culture, addressing performance issues and creating environments where teams understand expectations and feel supported to deliver.
• Strong commitment to personalisation, dignity and meaningful outcomes for the people we support.
• Resilient, adaptable, and able to work under pressure.
• Person-centred, with a commitment to dignity and quality of life.
• Results-driven with a focus on measurable outcomes.
REWARDS AND SUPPORT:
You will be supported to succeed in a demanding and meaningful role, with excellent benefits including:
• A competitive rate of £55,000 - £60,000 per annum DOE
• 38 Days AL
• Buy/Sell up to 5 days AL each year
• Simply Health Plan; helps to cover the cost of routine healthcare treatments. Further information can be found at www.simplyhealth.co.uk/about-us
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Excellent training and support
• Company Pension
• Group life assurance
• Eye voucher scheme
• Long service and staff awards
• Free parking
We also place a strong focus on employee wellbeing and support. It matters to us that you feel equipped to do your best work. Career development is a priority, and we will ensure you have access to the training, learning opportunities and leadership support needed to achieve your goals.
If you are ready to lead a complex service through meaningful and measurable change, click Apply Now and submit your CV and cover letter outlining your experience in service turnaround, regulated care and neurorehabilitation.
**Please note we will be shortlisting and interviewing candidates on a rolling basis until the role is filled therefore, we recommend applying as soon as possible. **
*All successful candidates are subject to compliance checks including 3 years of checkable references and DBS/PVG checks*
Brainkind are a Disability Confident Employer. As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy. Brainkind is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive organisation. It is a place where we recognise, celebrate, and live our values which includes offering a range of inclusive employment policies and staff engagement forums to support employees from all backgrounds.
