Sudden mass layoffs with zero warning and leadership untouched - Anonymous employee Brain in Hand Employee Review

I wanted to share a more balanced view, as some recent reviews don’t match my experience. This is a demanding job. Supporting neurodivergent people, some of those with complex needs is never going to be easy or low-pressure, and I think that’s something you need to go into with your eyes open. From my interview, expectations were explained clearly — including booking around five sessions a day alongside admin time (3 hours+). In reality, I’ve always been given flexibility where I’ve needed it, whether that’s for medical appointments, screen breaks, or just managing my day in a way that works for me. Day to day, I'm juggling sessions, admin, meetings, and safeguarding, so being organised really matters. It can feel busy, but that’s the nature of the role. Some users do have significant mental health challenges. That’s not hidden and it is something that comes with working in this space. There are safeguarding, peer support and reflective practice processes in place to support us and if its an area I felt I needed to up skill I take ownership of my own learning alongside what is offered at brain in hand. Day to day I’ve always felt able to ask for support, debrief, or escalate concerns when needed. Personally, I’ve seen safeguarding taken seriously and handled with care, with users’ safety clearly coming first. I've found the targets are reasonable and Being data-driven feels pretty standard for an ambitious organisation. But that doesn't mean I'm not supported, my lead has always been understanding and taken time to look at the bigger picture. There’s ongoing conversation about how performance is measured, and while it’s not perfect, the focus has always been on supporting users well. I’ve worked with genuinely supportive managers and colleagues who care about what they do and about each other. The coaching team is collaborative, and the support I get from my peers is one of the best parts of the job. Yes- App changes and updates can happen quickly, often based on user feedback and the UX team have a dedicated channel to seek coaches feedback on designs and changes so we can advocate for our users. We have weekly drop-ins and resources to help with changes. Sometimes it takes a bit of effort to keep up, but I actually enjoy the challenge. Every user is different, and engagement varies a lot. That said, I’ve personally seen many users make real, positive changes — whether that’s at work, in education, or in their day-to-day lives — and that’s what makes the job worth it. Overall, I work with kind, skilled, and passionate people who care deeply about the users they support. The work can be emotionally heavy at times, but I also know this comes with the remit of the role and the area I have chosen to work in. It’s not a perfect company — but it’s also not the uncaring or chaotic place some reviews suggest. Like most jobs in this sector, it’ll suit some people much more than others * Work that actually feels worthwhile * Supportive team who have your back * Flexibility around personal needs * Support always available when things feel challenging * Seeing users make progress is really rewarding *On the whole a great coaching team

* Can be emotionally draining * Busy and sometimes full on * Changes happen quickly * Limited career progression due to company size * Not a low-stress job

Working with people to explore their strategies. 9 day working fortnight.

Pure frustration that the company promises things to funders which aren’t accurate or actually what users want. There’s a big disconnect between the marketing and internal experience. Also the key ND input don’t have any training and while they are really passionate and believe they are doing the right thing, it’s based from their opinion and not from wider understanding and they aren’t open to the experience of others. The user group isn’t always represented when their views don’t match that of the ND lead input. If you join because you are passionate, you will get frustrated in time. Then again, you could be the one who makes a difference. It’s a gamble.