“My role is to listen and learn”: Introducing Pieter du Toit, Brainkind’s new Clinical Director

Since 2021, Pieter du Toit has worked with Brainkind to help people thrive after brain injury. He joined us as a Consultant Clinical Psychologist at our Fen House service. Then, last week, he stepped into a new role and became our new Director of Clinical Services.

Pieter spoke to us about moving into the role, his plans for settling in, and the importance of listening in a clinical setting.  

What made you interested to move into the role of Director of Clinical Services? 

I loved my work at Fen House, where I had the privilege of working closely with people and families living with complex needs. Over time, I also came to know more of Brainkind’s services and to see both the challenges and the strengths we hold as an organisation.  

Moving into this role felt like a natural next step, a chance to support colleagues more widely and to contribute to a new period of leadership where clinical excellence, sustainability, and compassion remain at the centre. I feel fortunate to be stepping into this role as part of a strong leadership team, at a time when we have a real opportunity to set a clear direction for the future.  

On a personal level, having seen the impact of brain injury within my own family, I feel a deep commitment to ensuring that the services we deliver are both clinically excellent and compassionate. 

What was your role at Fen House, and what sort of roles did you have before working at Brainkind? 

At Fen House, I worked as Consultant Clinical Psychologist, supporting people with complex needs and working with our team to deliver rehabilitation that changes lives. Before joining Brainkind, I worked at the Oliver Zangwill Centre, a world-renowned service where I learned the importance of intensive, holistic, and personalised rehabilitation, and the value of sharing innovation with the wider field.  

I also held leadership and training roles at the University of Essex and established then led a new psychological therapies service. These roles reinforced my conviction that neurorehabilitation must integrate innovation, compassion, individualisation, and sharing clinical excellence with people we support and everyone involved in their recovery and care.  

How are you finding your new role so far? 

It has been both exciting and energising. What stands out to me is the richness and diversity of our services – each different in what they offer, but all marked by the same values and dedication. Already, it feels a little like building up a holistic formulation with a person we support: bringing together different perspectives into a shared understanding of the whole.  

I can already see how clinical is part of something bigger, like an interdisciplinary team at scale, where every part of Brainkind works together toward the same aims. My role is to listen and learn, and to help strengthen those connections so that together we deliver rehabilitation that is holistic, effective, and sustainable. 

What are your plans for your first few months in the role? 

In my first months, my focus is on building the foundations for the journey ahead. That means listening carefully, understanding the challenges different services face, and making sure clinical teams feel supported wherever they are based.  

A priority for me is to make rehabilitation more visible: to show, clearly and convincingly, the difference our clinicians, therapy assistants, and rehabilitation support workers make every day. If we can capture and share that impact, then rehabilitation matters not only to the people we support and their families, but also to commissioners and wider society.  

It feels a bit like starting a new rehabilitation journey with someone after a brain injury: we begin by building trust, setting clear goals, and ensuring the right support is in place. My role in these first months is to do the same at an organisational level. This means laying strong, sustainable foundations so that all of our clinical services can thrive, innovate, and work together as part of one bigger team. 

Can you tell us a bit about yourself outside work, and what do you enjoy doing in your spare time? 

Family is central to me, and I find a lot of joy in the fun, laughter, and creativity. Beyond that, I’m drawn to activities that give perspective: hiking, travelling, cooking, exploring galleries or bookshops; ways of stepping back and seeing things differently. Training in karate and practising mindfulness support my sense of discipline, resilience and staying grounded.  

What matters most to me is staying curious and reflective, and trying to live with balance and purpose. 

Helping people to thrive 

If you would like to find out more about the work we do at Brainkind, click here.  

If you’re interested in exploring about our services and their clinical approaches, click here.