Head of Learning at Royal Blind

Take a look at the role…

Welcome

Thank you for your interest in our Head of Learning role. This is a new strategic position within our charity to lead and develop our education provision for blind and partially sighted children and young people across Scotland.

This is an exciting time to join Royal Blind as we roll out our new strategy to reach significantly more people with visual impairment across Scotland. We have a rich history that goes back more than 225 years and over the next ten years and beyond we want to build on the great successes of our specialist services, by nurturing them and thinking creatively about how we can reach out further across the whole of Scotland to many more people and their communities.

We will work together to help people with visual impairment get the support they need in care and learning, through social enterprise and research and development.

As we have evolved as a charity over time, so too have the needs of the children and young people we support. Over the past few years, as well as caring for and educating pupils at the Royal Blind School, we have worked with schools and local authorities across Scotland to support pupils with visual impairment in mainstream settings. Our aim is to expand this offering and the Head of Learning is key to leading our ambitions in this area.

If you are an ambitious and visionary education leader who would relish the opportunity to take on this challenge and help us shape the future of our organisation we would love to hear from you.

Mark O’Donnell – Chief Executive
Hawys Kilday – Director of Services

Royal Blind is one of Scotland’s oldest charities having recently celebrated its 225th anniversary. The charity is also the world’s oldest national institution for blind people of all ages. With a vision for a community in which blind and partially sighted people, including those with other disabilities, are fully included and leading fulfilling lives, they have a diverse portfolio of services that include:

  • Scotland’s only residential school for visually impaired children and young people
  • Education visual impairment outreach services in East Lothian, Orkney and Midlothian
  • An after school and holiday club for children with and without disabilities as well as a playgroup for pre-school children with visual impairment
  • 24-hour residential care and short breaks for respite for young adults with visual impairment, as well as other disabilities,
  • Scotland’s only specialist care homes for older people with sight loss, providing quality individual care in a homely, supportive environment
  • Transcription services into braille, large print and audio for businesses and individuals.

Enriching education and care provision in all education sectors in Scotland and beyond, enabling the fullest possible inclusion of visually impaired learners Royal Blind, as an organisation, strives to be:

  • Approachable
  • Forward thinking
  • Professional
  • Positive
  • Empowering
  • Sector leading

More information can be found at: www.royalblind.org

Download the 2019 Annual Report

Royal Blind is committed to promoting and encouraging children and young people with visual impairment to realise their full potential and wishes to extend its provision of learning and education in Scotland.

Focused on working with the strategic leadership team to develop and realise this key pillar of the organisation’s ten year strategic plan, the new Head of Learning will be responsible for the strategic development and ongoing operational success of Royal Blind’s current suite of learning and educational service provision as well as developing new opportunities for partnerships with schools, local authorities and the further and higher education sector.

Download Position Profile

The recruitment process is being handled by our retained advisors, Livingston James.  Douglas Adam at Livingston James will conduct first stage interviews prior to discussing candidates with the Royal Blind at the shortlist meeting.

Interested candidates should provide a tailored CV and covering letter to Douglas Adam at [email protected]

Recruitment timetable:

Shortlist meeting (Livingston James & Royal Blind): Week commencing 10th August
Panel Interview: Week commencing 17th August

The recruitment of this position is managed by Livingston James