Learning Disability Practice and Projects Lead

Learning Disability Practice and Projects Lead

Is now the right time in your career to make a real difference to the lives of people with learning disabilities, whose behaviours may be described as challenging, across the UK? Do you have leadership skills and experience of co-production?

Join a small and friendly mission driven team as a Learning Disability Practice and Projects Lead and be part of the vision to change the lives of children, young people and adults with severe learning disabilities whose behaviour challenges, and their families.

Position: Learning Disability Practice and Projects Lead

Location: Chatham, Kent (hybrid or remote working considered)

Hours: Part-time, 30 hours per week 

Salary: £28,000 - £32,000 (£35,000- £40,000 FTE)

Contract: Fixed - term until 30 April 2031

Closing Date:  Interviews will be held on a rolling basis. Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert at any time.  Please apply by 8th April to be considered for initial interview dates.

Interview Date: Initial dates 21 and 28 April and please state if you are unavailable for either of these.

The Role

We are looking for a Learning Disability Practice and Projects Lead to lead a flagship new UK wide project (Making it Matter) to increase direct engagement with young people who have been historically excluded from engagement activities. You will drive change and improvement in learning disability practice through raising awareness of and leading the team that implements co-produced training workshops and promote best practice in support for people with severe learning disabilities.

You will also contribute to the leadership of the charity as a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT).

Responsibilities will include:

• Leading a five-year project to increase direct engagement with young people who have been historically excluded from engagement activities because they do not communicate using speech and/or are assessed as not having capacity
• Drive change and improvement in learning disability practice through training workshops
• Build on well-established relationships to promote best practice
• As a member of the Senior Management Team

If you are clear that all behaviour is a way of communicating something, but are frustrated by a system which fails to recognise that then we want to hear from you!

About You

You will have empathy for individuals with severe learning disabilities and their families, with a deep understanding of the challenges they face. With strong team work and leadership skills and the ability to work collaboratively and get the best out of people, you will have experience of:

• Co-production and partnership working with family carers and people with learning disabilities
• The issues facing children, young people and adults with severe or profound learning disabilities, whose behaviours may be described as challenging and their families
• Best practice in supporting people with learning disabilities whose behaviours may be described as challenging
• Management and/or leadership experience relevant and transferrable to this role including people management, project leadership, experience of contributing to and representing organisational objectives and budget management

You will also have good IT skills, proficient in Office 365 applications including PowerPoint and SharePoint and able to learn and adapt to new applications

To fulfil the role, you must have the right to work in the U.K.

About the Organisation

This is a varied role in a friendly and supportive small national charity focussed specifically on the needs of children, young people and adults with severe learning disabilities whose behaviour challenges, and their families. There is no statutory funding and the organisation relies on voluntary income to fund its work.  Income is sourced primarily from Trusts and Foundations to maintain independence. Benefits include 25 days annual leave (plus public holidays) and an Employee Assistance Programme.

As an equal opportunity employer, the organisation would particularly welcome applications from people with an ethnic minority background or those with a disability, as they are currently underrepresented in the workforce.

You may have experience in other roles such as Learning Disability Outreach, Partnerships, Learning Disability Engagement Lead, Learning Disability Support.

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client, Not For Profit People. #INDNFP