CEO

WESC Foundation
Topsham Rd, Exeter, EX2 6H

WESC Foundation is a leading national visual impairment centre, based in Exeter for the education and care of children, young people and adults, aged 5-25. It is vibrant, ambitious and outward looking and caters for all levels of sight loss and a wide range of complex needs. This is an exciting and important time for the charity as it seeks to appoint a new CEO who will provide the inspirational leadership that will ensure it continues to thrive and provide excellent outcomes for its students and the wider visually impaired community.

At the heart of WESC are a residential school and college for children and young people with a visual impairment and typically with other complex needs for example autism, a moderate to severe learning disability or physical disabilities. There are currently 84 on roll of which 45 are residential. WESC has excellent relationships with commissioning bodies, particularly those in the local area, who greatly value the niche service and quality of provision on offer.

WESC is also more than a school and places great importance on its commitment to excellence and innovation at a national and international level. By working with universities and international specialists, it is able to advance its knowledge and practice of neuroscience, making it the leading specialist centre for visual impairment. WESC also provides outreach support to children and young people in mainstream settings along with an Adult Day Centre for visually impaired people aged 19 plus giving them support and skills in living independently.

Central to the success of WESC is a talented and committed staff who are focussed on the needs of the students and ensuring that all are challenged to achieve their potential and make the best progress at all times. The new CEO will harness this commitment and provide the strategic leadership and determination to build on WESC’s many strengths. Trustees are ambitious for the future and a key aspect of this is for the new CEO to drive forward with a plan to extend WESC’s influence and work with people with all sensory impairments. They recognise this will take a lot of hard work and are seeking a CEO who shares their vision and optimism.

If you have substantial recent experience in a senior role, in a relevant organisation, with evidence of sustained impact and have the determination to maximise the opportunities available, this role offers an excellent opportunity to challenge yourself in a new environment.. WESC operates under various regulatory and inspection frameworks and experience of working in such an environment and being part of or leading a successful inspection would be an advantage.

You will be the outward face of the charity and so must have the confidence and ability to lead it in a truly entrepreneurial way. Self-assured and with a ‘can-do’ attitude, you will have the skills to build and lead effective teams and to be an effective team member. You must be ambitious and forward thinking with the ability to inspire and lead change but also the focus to ensure successful outcomes are reached. You will be a compassionate and strong leader who can hold staff to account whilst being accountable yourself. Above all you will share WESC’s passion and belief that students, their learning, their care and developing their potential is at the heart of all decisions.

To find out more about this exceptional opportunity please visit www.hays.co.uk/jobs/wesc or contact Martin Blair at Hays Leadership for a confidential discussion, to arrange a visit or to discuss making an application.

E: martin.blair@hays.com
T: 07736791138

Closing date: 9am, 18th September
Interviews: 27th and 28th September

WESC are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Appointments to this post are conditional to an enhanced DBS check (with Children barred list check).