Director of Education
I CAN
London/Home Based
- Expired
- Salary:
- £56,000 per annum (£70,000 FTE)
- Job type:
- Part Time, Permanent
- Apply by:
- 26 March 2017
Job overview
I CAN Central Office in London EC1V or home-based
Contract: Part-time (4 days per week), Permanent
I CAN is the children’s communication charity and our vision is a world where all children have the communication skills they need to fulfil their potential. Serving children and families for over 128 years, I CAN today consists of two special schools, Meath School (Surrey) and Dawn House School (Nottinghamshire); a social enterprise that develops and distributes a wide range of materials, training packages and interventions across the nation; the I CAN Help portfolio of information and advice for parents, carers and practitioners; and is the host for The Communication Trust, a consortium of over 50 organisations in the field of communications. I CAN’s mission is that no child should be left out or left behind because of a difficulty speaking or understanding.
This is an exciting time to join our organisation. With the arrival of a new Chairman and new Chief Executive, the charity is going through a period of ambitious change. We are seeking an experienced senior leader with significant experience in an educational field to develop, implement and lead I CAN’s strategy in relation to its schools and outreach programmes with the dual purpose of reaching more children, young people and families and extending I CAN’s influence and impact in the field of speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).
This is a unique opportunity for a motivated and strategic leader who has extensive experience of line managing schools. You will have an excellent understanding of special schools and how Local Authorities operate. You may have knowledge in the field of planning, public policy and government. This is a new role at I CAN and as a key member of the senior management team you will make a significant impact in an organisation whose purpose is to help transform children and young people’s lives.
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Bob Reitemeier, Chief Executive 0207 843 2512.
All details of the post and supplementary information is available on the I CAN website (www.ican.org.uk/jobs) or please email jobs@ican.org.uk to request an application pack.
The closing date for all applications: 9am, 27 March 2017 with interviews scheduled for 7 April 2017.
I CAN is the children’s communication charity. We are experts in helping children develop the speech, language and communication skills they need to thrive in a 21st century world.
I CAN is committed to equality of opportunity in employment and the safeguarding and welfare of children. We carry out the appropriate vetting and verifications on all staff and this post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.
Registered Charity Number 210031; Scotland Charity Number SC039947
About I CAN
- I CAN
- 8 Wakley Street
- London
- EC1V 7QE
- United Kingdom
Communication is the essential 21st century life skill – the foundation on which children learn, achieve and make friends. Communication is the ability to express yourself, to interact, to understand others and be understood.
I CAN works to ensure all people who have a responsibility to children, either directly or indirectly, from parent and teachers to policy makers, understand the importance of good communication skills.
It does this through:
· information, training, support and online resources for children, families and professionals
· direct service provision through two schools for children with severe and complex disabilities, and a network of early years provisions
· consultancy and outreach services through I CAN’s Early Talk and Primary Talk programmes and Communication Skills Centres
· raising awareness through campaigns such as Make Chatter Matter and through initiatives such as the Chatterbox Challenge
· campaigning to place communication skills at the heart of children’s policy.
One in ten children in the UK has a communication disability. Children with a communication disability may have problem with production or comprehension of spoken language, using and processing speech sounds or understanding and using language in social contexts. The cause varies and is often unknown. It can be due to genetics, damage to a developing brain, or the presence of other conditions such as cerebral palsy or autism or other factors. Children with a communication disability are likely to have persistent difficulties and may need long-term specialist help.
In some areas of the UK, upwards of 50% of children are arriving at primary school with poorly developed speech, language and communication skills. I CAN’s term for this is impoverished language. Children with impoverished language may have unclear speech, limited vocabulary, poor social skills and understand only simple instructions. With the right help at the right time they can catch up, but left unchecked, children with impoverished language will get left out and left behind.
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