The Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities (SCLD) today announced that Dr Simon Webster is to become its new Chief Executive.

Formerly the Director of Policy Programmes with the Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland (CCPS), Dr Webster previously led the work on the Review of Learning Disability and Autism in the Mental Health Act (the Rome Review) and he worked at the Scottish Government as Research Consultant on Lord Scott’s Review of Mental Health Law in Scotland. Simon also worked for the Mental Welfare Commission’s investigations team where he was Human Rights Policy Manager.

His ground-breaking approach to engaging individuals with lived experience in the Rome Review was influenced by his earlier career when he was CEO of the pioneering children and young people’s advocacy charity, Your Voice, between 2007 and 2017.

Welcoming him to his new role with SCLD, Eddie McConnell, Chair of SCLD said: “We are delighted to have attracted someone of Simon’s calibre as our new Chief Executive.

“Simon’s skills, experience and knowledge of strategic policy and human rights, coupled with his track record of leading change and meaningfully engaging people with lived experience, made him the stand-out candidate in a very competitive recruitment process. Our trusted advisers (people with learning disabilities) who were involved in every aspect of the recruitment process identified Simon as their number one choice.”

Commenting on his appointment, Dr Simon Webster said: “I am hugely honoured to be given this opportunity to lead such a brilliant organisation. This is a hugely important moment for people with learning disabilities in Scotland and, working with everyone across the sector, I will do everything in my power to ensure their human rights are not only safeguarded and respected, but championed at every opportunity.