British Sign Language (BSL) Adviser

The Welsh Government is recruiting a British Sign Language (BSL) Adviser to give independent, expert advice to Welsh Ministers on promoting BSL and implementing the BSL (Wales) Act 2026. The work centres on advising and challenging Ministers and public bodies, chairing the BSL assisting panel and engaging with deaf signing communities across Wales. It is a fixed-term appointment of two years, extendable to a maximum of six, and candidates must show fluency in BSL and independence from government and interest groups. Visa sponsorship is not available.

What the job involves

• Provide independent advice and constructive challenge to Welsh Ministers on BSL policy and implementation of the Act
• Agree and deliver a plan for the term setting out how the statutory functions will be exercised
• Chair the BSL assisting panel, including supporting its recruitment and setting its focus and priorities
• Engage in BSL with deaf signing communities across Wales through inclusive, proportionate activity that reflects diverse perspectives
• Work with listed public bodies on their duties under the Act, including BSL plans, and report to Ministers on how those duties are met
• Promote BSL as a language and deaf culture, and good practice and consistency in its use across Welsh Government and public services
• Build and maintain networks, partnerships and feedback mechanisms with BSL signer stakeholder groups
• Use evidence and engagement to inform recommendations to Ministers and support monitoring of the Act's progress
• Advise public bodies and others on promoting BSL, with the agreement of Welsh Ministers
• Support a coherent cross-government approach to the Act and build relationships across the four nations
• Act as national leader for BSL, promoting the interests of signers in policy and public life
• Attend meetings, forums and governance structures that oversee delivery of the Act

Experience

• Providing advice, influencing decisions and working at senior level
• Providing independent challenge and scrutiny while keeping constructive relationships
• Bringing together and maintaining a network of stakeholders with conflicting views to reach shared outcomes

Skills & knowledge

• Strong understanding of public policy
• Objectivity, independent of government and of specific interest groups
• Fluent communication in BSL with personal understanding of signers' experiences
• Leading discussions with representative BSL signing communities
• Understanding of deaf culture, BSL as a language and the social model of disability
• Gathering and representing insight from BSL signing communities to inform advice and decisions

Checks & eligibility

• Basic-level vetting
• Eligible nationality and right to work under Civil Service nationality rules

Other

• Commitment to the Seven Principles of Public Life and organisational values (evidenced at interview)
• Promoting diversity, inclusion and equality, and responding to challenge (evidenced at interview)

Nice to have

• Welsh language skills, which are considered to break ties at application or interview

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