City of York Council - Senior Educational Psychologist (0.8 FTE)

Following promotion of the existing postholder, we are delighted to be offering this exciting opportunity for a Senior Educational Psychologist (EP) to join our innovative, friendly and supportive team of EPs, working in the beautiful and historic city of York. The Educational Psychology Service is highly regarded by schools/settings and parents/carers and are a valued service within the Local Authority. 

As a Senior EP, you will be required to demonstrate skills and aptitudes to think strategically and effectively manage a team of highly competent psychologists. We offer a needs-led service model that supports a graduated approach through consultation to build capacity at SEN support and provide high quality statutory assessments across the 0-25 age range.

Service priorities include: developing ELSAs in schools, supporting pathways for children and young people with anxiety relating to school attendance, promoting trauma-informed practice and children’s rights in schools and settings and supporting the LA offer for neurodiverse children/young people. We also lead the critical incident response in schools and support the Virtual School. 

The Educational Psychology Service sits within Children and Young People’s Specialist Services, alongside the Specialist Teaching Team, School Wellbeing Service, Inclusion Service and the Virtual School.  We are small enough to feel like a family, big enough to influence nationally.

We are looking for a highly motivated and passionate EP who will be:

• committed to inclusive philosophy and practice, able to offer effective role modelling and supervision to the team
• a team player, able to earn the trust and respect of colleagues, contributing to internal and external task groups
• experienced in line-managing psychologists, colleagues and service development initiatives
• keen to promote opportunities to build capacity, including taking a lead on promoting and coordinating the EPS traded model (includes our annual ELSA course)
• responsible for ensuring the team meets statutory duties/timescales relevant to the creation of high quality Education Health and Care (EHC) Plans, promoting effective identification of need alongside the production of SMART outcomes and specific provision
• a committed advocate of Children’s Rights
• able to monitor professional standards through recruitment, induction, supervision and performance management of qualified maingrade and Senior EPs.
• confident and highly competent in the delivery of presentations and training to large multiagency audiences
• an excellent communicator with effective time management skills
• creative, adaptable and solution-oriented

We can offer you:

• excellent professional relationships in a lively, proactive and highly competent EP team
• access to regular supervision (individual, group and peer)
• Excellent opportunities to develop specialist skills and undertake joint work with colleagues
• opportunities for CPD, including leadership and management skills
• opportunities to lead on service development, including Local Authority initiatives
• comprehensive IT support including the provision of a laptop and smartphone
• flexible hybrid working arrangements, including multiple bases across the city
• generous annual leave (34 days pro rata)
• an excellent Local Authority staff benefit scheme with a wide range of clubs/societies

You must hold an Honours degree in Psychology and a postgraduate professional qualification in Educational Psychology at Doctorate or Masters level. 

You will be expected to have gained a minimum of 3 years’ experience as a qualified EP registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), with experience of line-managing and supervising psychologists and/or relevant colleagues.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Any offer of employment to this post will be subject to receipt of a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

The successful applicant(s) will be required to visit schools and settings. A full and valid driving licence is desirable.

This is a customer facing role and as such the ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post. This requirement is in accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 (Fluency Duty).

For further information or to arrange an informal discussion please contact:

1. Geraldine Jackson, Principal Educational Psychologist Geraldine.Jackson@york.gov.uk
2. Andy Keay, Senior Educational Psychologist Andy.Keay@york.gov.uk 

Please see the full advert and apply online via the City of York Council via the link to apply.