Assistant Educational Psychologist | Fixed Term, Full Time | Inclusion Service | Lancashire Full Time NEW

Salary £37,265 – £41,616 Per Annum |Fixed Term (2 Year Contract), Full Time, 37 Hours Per Week | Inclusion Service |

International Sponsorship – this role is not open to international sponsorship

Lancashire Educational Psychology Service is a value-driven educational psychology service (EPS) that aims to promote relational-based practice, positive change, participation, collaboration, evidence-based psychology and to develop solutions for complex problems in all our work.

We comprise of three dynamic, friendly and supportive teams of educational psychologists, who are committed to optimising outcomes for children and young people and providing support and help to those who need it. Between us, we have a wide range of research interests, the creative use of which is encouraged to support projects with protected time that reflect current priorities for the authority and on-going service development. Our current service development priorities include consultation, participation and co-production, culture and diversity, relational approaches, mental health and well-being and inclusion for vulnerable groups. In addition, we host the annual North-West CPD Conference for Educational Psychologists.

We have a new, exciting and evolving Service offer for 25/26 which has a community psychology lens and a focus on group consultation-led reflection to support systemic change and which our Assistant EPs have a key role in supporting. Our Assistant EPs are responsible for supporting EPs with providing psychological services which promote educational outcomes and emotional well-being, which may include delivery of emotional literacy support assistant training (ELSA) and early years workshops for practitioner and Parent Carers. Our Assistant EPs currently support EPS work with the Virtual School Team, where EPs use psychological frameworks to facilitate problem solving discussions, as well as delivering direct intervention and support for vulnerable learners. As we increase service capacity, the EPS is in the process of developing packages of support with schools and other partners, with opportunities for Assistant EPs to support with development of our barriers to education/EBSA support offer as well as work with secondary schools to promote inclusion for neurodiverse young people. Assistant EPs are also directly involved with our working groups which enable EPs to utilise their wide range of research interests, e.g. communication and technology, and social, emotional and mental health. These working groups also support wider local authority priorities.

We have made a significant investment in the training and development of those wishing to pursue a career in educational psychology over the past few years and as part of this are hoping to recruit new assistant educational psychologists to work across Lancashire. We currently anticipate having a number of vacancies for Assistant Educational Psychologist posts (with various start dates available in the summer and autumn term; further information can be provided on request/at interview). The post is for two years fixed-term from the start date. The contract will not be renewed following this date. It is an expectation of the role that Assistant Educational Psychologists within Lancashire EPS will go on to apply for a place on the post-graduate training programmes in educational psychology. Support for this application will be provided from within the Educational Psychology Service.

We welcome applications from enthusiastic and creative individuals who have:

• a psychology degree (2:1 (‘upper second’) or above) or have completed an approved conversion course or a Master’s degree, and who are eligible for the British Psychological Society (BPS) Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC). You must have the qualification that grants you eligibility for GBC before the application deadline.
• gained a minimum of one year’s full-time (i.e. 37 hours a week for 52 weeks or part-time equivalent) experience working with children and young people within an educational, health, social care, youth justice, childcare or community setting by the application deadline. This can be made up of all paid employment or at least nine months full-time equivalent paid employment and the equivalent of three months sustained relevant voluntary experience. Any additional paid/voluntary experience over the one-year minimum requirement should also be included.

NB. In order for us to consider your application, it is essential that you include a supporting statement in which you explicitly demonstrate and evidence how you meet the attached person specification, in particular how you have applied psychology in your practice.

Successful candidates will be members of a warm and supportive service and will have:

• regular supervision provided by a named educational psychologist
• a comprehensive induction programme
• opportunities to participate in the service programme of professional development
• opportunities to develop knowledge and skills, working alongside educational psychologists and other members of the wider children’s workforce

The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 19th April and interviews will be held w/b Monday 27th April in Preston.

If you would like to find out more about this vacancy, please contact Dr Elaine Looney (elaine.looney@lancashire.gov.uk)

Please ensure you have uploaded and attached your supporting statement to evidence how you meet the criteria for the role. The panel may be unable to shortlist you for interview without this evidence.

The post you are applying for is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). If successful you will be required to apply to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for a ‘disclosure’. Further information can be found on the ‘Our Recruitment Process’ tab.

You will be required to provide a car for use in connection with the duties of this post and must be insured for business use. However, we may consider you if you cannot drive because of a disability.

In return Lancashire County Council offers a range of benefits, which can be found on LCC Vacancies website.

We reserve the right to close down a vacancy early, before the closing date, if we receive sufficient applications.