Assistant Psychologist

North East Ambition; Spennymoor; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dedicated team within the Educational Psychology Service, focusing on the well-being and achievement of children and young people. This 2-year role involves working closely with multidisciplinary teams to support vulnerable learners in educational settings. Ideal for those aspiring to train as applied psychologists, it offers a tailored induction and ongoing professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Competitive salaries

27 days holiday increasing to 32 after five years

Flexible working arrangements

Access to professional development

Contribution to pension scheme

Qualifications

• Candidates must have experience working with children and young people.
• Experience in research and evaluation is essential.
• Enthusiasm for applying psychology in education is crucial.

Responsibilities

• Assessment and support for SEMH, C&L, and C&I needs.
• Interventions at individual, group, and school levels.
• Consultation and training for educational staff.

Skills

Experience working with children

Research and evaluation

Communication skills

Enthusiasm for applying psychology

Education

Psychology degree (2:1 or 1st)

Job description

WHAT IS INVOLVED?



These are posts within the Educational Psychology Service, which is part of the Specialist SEND and Inclusion Service for Durham’s Children and Young Peoples Service.



The role of these multi-disciplinary teams is to improve the wellbeing, achievement, and resilience of vulnerable young people. The work undertaken aims to provide support to schools to develop their capacity to effectively meet the needs of vulnerable learners within the area or social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH); cognition and learning (C&L); and communication and interaction (C&I) – please see job description.



You will be part of a multi-disciplinary service and will support work with colleagues across the teams, which includes Educational Psychologists, Advisory and Inclusion Teachers, Counsellors, and Inclusion Support staff. The team provide:

• Assessment, screening, and consultation in relation to the SEMH / C&L / C&I needs of children within school contexts


• Advice and consultation on how these needs impact on learning and inclusion


• Intervention at individual, group and whole class levels; and school development support


• Training and network support for a range of evidence-based programmes


• Research and development support aimed at developing evidence-based practice

As part of the team there are considerable opportunities to develop your own practice, and to become involved in a range of initiatives. There will be a planned induction that can be tailored to your interests and needs, and ongoing supervision from an experienced Educational Psychologist.



If you have any questions or queries about the role before you apply, we encourage you to contact Nicola Cockram, Specialist Educational Psychologist. You can contact Nicola by email at [e-mail] or by telephone on 03000 263 333.



WHAT WILL I NEED?



These are 2-year posts and are an ideal opportunity for anyone interested in training as an applied psychologist. It is essential for candidates to have had experience of working with children and young people within an educational, or other relevant context; specifically working in at least one of the areas identified. Experience of undertaking research and evaluation is also a key requirement for the role.



Candidates should have a Psychology degree (2:1 or 1st) and be eligible for graduate member status of the British Psychological Society. They should have an energy and enthusiasm for the application of psychology in education.



The successful candidate will require transport to fulfil their duties and will be required to apply for a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.



Please refer to the attached person specification for the full criteria.



REWARDS AND BENEFITS



We offer generous rewards and benefits that are designed to help you perform at your best:

• Competitive salaries and 27 days holiday per year rising to 32 days after five years continuous local government service.


• Option to purchase up to 10 additional days annual leave per year.


• Excellent work/life balance through schemes including job sharing, compressed hours and flexi-time (allowing up to 13 flexi days per year).


• Hybrid working (home and office working).


• Excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). Plus, top up options - Salary Sacrifice Shared Cost AVC scheme and standard AVC scheme for members of the LGPS.


• Wellbeing Portal and access to an Employee Assist Scheme.


• Wide range of learning and development opportunities including professional qualifications, coaching and mentoring.


• Employee Benefits Portal and Lifestyle Savings Scheme (discounts across a host of major retailers).


• Discounted DCC gym membership.


• Staff networks run by staff for our staff, including Race Equality and Diversity, Disability, LGBT+, Armed Forces, Carers, Menopause.


• Trade Union membership.


• A range of other salary sacrifice schemes such as car leasing.Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions.

Take a closer look: https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/26895/Rewards-and-benefits



SOCIAL MEDIA



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EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION



We are a proud equal opportunities employer and recognise that a diverse, talented workforce brings new ideas and new perspectives, which will facilitate growth and improvements to services.



We are committed to ensuring that our employment policies and processes are fair and equitable to all. We welcome job applications from everyone, and successful candidates are considered only on their skills and ability to do the job.



As a Disability Confident Leader, we encourage applications from disabled people and provide support throughout the recruitment process.



Take a closer look: https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/26899/Equality-diversity-and-inclusion-in-our-workforce





INTERVIEWS



Interviews will be held week commencing 23rd June 2025.



We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran.



HOW TO APPLY



In line with the County Council's Recruitment and Selection Policy, please note that we are unable to accept CVs. Applications must be submitted on-line via the Northeast Jobs portal.



Please use the ‘Person Specification’ section of your application form to demonstrate that you have the essential and where possible, desirable experience, skills, and knowledge. Candidates who do not evidence that they meet the essential qualifications and experience listed on the person specification will not be short-listed.



If you have any support needs or require assistance when applying for this role, please contact our Recruitment Helpdesk on 03000 26 27 27 (option 2), or the Recruitment Team via email at [e-mail]







We collect personal information from you when you register with North East Jobs and make an application. Details on how we process your personal data is available in our Privacy Notice. https://www.durham.gov.uk/media/24645/Privacy-notice-human-resources/pdf/PrivacyNotice-HR.pdf



PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION REGARDING YOUR APPLICATION FOR THIS POST WILL BE SENT TO THE EMAIL ADDRESS THAT YOU HAVE REGISTERED WITH NORTH EAST JOBS, INCLUDING YOUR INVITE TO INTERVIEW IF YOU ARE SHORTLISTED. PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL AFTER THE CLOSING DATE FOR NOTIFICATION FROM [e-mail] AS YOU WILL NOT BE NOTIFIED BY ANY OTHER MEANS. PLEASE ENSURE YOU CHECK YOUR JUNK MAIL.