Educational Psychologist

Luton Borough Council; Luton; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dynamic and supportive team of psychologists at a thriving service dedicated to improving the lives of children and young people. This role offers an opportunity to engage in meaningful work, contributing to inclusive practices and community-based initiatives. With a strong focus on professional development, you will be part of a mission-driven team committed to anti-racist and trauma-informed approaches. Enjoy a balanced workload, flexible working options, and a supportive leadership team as you help shape the future of educational psychology in a vibrant community.

Benefits

Essential Car User Allowance

Flexible Working Options

Employee Assistance Programme

Relocation Package

Career Development Opportunities

Pension Scheme

Staff Discounts

Training and Mentoring

Qualifications

• Seeking HCPC registered educational psychologists or those in training.
• Experience in community psychology and engagement with marginalized groups.

Responsibilities

• Work within a multi-disciplinary team supporting local wellbeing strategies.
• Deliver training and supervision to Educational Psychologists and assistants.

Skills

Psychological Skills

Emotional Literacy Support

Trauma-Informed Practices

Community Engagement

Education

HCPC Registration

Educational Psychology Training

Job description

About The Job

Salary: Soulbury Scale A 5-10 plus SPA (£50,627 - £60,160 a year) plus £963 Essential Car User allowance (subject to criteria)

Hours per week: 37 and 22.2 hours per week available

Contract type: Permanent

Are you looking to work within a thriving team, where you make an impact every day and broaden and deepen your psychological skills?

At Luton Child and Educational Psychology Service, our mission is:

Working Inclusively Towards Hope WITH children and young people

If this resonates with you and you are seeking a new challenge or the first step in your career, we would love to hear from you!

As a member of our team, you will benefit from:

• Essential car user allowance (£963 a year, subject to criteria)
• Full and part-time permanent contracts available (minimum 0.6 FtE)
• Option to purchase an additional 20 days leave
• Individual and peer reflective supervision
• Supportive and caring leadership team

More about working for Luton Child and Educational Psychology Service:

• Our long-established traded service continues to thrive, offering a link EP through an early intervention consultation model responsive to local needs;
• Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) programme is in its fifth year, with our team delivering ongoing training to new ELSAs and supervision to trained ELSAs;
• Trainee and assistant educational psychologists are a core part of our team, developing skills for future roles, supporting the delivery of a wide range of EP services, and inspiring us;
• Our team is involved in multi-disciplinary neurodiversity early concerns pilot, alongside wider initiatives to promote neuro-affirming approaches;
• Emotion Coaching ethos is embedded within our approach and training offered to education settings, led by our accredited practitioner;
• Working towards being anti-racist and trauma-informed is a core mission for our team;
• As part of the DfE Change programme, we are piloting initiatives around alternative provision, with our service participating within a multi-disciplinary team;
• Specialist senior EPs support several multi-disciplinary teams and projects, including Youth Partnership Service, Social Care, Virtual School, and Early Years, offering a breadth of knowledge and expertise;
• We collaborate closely with mental health service leads, NHS clinical officers, and public health officials to support local wellbeing strategies, including support for children experiencing emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA) and critical incident response;
• Our community psychology approach continues to grow, focusing on engaging with and responding to the needs of marginalized groups.

Please note this role does not attract sponsorship.

About You

We are an equal opportunities employer, welcoming applicants from all backgrounds. We aim for our workforce to reflect the diversity of our communities to work towards a brighter future together.

We especially welcome applications from HCPC registered educational psychologists and those in training, due to qualify in 2025 or 2026.

If interested, please contact Dr. Joanne Summers (Principal Educational Psychologist and Head of Inclusion Services) at [e-mail] or Dr. Jane Reichardt (Deputy Principal Educational Psychologist) at [e-mail] for an informal discussion.

About Us

We are a supportive team of creative and dynamic psychologists seeking colleagues to expand our in-demand service.

Our service offers a balanced workload of traded and statutory work, opportunities for professional development, and involvement in projects.

Luton is a diverse, vibrant town within a 30-minute train journey of London, bordered by several counties. We have strong relationships with local schools and settings and are expanding our community-based services. The council offices are located in the Town Hall in the lively town center, accessible by car and public transport.

Luton’s vision, Luton 2040, is to create a healthy, fair, and sustainable town where everyone can thrive. Our work within the EPS aligns with this vision through co-production, person-centered approaches, empowerment, trauma-informed practices, and anti-racist initiatives.

Application Process

Due to the nature of this role, a criminal record disclosure is required. The role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, requiring disclosure of all cautions and convictions, including spent ones that are not protected. A criminal record will not automatically disqualify an applicant, but failure to disclose relevant information may lead to dismissal or disciplinary action.

Benefits

• Annual leave: 25 to 32 days, depending on service length and grade
• Buy additional leave: up to 20 days
• Career development opportunities and pathways
• Pension scheme with up to 20.2% employer contribution and 3x salary death in service benefit
• Relocation package up to £8,000 (eligibility dependent)
• Employee Assistance Programme: free 24/7 confidential support
• Flexible working options, including remote work and part-time arrangements
• Training, mentoring, and professional development
• Staff discounts on MOT, gym, restaurants, and salons
• Arriva Travel Club discounts on local bus travel

How To Apply

We appreciate the effort involved in applying and encourage high-quality applications. For tips on applying, visit our 'How to apply' page to help your application stand out.