Educational Psychologist

Stoke-on-Trent City Council; Stoke-on-Trent; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary based on skills

Hybrid working

Pension scheme

Professional development

Job summary

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is recruiting for Trainee Educational Psychologists (TEPs) and qualified Educational Psychologists to join the Children and Family Services directorate. You will work with children, young people and families, ensuring timely support and opportunities to influence practice.

The role offers flexible, hybrid working, generous leave, and access to CPD and professional development. Join a supportive team with strong links to partner services, social care, schools and the

Qualifications

• We welcome applications from Year 2/3 Trainee Educational Psychologists (TEPs) and qualified Eps who are passionate about delivering psychology differently.
• You’ll help ensure children, young people and families receive the right support at the right time, while having real opportunities to shape practice and make a meaningful impact.
• Stoke-on-Trent EPS is a dynamic, supportive and forward-thinking service offering flexible and hybrid working to promote a healthy work-life balance, alongside a generous leave package (26 days rising to 29 after 5 years, plus public and local holidays).
• There are regular opportunities to engage in research, project work and service development, with at least 9 days of CPD each year in line with HCPC expectations.

Responsibilities

• Provide psychological assessment, consultation and intervention for children and young people (CYP), working collaboratively with families, schools and other professionals
• Support schools, education providers and parents by offering advice, guidance, strategies and recommendations to meet identified needs
• Contribute to SEND processes and statutory assessments, including reviews, reassessments, tribunal attendance and written reports
• Monitor, evaluate and communicate outcomes of interventions, providing clear verbal and written feedback to parents, schools and relevant stakeholders
• Deliver training, supervision and professional support to colleagues and education staff, sharing expertise to improve outcomes for CYP
• Promote safeguarding, evidence-based practice and service development, ensuring compliance with HCPC standards, child protection procedures and ongoing research-informed practice

Job description

Directorate: Children and Family Services

Section: Education and Family Support

Grade: Soulbury A Scale 5 to 8 (+up to 3 SPA)

Hours: 37 hours per week

This advert is open to both internal and external applicants.

About us:

We are a city of strengths, with a proud heritage and bright future. Working for Stoke-on Trent City Council is more than just a job, it's about making, protecting and improving the services for the local population, reducing inequalities and improving independence for the people who live and work in the city. And that's where you come in. We are always looking for people of the highest calibre with skills, knowledge and experience to help us deliver our compelling vision.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council's diverse and talented workforce is its greatest asset and most valuable resource. The skills, knowledge and experience of our c.4,600 employees are essential to delivering our ambitions and vision for our organisation and Stoke-on-Trent. We want to be an employer that people are proud to work for, and where our staff are supported, developed and rewarded in an inclusive way that helps them to excel and to deliver the high-quality services that our residents need.

Further information on the Council and our directorates

The Role:

We welcome applications from Year 2/3 Trainee Educational Psychologists (TEPs) and qualified Eps who are passionate about delivering psychology differently. At Stoke-on-Trent, we take a strength-based, collaborative and research-led approach, with inclusion at the heart of everything we do.

You’ll help ensure children, young people and families receive the right support at the right time, while having real opportunities to shape practice and make a meaningful impact. Stoke-on-Trent EPS is a dynamic, supportive and forward-thinking service offering flexible and hybrid working to promote a healthy work-life balance, alongside a generous leave package (26 days rising to 29 after 5 years, plus public and local holidays).

You’ll benefit from excellent IT support including tablets, dedicated specialist admin support, and a staff benefits and rewards scheme. There are regular opportunities to engage in research, project work and service development, with at least 9 days of CPD each year in line with HCPC expectations. You can also develop specialisms based on your interests and service needs. We have strong links with the West Midlands Regional EP Groups, Birmingham University, and teams such as the Virtual School (VS),Youth Justice and Support Service (YJSS) and Education Reintegration Team (ERT).

For an informal discussion please contact Michele Perry-Springer (PEP)[e-mail],Paul Beeson (SEP) [e-mail] or Katherine Lee (SEP) [e-mail]

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide psychological assessment, consultation and intervention for children and young people (CYP), working collaboratively with families, schools and other professionals
• Support schools, education providers and parents by offering advice, guidance, strategies and recommendations to meet identified needs
• Contribute to SEND processes and statutory assessments, including reviews, reassessments, tribunal attendance and written reports
• Monitor, evaluate and communicate outcomes of interventions, providing clear verbal and written feedback to parents, schools and relevant stakeholders
• Deliver training, supervision and professional support to colleagues and education staff, sharing expertise to improve outcomes for CYP
• Promote safeguarding, evidence-based practice and service development, ensuring compliance with HCPC standards, child protection procedures and ongoing research-informed practice

About You:

• Skilled in applying psychological assessment, analysis and problem solving to identify needs and develop effective support strategies
• Confident communicator, able to present complex information clearly through reports, consultations, training and professional advice
• Experienced in building positive partnerships with children, families, schools and multi agency professionals to achieve best outcomes
• Able to design, deliver and evaluate interventions while developing the skills, confidence and capacity of others through training and guidance
• Strong knowledge of child development, SEND legislation and inclusive practices with a commitment to supporting children and young people
• Committed to high professional standards, demonstrating excellent safeguarding practice, sound judgment, effective case management and continuous professional development

What we offer:

• A competitive salary based on your skills, experience and talent
• Hybrid and flexible working options
• An excellent local authority benefits pension scheme
• Professional development through learning opportunities, regular training sessions and apprenticeship and management schemes

Further information on our Rewards and Benefits can be found here

Pre-Employment Checks:

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre-employment checks. These may include:

• Right to Work in the UK
• Proof of address
• Satisfactory references
• Occupational Health Clearance
• Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable for the role)

The Council will not accept any speculative CVs from employment agencies.

No agency terms and conditions accompanying any such CVs will be accepted by the Council.

Any unsolicited information sent by an employment agency will be treated as the property of the Council.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all our employees and volunteers to share this commitment. This position is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the successful applicant will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Please note that if an employee who is currently at risk of redundancy within the organisation applies for this vacancy their application will receive priority. If this happens you will be advised accordingly.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we believe our strength comes from the diversity of our community, and we want our workforce to reflect that. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. We understand that some people, especially those from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply if they don't meet all the listed requirements. If this role interests you and you think you could be a good fit, we encourage you to apply. We are proud of what makes each of us unique and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels included, can be themselves, and can succeed together.