Principal Educational Psychologist

Coventry City Council; Coventry; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Coventry City Council seeks a Principal Educational Psychologist to lead the Educational Psychology Service, providing strategic, professional and operational leadership across the SEND system.

You will oversee psychological advice, assessment, intervention, training and research, while championing inclusive practice and ensuring a child-centred, equitable service for children and families.

Qualifications

• Registered HCPC Practitioner Psychologist.
• Experience leading Educational Psychology Services.
• Knowledge of SEND legislation and statutory processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead Coventry's Educational Psychology Service and provide strategic, professional and operational leadership.
• Oversee psychological advice, consultation, assessment, intervention, training and research while setting service priorities.
• Champion inclusive practice across the SEND system and support a child-centred service.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Educational psychology expertise

Partnership working

Education

HCPC registered Practitioner Psychologist

Job description

In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do.

Our Values are:

• Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
• Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
• Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
• Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
• Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
• Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.

Coventry’s Educational Psychology Service sits within the SEND Support Service, alongside specialist teaching services. The service has strong relationships with schools and operates a well-established traded offer. It will also have a central role in developing Experts at Hand, providing systemic support to schools, early years settings and FE providers. You will join a skilled and supportive team focused on inclusive practice and improved outcomes for children and young people.

We value diverse perspectives and experiences and are striving to create an inclusive workplace culture that is accepting of all and is free from discrimination and bias.

What is the job role?

As our Principal Educational Psychologist, you will lead Coventry’s Educational Psychology Service, providing strategic, professional and operational leadership. You will oversee psychological advice, consultation, assessment, intervention, training and research, while helping to set service priorities and strengthen inclusive practice across the SEND system.

This is a senior leadership role with influence across education, health and care. You will champion the voice of children, young people and families, promote ethical and evidence-informed practice, and support a responsive, child-centred service focused on early identification, inclusion and improved lived experience.

All candidates must have the Right to Work in the UK. We are currently not offering sponsorship for this role.

This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for an experienced and values-led Educational Psychologist with the confidence to lead a statutory and traded service. You will bring expert knowledge of educational psychology, SEND legislation and statutory processes, alongside strong leadership, communication and partnership-working skills.

You will be committed to Coventry’s One Coventry values, including inclusion, collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement. You must be registered with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist and have the experience to lead and develop a high-quality Educational Psychology Service.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme - As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

Interview date: 7th September 2026

About Coventry

Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change.

We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse.
At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around 5100 staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things.

To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities.

The following content displays a map of the jobs location - One Friargate, Station Square, Coventry