Senior Specialist Educational Psychologist

Essex County Council; Harlow; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A public sector organization in Harlow is seeking a Senior Specialist Educational Psychologist for a fixed-term position. This role involves supporting children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities through expert consultation and strategic development. Candidates should possess a BPS-recognised Psychology degree and a Doctorate in Educational Psychology, along with extensive experience in the field. The position offers a collaborative working environment focused on impactful interventions and ongoing professional development.

Benefits

Ongoing professional development

Collaborative working environment

Opportunities to shape specialist practice

Qualifications

• BPS-recognised Psychology degree and Doctorate in Educational Psychology.
• HCPC registration and eligibility for Graduate Basis with the BPS.
• Experience in planning, performance frameworks, and delivering successful projects.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert consultation and advice to SEND and education teams.
• Conduct assessments and interventions for children with cognitive and learning needs.
• Lead strategic developments in areas such as SEMH and Autism.

Skills

Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Extensive experience applying educational psychology principles

Knowledge of SEND legislation

Education

BPS-recognised Psychology degree

Doctorate in Educational Psychology

HCPC registration

Job description

Senior Specialist Educational Psychologist

Fixed Term, Full Time

Soulbury Scale B from 3 to 5 plus SPA

Location: Harlow

Working Style:

Closing Date: 5th January 2026

Please note salary will pay based on the Soulbury Pay B Scale (plus SPA) with your entry level to the role determining salary. We welcome applications from candidates seeking part‑time opportunities.

We are recruiting for a fixed term / secondment opportunity for a period of 12 months.

Essex County Council are looking for dedicated Specialist Senior Educational Psychologists (SSEPs) to join our quadrant‑led teams. This role combines statutory and early intervention work along with strategic development in a specialist area, contributing to innovative practice and improved outcomes for children and young people.

While role specific SSEP responsibilities are service wide, all SSEPs are based within one of our four quadrants:

• North - Colchester and surrounding areas
• Mid - Chelmsford and surrounding areas
• West - Harlow and surrounding areas
• South - Basildon and surrounding areas

What We Offer:

• A supportive and collaborative working environment
• Opportunities to lead and shape specialist practice across Essex
• Dedicated time for strategic work in your area of expertise
• Ongoing professional development and supervision

Educational Psychology in Essex

EPs are part of a wider transformation programme aimed at improving outcomes and life experiences for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The vision is to build a system that identifies and responds to needs earlier, offering impactful support without over‑reliance on statutory services.

Specialist Senior Educational Psychologists (SSEPs) play a key role in this work, contributing to strategic development, complex casework, and the evolution of practice and policy across the county.

As a SSEP, you will dedicate 20% of your time to your specialist area, applying expert psychological knowledge to inform the development of strategic initiatives and interventions. The remaining 80% of your time will involve providing:

• Expert consultation and advice to colleagues, across the range of our SEND and Education teams
• Professional supervision and support for EP colleagues, field supervision for trainee EPs, and operational supervision to Assistant EPs through casework, training, and development
• Leadership and knowledge towards inclusive practice through intervention, training, and project work
• Contributions to complex casework and tribunal work
• Up‑to‑date specialist knowledge through research and CPD that is impactful to the EPS and service users

Specialist Areas

Social Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) - Promoting emotional wellbeing and resilience for children and young people with SEMH needs including leading strategic developments and providing psychological support during critical incidents in schools and settings.

Key aspects include:

• Responding to critical incidents with calm, empathetic, and effective support
• Applying evidence‑based SEMH interventions to improve outcomes
• Conducting assessments and working collaboratively across services
• Delivering training to build capacity in schools and settings

Youth Justice - Supporting children and young people who have experienced adversity or present with behavioural vulnerabilities, drawing on psychological expertise to inform assessment, intervention, and strategic work within the Youth Justice system.

Key aspects include:

• Working with young people at risk of or involved in the Youth Justice system
• Using evidence‑based approaches to support behavioural and emotional needs
• Collaborating with professionals across education, health, and justice services
• Providing consultation and training to strengthen the support systems around CYP within the YJS

Autism - Improving outcomes for autistic children and young people through inclusive, evidence‑based practice by focusing on enhancing understanding, access to support, and strategic development across services.

Key aspects include:

• Delivering assessment and tailored interventions for autistic learners
• Promoting inclusive strategies and autism awareness
• Working closely with families, educators, and professionals
• Designing and delivering training to support best practice

Cognition and Learning - Aiming to enhance learning outcomes for children and young people with cognitive and learning needs by applying psychological knowledge to develop effective strategies, including the use of assistive technologies.

Key aspects include:

• Supporting schools to implement inclusive learning approaches
• Conducting assessments and applying evidence‑based interventions
• Collaborating with educators and multi‑agency teams
• Contributing to research, training, and innovation in learning support

The Experience You Will Bring

Essential

• BPS‑recognised Psychology degree and Doctorate in Educational Psychology
• HCPC registration and eligibility for Graduate Basis with the BPS
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with integrity and reliability
• Extensive experience applying educational psychology principles and practice
• Evidence of recent CPD and expert knowledge in relevant areas
• Understanding of children’s services and collaborative, multi‑agency working
• Experience in planning, performance frameworks, and delivering successful projects or research
• Detailed knowledge of SEND legislation, including the SEND Code of Practice (2015) and Equality Act (2010)

Desirable

• Experience in conducting research and contributing to the evidence base
• Ability to provide leadership and support to colleagues and service members
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, integrity, and reliability
• With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

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