Senior Specialist EP

Oxfordshire County Council; South Oxfordshire; Hybrid; GBP 54,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Oxfordshire County Council, via the Oxfordshire Educational Psychology Service, is recruiting a Senior Specialist Educational Psychologist to join a growing Experts at Hand programme. The role combines high‑quality applied psychology with strategic leadership to shape practice and systems across Oxfordshire.

You will lead a designated specialist area, influence service delivery, and work with education, health and social care colleagues to create more inclusive approaches.

Qualifications

• Professionally qualified Educational Psychologist registered with the HCPC.
• Substantial post‑qualification experience in Educational Psychology.
• Experience leading projects and service development in education/health care settings.

Responsibilities

• Provide high quality consultation, intervention, assessment and training.
• Lead on a designated specialist area of practice and influence service delivery.
• Represent the Educational Psychology Service on strategic boards and partnerships.
• Drive workforce development through supervision, mentoring and professional learning.

Skills

Educational psychology

Strategic leadership

Consultation

Collaboration

Communication

Education

HCPC registered

Educational Psychology degree

Job description

About Us

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and Oxfordshire County Council are transforming support for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). We are building a team of health and education professionals (Experts at Hand) to provide earlier intervention and stronger inclusion in schools and settings, providing practical support where it is needed, and helping children and young people receive the right support, at the right time. By sharing your expertise and working collaboratively with colleagues across organisations, you'll play a key role in improving outcomes for children, families, and schools across Oxfordshire.

As part of our growing Experts at Hand programme, you'll join a community of professionals who are helping to shape the future of SEND support across Oxfordshire. Working across education, health and care, we are creating more connected, inclusive and sustainable systems that place children, young people and families at the heart of everything we do.

The Oxfordshire Educational Psychology Service is a friendly, forward-thinking and highly regarded team comprising Educational, Senior, Specialist, Trainee and Assistant Educational Psychologists alongside dedicated administrative colleagues. Together, we apply psychology at individual, group, organisational and strategic levels to improve outcomes for children and young people across the county.

This is an exciting opportunity to join us at a time of growth, innovation and transformation. As a Senior Specialist Educational Psychologist, you'll play a leading role in shaping practice, influencing systems, and helping to develop services that make a lasting difference to children, young people, families and schools.

About the Role

As a Senior Specialist Educational Psychologist, you will combine high-quality applied psychology with strategic leadership. Rather than leading through line management responsibilities, you will influence practice and drive improvement through your specialist expertise, innovation and ability to create change at a systems level.

You will lead on a designated specialist area of practice, which may include neurodivergence/EBSA, social, emotional and mental health, children we care for, attendance, inclusion or another agreed service priority. Through your knowledge and expertise, you will help shape service delivery, develop innovative approaches and ensure that psychological practice continues to improve outcomes for children and young people across Oxfordshire.

This is a varied and influential role where no two days are the same. You may be providing consultation and assessment for children and families, leading a county-wide service development project, representing the Educational Psychology Service on strategic boards and partnerships, or working alongside colleagues from education, health and social care to develop more inclusive approaches across systems. Throughout your work, you'll use psychology creatively to influence lasting and meaningful change.

You’ll play an important role in the continued development of Oxfordshire's Experts at Hand model and wider SEND transformation programme, helping to ensure expertise is available where it is needed most and children and young people receive timely, effectivesupport.

Alongside your strategic work, you'll continue to maintain a strong connection to practice. You'll deliver high-quality consultation, intervention, assessment, training and statutory SEND work, while supporting workforce development through supervision, mentoring and professional learning opportunities where appropriate.

About you

You are a highly skilled Educational Psychologist who is passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people. You understand the power of psychology to influence not only individuals, but the systems and services that surround them, and you're motivated by the opportunity to create meaningful and lasting change.

You will be a professionally qualified Educational Psychologist registered with the HCPC and bring substantial post-qualification experience within Educational Psychology. You will have developed specialist expertise and a strong track record of applying psychology in ways that improve outcomes for children, young people and families.

You will be confident leading projects, service development initiatives and strategic work, and comfortable operating at child, family, school, organisational and system levels. Whether you're shaping policy, influencing practice, developing services or supporting individual children and families, you'll be able to see the bigger picture whilst remaining focused on positive outcomes.

Strong relationships are at the heart of this role, so you'll be an excellent communicator who enjoys working collaboratively with schools, families and professional partners. You'll be skilled at consultation, influencing and building consensus, bringing people together around a shared commitment to inclusion and improved life chances for children and young people.

We’re looking for someone who brings creativity, curiosity and a commitment to evidence-informed practice. You’ll be motivated by continuous learning, excited by innovation and passionate about helping to shape the future of Educational Psychology across Oxfordshire.

If you’re looking for a role that combines the influence and impact of senior leadership with the opportunity to remain connected to high-quality psychological practice, we’d love to hear from you. Join our community of Experts at Hand and help ensure children and young people across Oxfordshire receive the right support, at the right time, creating brighter futures for generations to come.

Rewards and Benefits

Your office base may be subject to change as we are currently transitioning between temporary and permanent office locations due to the closure of County Hall. If thisis applicableto you, you will be notified, but no reimbursement will apply in respect of travel.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Guaranteed Interview Schemes

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Safeguarding

Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Flexible Working

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, full time and part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.