Specialist Educational Psychologist

Durham County Council; Spennymoor; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Generous annual leave (27 days + 5)

Local Government Pension Scheme

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

Durham County Council's SEND and Inclusion Support Service is seeking an Educational Psychologist to shape inclusive practice and lead strategic development across the county. You will contribute to the SEND reforms and the Experts at Hand offer, with time to influence how services support children, young people and families.

You will focus on cognition and learning needs, work with multi-disciplinary teams, supervise Assistant Psychologists, and provide secondary support to EHC assessments

Qualifications

• Proven experience working as an Educational Psychologist.
• HCPC registered.
• Willingness and ability to travel around the Local Authority.

Responsibilities

• Shape and develop practice across the SEND and Inclusion Support Service.
• Contribute to the implementation of SEND reforms and Durham's Experts at Hand offer.
• Develop capacity within schools through evidence-based approaches.
• Provide Educational Psychology support to schools and supervise junior staff.

Skills

EP experience

HCPC registration

Travel mobility

Education

Bachelor's degree in Psychology

Postgraduate qualification in Educational Psychology

Job description

Are you passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people and shaping inclusive practice? We are looking for a creative, motivated Educational Psychologist to join our supportive and forward-thinking team.

Durham's SEND and Inclusion Support Service provides psychology-informed SEND advice and support to over 260 schools across the county. Through our Locality Educational Psychology Teams and Specialist Inclusion Support Teams, we offer excellent opportunities for collaboration, specialist development and leadership.

Join us and play a key role in strengthening inclusive practice and support systems across County Durham, making a real difference to children, young people and their families.

WHAT IS INVOLVED?

As a Specialist Educational Psychologist in Durham, you will play a key role in shaping and developing practice across our highly regarded service. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the implementation of the SEND Reforms and Durham's Experts at Hand offer, with dedicated time to influence strategic developments that promote inclusion and improve outcomes for children and young people.

A particular focus of the role will be supporting the development of Durham's offer for children and young people with cognition and learning needs. Working alongside colleagues from our multi-disciplinary Cognition and Learning, Motor and Sensory Team, you will contribute to key priorities including:

• The implementation and roll out of MeLSA across County Durham.
• Building capacity within schools to meet a wider range of needs through evidence-based approaches.
• Developing Durham's approach to understanding and supporting executive functioning across the age range.
• Contributing to strategic initiatives that strengthen inclusive practice and improve outcomes.

You will provide supervision and support to Assistant Psychologists and Advisory Inclusion Teachers, helping to develop workforce capacity across the service.

Supported by an Area Principal Educational Psychologist and the SEND Management Team, you will have regular opportunities for supervision, collaboration and professional development. Alongside your strategic and specialist responsibilities, you will provide Educational Psychology support to schools within a locality and contribute to EHC needs assessments.

This varied role combines strategic leadership, systems work and direct EP practice and is ideal for an experienced Educational Psychologist committed to driving positive change for children, young people and organisations.

We encourage you to contact Lisa Henson, Area Principal Educational Psychologist, via email at [e-mail] to arrange an informal discussion about the role.

WHAT WILL I NEED?

• A first degree in Psychology and a recognised post graduate qualification in Educational Psychology
• Appropriate experience working as an EP
• Be registered with the Health Care Professions Council.
• Your own transport or means of mobility is essential as you will be required to travel around the Local Authority.

Please refer to the attached person specification for the full criteria.

If successful, you will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure.

OUR COMMITMENT TO SAFEGUARDING

Durham County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore if successful in your application, an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be sought inclusive of a check of the Children’s Barred List, due to the position working in regulated activity.

Applicants should be aware that the DBS check will disclose both spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings, in line with current legislation and will confirm whether an individual is barred from working with children.

INTERVIEWS

Interviews will be held during the week commencing 2nd November 2026.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran.

OUR OFFER TO YOU

We offer a competitive rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years’ continuous local government service), membership of the excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of flexible working arrangements including hybrid working (home and office) where applicable. Explore the full range of rewards and benefits on our website

Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION

We are a proud equal opportunities employer and believe a diverse workforce brings fresh ideas and drives service improvement. We welcome applications from everyone and make employment decisions based on skills and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively encourage applications from disabled and neurodivergent people and offer support throughout the recruitment process.