Dorset Council - Senior Educational Psychologist (0.5 FTE)

Dorset are seeking to appoint a part-time Senior Educational Psychologist (SEP) to the Dorchester and West locality, to work with the existing part-time SEP in Dorchester, and to join our thriving and supportive management team both within the locality and across the EPs.

Are you creative and dynamic and passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of children and young people? Do you have an enthusiasm for applying psychology to a range of contexts and to the development of EPs and in developing their leadership?

Are you looking to join a dynamic, supportive and highly regarded educational psychology service? ‘Dorset Children Thrive’ is our model for delivering Children’s Services.  The model brings together many services and support for children and families into four integrated locality teams across Dorset. The locality teams bring together colleagues from across Early Help, Children’s Social Care, Educational Psychology, SEND and Inclusion services.

Senior educational psychologists are part of the senior management team in each locality and report to the respective Head of Locality; the Principal Educational Psychologist is part of the extended Leadership Team alongside colleagues from education, Early Help and Social Care and reports to the Corporate Director for Education and Learning and provides professional supervision to senior EPs.

The post holder will contribute to strategic developments to improve outcomes for children and young people.  You will be expected to take a lead on specific strategic workstreams that are a priority for the locality as well as Children’s Services and support Dorset Council to implement strategic plans.

We are seeking applications from experienced EPs who hold a masters or doctorate in educational psychology and are registered with the HCPC. 

The work of Dorset EPs
Dorset Council Educational Psychologists (EPs) are a highly regarded team of professionals. They are creative, person and child centred and have excellent relationships with each other and partners.  The educational psychologists are a core service which is provided to all schools, children and families across Dorset.  

We are seeking applications from educational psychologists who are:  

• Able to place children and young people at the centre of practice.  
• Committed to supporting the inclusion of vulnerable children and young people. 
• Excellent communicators and take a relational approach to their leadership.
• Looking to develop leadership skills applying psychology to a strategic management position.   
• Committed to supporting the development of EPs and our wider workforce
• Able to use reflective supervision to develop supervisees and themselves. 
• Creative, flexible, positive and focused on solutions   
• Able to demonstrate effective work within a multi-disciplinary team  
• Pro-active in developing and sharing your knowledge and skills and developing strategy.

What will you get in return?

• Flexible working patterns
• A mixture of in-person and virtual working
• Soulbury terms and conditions
• Peer and management supervision
• A team of friendly, supportive and professional colleagues both with the EP team and within Children’s services
• Be highly regarded and respected by stakeholders and professional colleagues
• A beautiful mix of rural, town and coastal environments including Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, The Jurassic Coast and Blue Flag beaches.

You will be subject to an enhanced DBS for adults and childrens

For further details of how we work visit our website.

If you would like to discuss the posts informally or visit the team please call or email:
Miriam Leigh, Principal Educational Psychologist 01305 228300 / miriam.leigh@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk or
Paula Golding. Head of Locality and Strategy, Dorchester and West 01202 868237 /  paula.golding@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk