Southampton City Council - Educational Psychologist

We are looking for skilled and successful Educational Psychologist to join our friendly, dynamic and dedicated team.  Recruitment is necessary to support our expanding service as we manage exciting new traded opportunities alongside our statutory commitments in addition to promotions and maternity cover from within the team. 

Our service is committed to working together to apply psychology in order to make a difference for children and young people across Southampton City. We work consultatively with school staff, parents, and other professionals to apply psychological problem solving to bring about positive change.

We have a well-established and highly successful trading arm which delivers a wide range of non-statutory educational psychology services to schools and other organisations. We can therefore offer Educational Psychologists a wealth of opportunities to develop their skills and specialist interests. 

Our Educational Psychologists maintain good relationships with schools through the offer of a link role. Educational Psychologists are also highly regarded within Southampton local authority and contribute to strategic developments within the city.  We work closely with local CAMHS services and contribute to the development of Mental Health in Schools Teams as well as training for Education Mental Health Practitioners with Southampton University.  We maintain very strong and collaborative working relationships with our education colleagues and work with a range of other professionals.  This creates many varied opportunities and contexts within which our EPs work.  For example, alongside statutory casework and traded services purchased by schools our EPs:

• deliver Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) training and support,
• offer reflexive supervision to social care colleagues,
• contribute to services for Children who are Looked After,
• provide Critical Incident support for schools,
• contribute to the doctoral training programme for Educational Psychologists at Southampton University,
• work strategically to support children experiencing Emotionally Based School Attendance,
• Supervision to school staff, including DSLs, SENCos and Head teachers.
• Coaching for Senior Leaders in Schools
• Various therapeutic interventions and training including Drawing and Talking, ACT, DNA – V, Storylinks and Therapeutic Story Writing.
• facilitate the development of Autism Champions in Southampton schools

Staff well-being is a high priority for our team.  We provide all Educational Psychologists with a comprehensive induction programme, regular supervision, peer support and professional development opportunities.  The council is committed to promoting a positive and flexible way of working which promotes employee wellbeing.  Staff are supported with technology which allows flexibility in when and where they work. 

From 1 June 2015 Soulbury posts within Southampton City Council were assimilated onto the council's pay scale and terms and conditions of employment. Terms and conditions established by the Soulbury Committee through national negotiation are used as a reference point for overall pay and conditions for this group of employees.  A Soulbury adjustment payment is made to post holders to achieve parity with the national rates.

For further information about this role please view the job description.

We currently have one part - time role, fixed term for one year due to maternity leaves within the service. In addition to applications from experienced Educational Psychologists we also welcome applications from newly qualified Educational Psychologists.

Applicants must be professionally qualified and registered with the HCPC.

Informal enquiries are welcomed by: Caroline Carpenter and/or Dawn Slattery, Joint Principal Educational Psychologists on 023 8091 7932.

Additional information:

• This post requires an Enhanced DBS check.
• Please note the salary quoted is based on full time hours (37 hours).
• Salary will be in line with Soulbury A scale grades 2 – 7 with access to 3 SPAs points (previous SPA points may be considered).  It is usual for successful candidates to start at the bottom of the pay grade however the minimum salary will be £52,431 (pro rata) in line with SCC pay scales. 

The supporting statement section of the application form must be completed detailing how you meet the essential, and if applicable the desirable criteria for the role. A CV on its own will not be considered.

Please apply online via the link.

Recruitment contact details: 023 8083 4033 or recruitment@southampton.gov.uk

Applicants should note that this post is not on Soulbury Pay and Conditions. If you are in any doubt about the pay and conditions on offer, please contact the employer for clarification.