Warrington Council - Educational Psychologists

About us
Warrington Educational Psychology Service (EPS) is looking for up to four more educational psychologists to join our collaborative and value led team. This recruitment is a result of Expert at Hand funding which is allowing us to expand into new areas of work.

Full time and part time applicants will be considered.

We are dedicated to providing a high quality psychology service to children and young people. We are a supportive, creative and forward-thinking team who have shared values, from which we practice in rich and varied ways. We are a relatively small service which has grown recently in response to increased demand and expanding capacity in light of Expert at Hand funding. Leadership with the EPS has been fully involved in the development of the EAH model in Warrington and we are embracing the opportunity this is giving us to return to working with patches of schools as part of a locality model.

Our team consists of experienced psychologists and newer entrants to the profession. We currently benefit from having TEPs from Years 1, 2 and 3 and Specialist EPs relating to Cognition and Learning, Virtual School and Transitions. We meet every 2 weeks for team meetings and we have a sociable supportive network.

Our service makes a valuable contribution to supporting the inclusion and wellbeing of children and young people in Warrington. EPs experience a variety of ways of working. We are engaged in systemic work across the Local Authority, with service partners, schools and families, and case work about individual children. We use our psychology and understanding of child development to deliver highly valued advice to schools and families. This is provided through statutory advice (e.g. as part of the EHC Needs Assessment process) and in consultation meetings with schools/settings and families.

We work together to develop and deliver preventative approaches relevant to our areas of interest and service need. Currently this includes primarily supporting CYP experiencing Barriers to Education/ Emotionally Based School Avoidance, ELSA training and supervision, Mediated Learning Approaches (MeLSA), Person Centred Planning and supporting schools following Critical Incidents.

We work frequently with partners in the Virtual School, Early Help and Social Care, Attendance team, specialist teachers, and Early Years. We also have good working relationships with health and community partners.

The role
Educational Psychologists working in Warrington are required to work at universal, targeted and specialist levels. We are returning to a locality patch model, where each EP has an allocation of time for work in the schools and settings, preventative work (e.g. ELSA, MeLSA, EBSA) and to provide EP Advice to inform EHC Needs Assessments. In accordance with the Expert at Hand offer it is expected that the majority of work with your patch of schools will be supporting inclusive practice at a systemic or group level. We are hopeful that this will allow EPs to use a broad range of skills in a flexible way which is responsive to local need.

What's needed?

We are looking for:

• Educational psychologists who are either new to the profession or who already have experience and expertise to share.
• EPs with an ability to apply psychology creatively in order to maximize impact and contribute to Warrington EPS and council priority areas.
• Committed and hardworking team players who are able to work both independently and as part of a team.
• We are interested in receiving applications to work full or part time, (at least 3 days per week).
• An enhanced DBS check is required for this post.
• Applicants must be professionally qualified and registered with the HCPC.

What we can offer:

• A close, supportive team of Educational Psychologists and LA colleagues.
• A hybrid working model, with excellent ICT equipment to support remote working.
• An allocation of time for CPD activities. This may be used individually, with the team or sourced externally.
• An extensive induction.
• A recently refurbished town centre office space, offering excellent kitchen facilities, spaces to meet colleagues and book rooms for meetings/training.
• Good access links to Liverpool, Manchester and Chester, and car parking facilities opposite the office.
• An experienced Business Support team.
• HCPC registration fees and mileage payments.

Benefits
As well as a competitive salary, working for us means you get:

• 26 days annual holiday - raising to 31 after 5 years of service (pro-rata)
• Access to our attractive and competitive benefits package
• Access to our Health & Wellbeing Programme

Key Dates & Further Information

For further information about this role and to apply please follow the link.

Warrington Borough Council is a Disability Confident employer

In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. Sponsorship is not available for this role; therefore, you must have the right to work in the UK to be eligible for appointment.