JOB PURPOSE
1. The EA Psychology Service strives to work in partnership with parents, schools and other professionals to ensure that all children and young people develop and learn through effective education, with a particular emphasis on those who are experiencing difficulties within education.
2. The post holder will provide under the supervision of the Principal Educational Psychologist and a Senior Educational Psychologist a psychological service. This includes working at different levels within the education system, linking casework to the development of policy and strategy. Providing direct support to individual children and young people and often working with and through others to achieve positive outcomes.
3. Educational Psychologists work to support schools to create positive, inclusive environments which foster and develop children’s and young people’s resilience and wellbeing to impact positively on mental health.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Early Intervention and Consultation
4. Consult with schools to establish preventative and early intervention strategies to meet the needs of children and young people.
5. Consult with other statutory organisations regarding the efficient access to meeting the needs of children who have emergent special educational needs.
2. Assessment and Intervention
6. Conduct developmental/psychological assessment of children and young people presenting with Special Educational Needs and who have been referred to the EA Psychology Service in line with the Code of Practice.
7. Advise parents and teachers on how children’s Special Educational Needs can be best met.
8. Contribute to the Statutory Assessment of children, including the provision of Psychological Advice to the EA as per the Code of Practice.
9. Contribute to the planning and implementation of intervention programmes for children with Special Educational Needs.
10. Assist schools in improving outcomes for children with Special Educational Needs.
3. Management of Activities
11. Manage a generic caseload, including prioritising workload in line with the EA Psychology Service guidelines.
12. Keeping appropriate records as required to assist the service’s management information system.
13. Under the supervision of a Senior Educational Psychologist and Principal Educational Psychologist contribute to the provision of an Educational Psychology Service for all schools and client groups within a specified geographical area, which may vary over time;
14. Participate in clinics and working groups as required by the Education Authority.
4. Raising Achievement and Organisational Development
15. Work within the EA’s corporate objectives and the operational objectives of the Children and Young People’s services directorate. Provide service based evidence regarding effective practice;
16. Assist in the implementation of the EA’s ICT Strategy.
17. Liaise and work co-operatively with colleagues in other sections of the EA to ensure consistent, coherent and comprehensive approaches in meeting the special educational needs of children.
18. Liaise and work co-operatively with Health & Social Services professionals and other agencies in the interests of children with special educational needs.
5. Service Development
19. Work towards achieving the targets set out in the EA Psychology Service Development Plan.
20. Contribute to the development of the service through attendance at team, staff meetings and service development plan review meetings.
21. Contribute to service development by participating in annual staff appraisals.
22. Work with schools in relation to whole school based support on effective strategies and interventions.
6.Training
23. Attend continuing professional development courses in line with British Psychological Society Regulation guidelines.
24. Assist supervisors in the training of Educational Psychologists in training.
25. Provide advice, guidance and support to EA officers, schools and parents as required.
26. Contribute to the development and delivery of in-service training for teachers, assistants, parents and other professionals.
7. Supervisory Responsibilities
27. Supervision of clerical staff as required.
28. Supervision of Educational Psychologists in training as required.
29. Supervision of Educational Psychology Assistants as required.
8. Supervision Received
30. General supervision by the Principal Educational Psychologist and by the Senior Educational Psychologist who will be responsible for initial induction and annual appraisal.
9. Work Complexity
31. High level of complexity requiring a systematic and analytical approach to problem solving and the application of psychological theory in meeting the Special Educational Needs of children and young people.
32. Creative and imaginative thinking in finding solutions to complex learning and behavioural difficulties.