Description
The job itself
Due to the promotion of the current post holder to Area Senior EP, an exciting opportunity has arisen to undertake a specialist senior EP role for communication and interaction within the Educational Psychology Service (EPS) in East Riding of Yorkshire.
The Educational Psychology Service sits within Children and Young People's Specialist Services. We are a well-staffed EPS, with three Area Senior EPs, Educational Psychologists and specialist senior EP roles for early years, communication and interaction, social, emotional and mental health, vulnerable children and cognition and learning. We also have experienced communication and interaction specialists, for supporting autism and social communication needs, as part of our service. We have a strong and successful commitment to recruitment and retention; as well as employing assistant EPs, we provide placements for Trainee Educational Psychologists (TEPs) and employ TEPs in years two and three of their doctorate training.
In this role, the specialist Senior EP for communication and interaction will be part of a supportive specialist leadership team. Relating to the specialism, you will lead on key developments, contribute to the development of training and resources and work closely with our communication and interaction specialists, health colleagues, ensuring needs are proactively supported across the graduated response.
The post holder will report to an Area Senior EP and have half termly specialism meetings with the Principal Educational Psychologist to support with planning and delivering high quality services for children young people, parents/carers, education settings and the local authority. For this role, specialist senior responsibilities are 0.4fte, with the remaining aspect of the role providing generic educational psychology services within the geographical area.
The Service continues to be highly valued by the council, children and young people, families and the education settings we support, and we are committed to applying and promoting psychology creatively in in order to make a positive difference for children and young people in East Riding. We are proud of our service, fulfilling our statutory duties in a timely way and providing a consultation model of service delivery, along with a progressive and responsive training and development offer for education settings and the wider workforce.
With children at the centre, our service works in genuine partnership with education settings, families, and partner agencies to ensure the best possible educational, social and emotional outcomes for children and young people. The Service has an influential role in the development and implementation of Council policy and strategy; supporting with the coproduction of East Riding's Ordinarily Available Inclusive Provision guide, SENCO handbook, relational practice audit and EBSA graduated approach. We are involved in developing East Riding's Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Academy and is also supporting national NHS developments and initiatives, such as the delivery of East Riding's Mental Health Support Teams (MHST) with commissioned support one day a week from one of our Area Senior EPs and are part of the Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) training delivery.
As a service, we lead on critical incident support provided for educational settings. We also provide a rolling programme of Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) training and supervision and deliver the Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training to schools and a range of practitioners working within the local authority. All Educational Psychologists are encouraged to contribute to strategic developments and to develop an area of professional interest through our development working groups. We actively contribute to SENCO forums and conference, and the conference for designated teachers for children and young people who are, and have been, looked after.
We would welcome applications from experienced HCPC registered educational psychologists looking to be part of our specialist leadership team in a dynamic, child-centred and well-staffed educational psychology service.
Our service has a commitment to the protection and safeguarding of children and young people following safeguarding statutory guidance e.g. Keeping Children Safe in Education (2024), Working together to Safeguard Children (2023) and local ERSCP Guidance 'Effective support for children, young people and families in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Guidance for all practitioners in working together to support families and safeguard children. An enhanced DBS check is required for this post.
When joining our team you can expect:
A comprehensive induction into the service and local area
Continued support if completing a recognised Doctorate in Educational Psychology
Regular professional supervision (including peer supervision) and CPD
Opportunities to work strategically and to be involved in regional partnership and networks
Dedicated and efficient administrative support
A friendly, professional and supportive team
Office space in County Hall Beverely, with agile and flexible working arrangements available
A generous relocation allowance and HMRC business rates for mileage are available for permanent posts
You must be able to drive and have access to your own vehicle for which a casual user car allowance will be paid from County Hall (Beverley) where appropriate.
In addition to this advertised Specialist Senior Educational Psychologist post, we welcome a discussion with experienced and HCPC registered Educational Psychologists interested in joining the Service as an Associate Educational Psychologist, providing psychological advice as part of Education Health and Care Needs Assessments.