Educational Psychologist SLB2 EP (Project)

To provide effective, innovative and preventative educational psychological services to children, young people, their families, schools and other settings, across the key functions of consultation, assessment, intervention, training and research.

To promote learning and achievement, social and emotional well-being and mental health, safety and access to educational opportunities for all the children and young people of Southwark.

There is a strong focus on collaborative work with a wide range of professionals and agencies and a commitment to a Team Around the Child approach to casework that targets the most vulnerable.

A key requirement is to carry out statutory duties on behalf of the Council to quality standards, assisting parents and schools to meet the duties placed upon them by relevant legislation.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

The post holder will be required to carry out the following functions:

1. to use and disseminate evidence-informed psychological theory and research that is effective in reducing barriers to education and building resilience for children, young people and families in Southwark; thus impacting on equality and diversity to improve outcomes for all service users.

2. to maintain and progress a caseload in accordance with service procedures, with the aim of addressing the targeted needs identified with a minimum of delay - these cases will include those worked with directly and indirectly through the provision of consultation to schools and other service users.

3. to apply professional knowledge and skills, including consultation, identification, assessment, intervention planning/delivery and research, to

a. promote effective partnerships between children and young people, their parents / carers and practitioners who work with them (especially early years settings and schools) and
b. achieve positive outcomes for vulnerable children, young people and families

4. to develop, implement and review a range of innovative strategies to promote and improve teaching and learning, attendance /access and behaviour (with a particular regard for under-achieving cohorts) - demonstrating the effectiveness of evidence-informed practice and outcomes for children, young people and families.

5. to identify, refer and support children and young people who are suffering (or thought likely to suffer) significant harm as described in statutory guidance; to include advising on child protection matters to other practitioners and service users.

6. to provide psychological advice as part of statutory education, health and care (EHC) needs assessments in accordance with the relevant legislation and guidance, and contribute to complex annual review work and SENDIST appeal hearings, to agreed quality standards and timescales.

7. to support and empower parents/carers to enhance their parenting skills and capacity, using a range of interventions, including casework, consultation and support for parenting programmes.

8. to deliver a consultation and training service, working at group and organisational levels, which develops the capacity of schools and settings to manage and deliver appropriate interventions.

9. to respond to critical incidents, bereavement and trauma in schools and settings in line with service policy and guidelines.

10. to maintain accurate records, compile reports to agreed service and professional standards and to undertake administrative duties relating to the EP function (including regular returns of workload activity for data / statistical purposes).

11. to keep up to date with relevant legislation, research, policy and initiatives, both national and local and to assess the implications for changes to practice, making adaptations where necessary.

12. to undertake any other duties commensurate with the level and grade of the post as may be requested from time to time including supervision of trainee educational psychologists.

Responsibilities

Financial responsibilities

The post holder will be required to follow Council financial procedures and report to senior managers on any aspects of expenditure that do not accord with expectations. However the post holder will not hold any specific financial accountability.

Management and supervision

Line management responsibility

The post holder has no line management responsibility. The post holder may enter into supervisory arrangements with peers, including supporting new colleagues through the induction process and / or
trainee educational psychologists, as discussed and agreed with the senior and principal educational psychologists.

Line management received

The post holder is accountable to the relevant senior educational psychologist who has oversight of performance, development, conduct and discipline. The post holder is expected to work using their own initiative in a self-directed manner, within the parameters laid out in service policies and procedures, but is expected to seek and follow advice where appropriate.

Supervision

The post-holder will receive professional supervision from a suitably qualified and experienced educational psychologist

Health and Safety at Work

The post holder is required to carry out their duties and responsibilities of the job in accordance with the Council's Health and Safety Policy and relevant Health and Safety legislation, whilst taking reasonable care for the safety and health of themselves and others who may be affected by their acts.

Equality

The post holder must demonstrate commitment and enthusiasm to promote the principle of equality in employment and service delivery. The post holder must promote equality in the workplace and set the tone for behaviour between colleagues.

Data protection & Information Governance

The post holder must carry out their duties and responsibilities of the job in accordance with the Council's guidance and policies on data protection, sharing of information and relevant legislation. The post holder has a responsibility to familiarise themselves in sufficient detail with policy and legislation to ensure they understand their obligations.

Special Conditions

Contractual hours of duty are in accordance with the needs of the service with a minimum of 36 per week.

The post holder may be required to work outside of normal working hours (e.g. attending occasional evening or weekend meetings / training) in accordance with service needs. This work will be planned and flexi time arrangements will apply.

The work is complex and requires exceptional team working skills, an understanding of integrated ways of working and a commitment to excellence for children and families. There is personal autonomy and team members are expected to act upon their own initiative, manage their own time effectively and to be proactive in contributing to innovation., The person specification is a picture of skills, knowledge and experience required to carry out the job., Desirable (D)
How assessed (S/ I/ T)
A UK recognised educational psychology
qualification, registered with the Health and Care
Professions Council and eligible for chartered
status with the British Psychological Society. Applications from educational psychologists in years 2 and 3 of doctoral training may be considered.
E
S (1)
Sound knowledge of child and adolescent development and appropriate applied psychology relevant to the needs of the population of Southwark
E
S (2) /I
Knowledge of procedures and legal frameworks relevant to the work of educational psychologists and a demonstrated ability to apply this to practice, including: safeguarding and child protection, equalities and diversity, special educational needs and disabilities.
E
I
Knowledge of the roles of other practitioners and the principles of partnership working with children, young people, their parents and families
E
I
Knowledge of the issues that influence the successful
transition of children into and between schools and
settings.
E
I
Knowledge of issues of equality and understanding of how educational psychology is able to make an impact.
E
I

Experience:
Experience of applying psychology in meeting the needs of vulnerable children, young people and their families in a multi-cultural and multi-linguistic environment
E
S(3) /I
Experience of providing training (INSET) for staff in
schools and settings
E
S (4) /I
Experience of successful working in an integrated
manner, including team working and partnership in
the context of a Team Around the Child approach
E
I

Aptitudes, Skills & Competencies:
Skilled in establishing and maintaining working relationships with children, young people and their families in an open, empathetic and professional manner

E
I
Competency in the core skills of consultation, identification,
assessment, intervention planning, delivery and review., Effective communication and problem solving skills in complex situations and the ability to facilitate these in others, especially in times of change, Proven organisational and time management skills; including the ability to balance and prioritise a workload in an environment of unpredictable, and sometimes conflicting, demands, IT literate, competent user of a range of applications with the ability to produce reports, training materials, advice etc… as required., Ability to implement equal opportunities strategies in order to overcome past and present discrimination and demonstrate awareness of the needs of children and families from minority groups, HCPC registered, fully qualified Educational Psychologist with good references that evidence recent successful experience working in a UK local authority service.

£422.72 per hour
160 Tooley Street, Southwark, SE1 2QH
Education and Training