Educational Psychologist

Job Description

Discover yourself in Lewisham where what you do makes a difference to our vibrant and culturally diverse communities!

We have a rich history of welcoming people from all over the world and are proud to be recognised as the UK’s first Borough of Sanctuary, for our work in championing the rights of refugees and migrants.

Introduction

Educational Psychologist post:

We are looking for an Educational Psychologist who can articulate clearly how this role is one of public service to our children and families in Lewisham. We want EPs who are committed to being part of our team and part of Lewisham. Belonging is a key theme across all our children’s services in Lewisham, and we want EPs with the desire to feel and create belonging. We are looking for an educational psychologist who is passionate about preventative local authority work and is committed to the wider inclusion agenda where all children and young people belong. If that sounds like you then come and join our creative and experienced team.

What’s the role?
In Lewisham our EPs work at all levels of the system (organisation, group, individual) to carry out the five functions of an EP (Consultation, Assessment, Intervention, Training, and Research).

We maintain a 33% statutory, 33% school-traded, and 33% projects/commissions/ CPD split across the maingrade EP team. 87% of Lewisham schools commission our EPs and we are actively using the NAPEP Currie Matrix infographic to maximise our systemic work.

Through your application of psychological critical thinking skills, you will facilitate reflection and reflexivity, enable adults to connect their knowledge and skills to their practice, and challenge the status quo leading to a change in practice. You will be using the Psychological application of implementation science: bridging the gap between research and real-world practice in education settings. You will be using psychological application of implementation science to bridge the gap between research and real-world practice in education settings, and you will be providing psychological safety to provide emotional containment and promote the good wellbeing of educators, parents/carers, children and young people.

What’s in it for you?

Excellent training and development opportunities, plus a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday allowance
• Local Government Pension scheme
• Flexible working and family friendly policies
• Season ticket and bicycle loans
• A range of staff discounts including local subsidised gym memberships
• Supportive staff networks

You will have the opportunity to work with an innovative EP team in a local authority that is driving the agenda on inclusion and belonging. You will be part of the EP team and our Specialist Teacher Teams (Sensory Needs and SpLD) together we are STEPS and we are supported by an excellent Business Support Team.

What we’re looking for

An EP committed to the personal and professional work involved in becoming an actively anti-racist Lewisham EP. You will demonstrate your commitment to this by identifying your own development needs in this area and pro-actively taking up the support on offer in Lewisham EP team. You will want to make your EP practice in the field robust and effective when tackling institutional racism.

An EP who is committed to the complexities of public sector working and has a desire to be part of an EP team ready to respond to the new SEND and Inclusion Reforms and position our profession as Early responders to need, Local and knowledgeable about our area, Fair in our equitable ability to serve those who need us most, Effective because our practice is evidence informed, and able to Share our knowledge and skills in partnership working.

Location

The job is primarily based in Kaleidoscope, a children's developmental centre in Rushey Green/Catford area, but we operate a hybrid approach where you will be required to work both in the office, in education settings, home visits, and from home on a regular basis.

Special conditions

• You must be a qualified educational psychologist with HCPC registration or enrolled on a recognised UK doctoral training programme in Year 2 or Year 3
• The job is subject to an enhanced DBS check

The recruitment process is anonymous, and we don’t accept CV’s.

Applicant handbook - please read the guidance in this handbook when applying. It is essential that you complete the application fully and that your supporting statement covers how you meet each of the person specification criteria listed.

For an informal discussion about this job, please contact Dr Sue Franklin, Principal Educational Psychologist, sue.franklin@lewisham.gov.uk

Please click here to view the Job Description and Person Specification

Salary

£51,893 - £61,664 per annum (Soulbury A 5 - 10 +3 SPA) + Soulbury London Allowance £4,328.21 per annum

Starting salary will be increased inline with any increases established in the Soulbury Agreement for 2025.

N.B: All appointments will be offered at the minimum spinal column point (SCP) for the grade of the role. The only exception to this will be when matching current salary (up to the maximum of the scale), which is subject to evidential proof.

Diversity

Lewisham Council is a Disability Confident employer. We welcome and encourage job applications of all abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments in the application or interview, please contact the lead contact on this advert. We will make reasonable adjustments to make sure our disabled applicants and those with health conditions are supported throughout our recruitment process. We support the access to work scheme, further details are available at www.gov.uk/access-to-work/apply

The Council has a dedicated employment support service, Lewisham Works, which offers Lewisham residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you want to join Lewisham Works, please email JobsAndSkills@lewisham.gov.uk and an advisor will be in touch with you.

The Council reserves the right to close adverts early if there is a large response.

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