Trainee Educational Psychologist

Job introduction

Job title: Trainee Educational Psychologist

Salary range: £31,599 - £39,640 per annum (Soulbury Trainee Educational Psychologist Scale 2 to 8)

A bit about us:

Liverpool is home to vibrant, energetic, and engaged communities, people who take real ownership of their local area and are passionate about making our city a better place. We've got ambitious targets to meet and we need people who are driven, dynamic and ready to deliver the very best for our communities. Public service is more important than ever, and this role represents a real opportunity to make a difference to our communities by transforming the way we work and placing our residents at the heart of everything we do.

Working at Liverpool City Council provides an opportunity to contribute to your community and make a positive impact on the lives of residents. Our values shape how we work to deliver public services, and how we communicate with the residents we serve. We care about the best outcomes for local people, through our public services.

We are proud of our world-famous thriving city with its rich culture, as well as affordable housing, good schools, beautiful green spaces – there’s really something for everyone!

The role:

Liverpool City Council is looking to recruit Trainee Educational Psychologists to join our established team of Educational Psychologists, Senior EPs and Assistant EPs. We welcome applications from enthusiastic and committed Trainee Educational Psychologists due to enter their second or third year of recognised Child and Educational Psychology Doctorate training in September 2025/26.

We are a traded and statutory service offering trainees a wide range of experiences. In addition to supporting schools and settings, we are commissioned to support Early Years settings and services, the virtual school, electively home educated and foster carers. There are also opportunities to support the development of our training offer and work in specific areas of interest with focus groups that include social justice, ELSA and EBSA.

This is an opportunity to work in a vibrant, diverse city, and EPS team, with colleagues who are committed to improving the outcomes for children, young people and families, facilitating positive change and making a difference! In addition to the support and supervision of your supervisor, we also encourage peer support with recently qualified EPs and those more experienced. All of the team are happy to offer support to trainees in areas of expertise or shared interests.

This post is full-time, including a combination of placement days, university studies and attendance, whilst undertaking all tasks, as required of a TEP on placement.

Our team is seeking individuals who:

• Are flexible and creative
• Have excellent communication skills
• Can work as a team but also autonomously
• Are efficient, skilful and with good time management skills
• Have an extensive knowledge of psychology and be motivated to make a difference to local communities!

Support During Training:

• Supervision will be provided in line with university and HCPC guidelines, delivered using a supportive, strengths based and person-centred model. A named EP supervisor will be in place for you, as well as support from the wider team of assistant EPs, EPs and Senior EPs. Peer support is also encouraged
• An induction programme is provided, tailored to individual needs and interests. This is alongside an existing programme of CPD for all Trainee Educational Psychologists and EPs, within a welcoming and supportive team environment.
• We have an excellent and highly efficient business administration team who are always willing to provide invaluable support
• We have experience providing successful training opportunities, including a range of experiences with our Doctoral trainees choosing to stay with us post qualification

Our offer to you:

• At least 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 32 after 5 years’ service (pro rata if part time) - option to purchase further days
• Agile working (role dependent) - a “Flexibility First” approach to agile working, where flexibility is the norm rather than the exception
• Part of the Local Government Pension Scheme – option to join the AVC Scheme
• Progression - opportunities and training through a wide range of high quality learning
• Health and Wellbeing - offer including Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work and Travel Pass Schemes
• Drive Time – a salary sacrifice car lease scheme
• Family friendly policies with enhanced leave
• Discounted Gym Memberships
• Employee Volunteering Scheme
• Medicash

Next steps:

Closing date: midnight on Tuesday 24 March 2026
Shortlisting date: Wednesday 25 March 2026
Interview date: Tuesday 31 March 2026
Interview type: face-to-face

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early. Once the role has closed, you will not be able to submit an application, and we are unable to reopen the vacancy for you to complete it. We strongly recommend submitting your application well in advance of the closing date to avoid disappointment.

If you would like any further information or an informal discussion, please contact Jenny Parker on 07719437579.

Watch our recruitment video and see what life is like working at Liverpool City Council.

Liverpool City Council is committed to fostering a workforce representative of the communities we serve. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we believe in appointing candidates based on their skills, experience, qualifications, and abilities. To support this commitment, we guarantee an interview to candidates from under-represented groups who meet the minimum essential criteria for the role.

If you require any reasonable adjustments in line with the Equality Act 2010, such as an application form in a different format or additional time to complete your application, please contact us at recruitment@liverpool.gov.uk.

Although we advertise on Jobs Go Public, and other websites, your application process will be directed to our Tribepad system. Please note that all communication regarding your application for this post will be sent to the email address that you have registered on Tribepad, including your invite to interview if you are shortlisted. Please check your emails regularly, including Spam/Junk, after the closing dates for notifications. Please ensure you complete your full profile, work and education history in Tribepad.

Eligibility to work in the UK will be verified in the final stages of the selection process. All candidates must either already have a right to work in the UK before commencing employment or meet the Home Office criteria for Visa sponsorship. Candidates who require sponsorship should evaluate the Home Office eligibility criteria for a Skilled Worker visa before applying.

This is not legal advice, and we advise you to seek your own independent legal advice tailored to your own personal circumstances.