Team Leader/Senior Educational Psychologist

Job Introduction

Salary range: Soulbury Salary Scale B 3-6 (£56,540-£61,848 per annum) plus up to 3 SPA points (Pay Review Pending)

• Successful candidates may be eligible to claim up to £8000 in relocation expenses.
• We are open to discussions about flexible working and part-time hours.

Closing date: This advert is open-ended, and we will be reviewing applications as they come in. We reserve the right to close the advert once we have enough applications, so would encourage you to apply as soon as you can. Vetting requirements: This role is subject to a Criminal Records Check. 

Together, we’re inspiring young minds.

Join us as we transform the lives of children and young families in Oxfordshire. 

About us

Together, we’re focussed on making every day the best it can be for children, young people and their families. It’s not a job – it’s a passion and together, we’re shaping education for the future. 

Every day, our colleagues are helping to transform the lives of our residents of Oxfordshire and helping them to live the lives they want to live by ensuring every child has the best possible education.

Join us on an exciting journey towards Delivering the Future Together, our ambitious transformation programme which is enabling us to be an employer, partner, and place shaper of choice. We’re seeking the right people who can help us get there while embracing our value of ‘daring to do it differently’, as we continue to strive to do better.

About the Role

There are three area teams, each led by a Senior Educational Psychologist. As part of your role, you will support the Principal Educational Psychologist with the strategic development of the Educational Psychology (EP) service. Additionally, you will help improve the learning and achievement for children and young people within SEND, collaborating with the service, SEND Managers, wider Education colleagues and other service areas, partners and key stakeholders. We’re a team of reflective practitioners who value professional development and strong peer support to ensure that we consistently develop and maintain skills and knowledge. As a member of the team, you will be well supported through an induction and regular line management and supervision thereafter, with opportunities to develop areas of interest and collaborative working.

Within this role, you will:

• Take on a small patch of traded work (which can include time for schools/settings as well as time for projects, such as Emotional Literacy Support Assistant training and supervision).
• Undertake statutory casework and apply your psychological skills and knowledge to ensure the best possible outcomes and opportunities for children and young people. 
• Play a crucial role in providing strategic, operational leadership and management support to the Oxfordshire Educational Psychology Service to deliver a range of psychological services for children, young people, their families and schools/settings. 
• Manage the work of an area team of educational psychologists including statutory work and traded work, to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND and additional educational needs.
• Provide professional supervision for Trainee EPs and Assistant EPs 
• Be a member of SEND panels as required and contribute to timely and transparent decision-making regarding provision for children and young people with education, social care and health needs.
• Contribute to quality assurance processes and the management of agency EPs.

About you 

We are looking for:

• A professionally qualified Educational Psychologist with registration to the HCPC with a minimum of three years post-qualification experience
• Committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults.
• Able to contribute to ethical decision-making.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Works within a consultative/joint problem-solving framework.
• Actively challenges all forms of discrimination and promotes equal opportunities, inclusion and diversity.
• Enthusiastic, creative and determined to make a positive impact on children’s lives through the application of psychology.

Rewards and Benefits

We offer:

• Up to 33 days annual leave and the opportunity to purchase additional leave.
• Relocation allowance of up to £8,000
• Part-time working can be discussed.
• Flexible agile working. Each EP is provided with a wireless enabled laptop and phone as well as excellent on-demand IT support.
• For those that have been an EP for more than one year, you have further earned opportunities by completing additional EHCNA psychological advice at a competitive rate. 
• Opportunities to apply psychology creatively in different contexts.
• Stimulating Continuing Professional Development opportunities
• Dedicated administrative support.
• Membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, employer’s contribution of up to 19.9%
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support 24 x7.
• Range of family friendly policies.
• Childcare vouchers, cycle to work scheme, electric car scheme, range of staff discounts including travel, holidays, insurance, food, health & leisure activities. 
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.
• Explore more here 

Our commitment to:
 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to:
Guaranteed Interview Schemes

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to:
Safeguarding

Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Our commitment to:
Flexible Working

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexitime, part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

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If you encounter any technical issues with the application system, please contact us at: careers@oxfordshire.gov.uk