The Role

Are you passionate about making a difference for children with special educational and disabilities (SEND)?

Do you want to help shape the lives of children and young people in Wandsworth?

Would you like to join a council that promotes positive outcomes for children and their parents?

If yes, we have the perfect role for you!

We are looking to recruit a Principal Educational Psychologist to join our SEND and Inclusion Service to lead a highly professional team who have a central role in improving outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs in Wandsworth.

About the Service

The Schools and Community Educational Psychology Service (SCPS) deliver the highest quality service to children and young people, their parents and educational settings. The Service is responsible for ensuring that the Local Authority’s statutory responsibility to deliver high quality assessment and reporting are met. As a member of our Service, you will be responsible for the identification and delivery of varied professional workloads, including opportunities for collaborative working, training and project work. 

In addition, the Service offers a traded element delivered to schools and partners, which offers a wide variety of different professional opportunities for team members.

About the role

Your role will be to lead and develop a Service who value a team approach, are committed to consultation as a model of service delivery and who can work sensitively and pro-actively with schools, families and young people, applying psychology at all levels to promote social and educational inclusion for children and young people as well as promote anti-racism and anti-discriminatory practice across all aspects of the role.

The role will be responsible to identify and deliver professional induction, regular supervision in multiple forms (individual, peer and reflective) and to support and develop ongoing professional development for individuals. We have close relationships with Educational Psychology training institutions through our tutor links and value the contribution and inclusion of trainees to our Service.

To be shortlisted for this position your CV and personal Statement will clearly evidence:

• Educational Psychology qualification and active registration with HCPC
• Working at a senior management level within an EP Service
• A thorough knowledge of the Children and Families Act 2014 and the associated SEND Code of Practice.
• Experience of budget management to include income/income sustainability
• The ability to work in a busy and pressurised environment with competing pressures
• Experience of working collaboratively with schools and other education settings, professionals from education, health and social care and children and families. 
• Effective communication both orally and in writing with a wide range of professionals and parents
• A desire to work with children and young people with Special Education Needs and Disabilities

Contact details

For an informal discussion about the role please contact Deborah Johnson by email deborah.johnson@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk    

Benefits

We recognise the importance of a good balance between work and home life so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working including working from home and other arrangements. Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.

We also offer a generous holiday allowance of 39 paid days (pro rata) including bank holidays and a wide range of learning and development opportunities. In addition, we offer a comprehensive range of staff benefits such as membership of the Local Government pension scheme, childcare vouchers, new technology scheme, interest-free loans on annual travel cards, discounts with many leisure activities, restaurants, shops and other establishments.

Indicative recruitment timeline

• Closing date: 11:59pm on Sunday 6^th February 2022
• Shortlisting date: Week commencing 7^th February 2022
• Interview date: Week commencing 21^st February 2022

Useful Information: The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Please note that the advertised dates for interviews may change due to the current Covid-19 situation. If they do, we will let you know as soon as possible. Your health and wellbeing is our top priority. Should you become unwell due to Covid-19 during the recruitment process we would very much appreciate receiving an update from you as soon as possible.

Equality statement

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

Important Information

This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) helps employers make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children. It replaces the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA).

How to apply

To be considered for interview your CV and supporting statement must highlight your knowledge, skills and experience listed in attached Job Profile located at the bottom of the advert.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils