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- Tasks: Lead the Educational Psychology Service to support children with special educational needs and disabilities.
- Company: Southend-on-Sea City Council, a dynamic local authority focused on community well-being.
- Benefits: 25 days annual leave, flexible working, and excellent training opportunities.
- Other info: Join a collaborative team dedicated to continuous improvement and safeguarding.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and families while shaping inclusive practices.
- Qualifications: Postgraduate qualification in Educational Psychology and HCPC registration required.
The predicted salary is between 72999 - 81425 £ per year.
Your New Organisation
Southend-on-Sea City Council is a unitary local authority, providing vital services to meet the needs of the local community. We employ around 1,800 staff who work alongside our partners and local communities to deliver the city vision and make lives better for the people of Southend. Working for Southend-on-Sea City Council offers a challenging and rewarding career in local government within a collaborative and innovative environment, with the benefit of flexible working practices to support a positive work-life balance.
Your new role
Are you ready to make a meaningful and lasting difference to the lives of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Southend-on-Sea? Southend-on-Sea City Council is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Principal Educational Psychologist to lead our Educational Psychology Service. This is a rare opportunity to shape the strategic direction of the service, influence inclusive practice across the city and play a central role in supporting children, families and professionals.
As Principal Educational Psychologist, you will provide strong strategic and operational leadership, ensuring the delivery of high-quality psychological advice and support to schools, settings and partners. You will have the autonomy to grow and develop the service, nurture talent within your team and embed a culture of reflection, learning and continuous improvement.
Our Principal Educational Psychologist plays a strategic, system-wide role in shaping and delivering SEND reform, influencing policy, practice, and outcomes across education, health, and care systems beyond individual assessments, and acting as a key local driver by integrating leadership, psychological expertise, and system design to strengthen inclusive and sustainable practice.
What you'll be doing
You will lead and manage the Educational Psychology Service, setting a clear vision and ensuring the service responds effectively to local priorities and statutory responsibilities. Working closely with schools, early years settings, health colleagues and partner agencies, you will champion collaborative working and promote inclusive, evidence-based interventions that improve outcomes for children and young people.
You will oversee the delivery of statutory psychological advice in line with the SEND Code of Practice (0-25 years), including complex casework and representation at SEN Tribunals where required. Alongside this, you will be responsible for quality assurance, ensuring the service operates to the highest professional and ethical standards.
Safeguarding will be integral to your role, and you will actively promote the welfare and protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults, ensuring robust risk management and safeguarding practices are embedded across the service.
What you'll need to succeed
You will be an experienced Senior Educational Psychologist with a strong track record of leadership and people management. You will bring confidence in leading, supervising and developing staff, alongside experience of partnership working and contributing to multi professional casework and strategic projects. You will be an excellent communicator, able to influence, collaborate and build trusted relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. A strong commitment to inclusion, continuous improvement and evidence informed practice will be central to your approach.
You will hold a recognised postgraduate qualification in Educational Psychology and be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). You will also have a deep understanding of SEND legislation, statutory processes, safeguarding responsibilities and the strategic frameworks that support effective service delivery.
What you'll get in return
When joining the council, you can enjoy a range of benefits including: 25 days annual leave, flexible working and excellent training and development opportunities. They are committed to ensuring that you are supported in this varied and challenging role with the appropriate level of training.
Salary is Soulbury Scale B Points 12-15 (£72,999 - £77,184) with access to up to 3 additional SPA points (£78,591 - £81,425).
What you need to do now
If you are interested in this role, please click 'apply online' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV. Please note: Applications for this vacancy may close prior to the date advertised above, so you are advised to apply as soon as you are able to.
Southend-on-Sea City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. All applicants for this role will require an enhanced DBS check.
Principal Educational Psychologist employer: Hays
Contact Detail:
Hays Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Educational Psychologist
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the educational psychology field and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a role that’s perfect for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Southend-on-Sea City Council and their approach to SEND. Show them you’re not just another candidate; demonstrate your passion for making a difference in the lives of children and young people.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common interview questions, especially those related to leadership and collaboration. We want you to feel confident and ready to showcase your skills and experience when it counts!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Educational Psychologist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Principal Educational Psychologist role. Highlight your leadership experience and any relevant SEND work to show us you’re the perfect fit!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you’re passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and young people with SEND. Share specific examples of your achievements and how they relate to the role.
Showcase Your Communication Skills: As an Educational Psychologist, strong communication is key. In your application, demonstrate your ability to build relationships and collaborate with various stakeholders. We want to see how you can influence and engage others!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hays
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of SEND legislation and the statutory processes involved. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you're not just experienced, but also well-informed about the current landscape.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams or projects in the past. Highlight your ability to nurture talent and promote a culture of continuous improvement, as this is key for the Principal Educational Psychologist role.
✨Build Relationships
Think about how you can demonstrate your skills in building trusted relationships with various stakeholders. Be ready to share specific instances where your communication and collaboration made a positive impact.
✨Emphasise Safeguarding
Since safeguarding is integral to the role, be prepared to discuss your approach to risk management and how you've promoted the welfare of children and vulnerable adults in previous positions. This will show your commitment to the values of Southend-on-Sea City Council.