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- Tasks: Lead the Educational Psychology Service and support children with special educational needs.
- Company: Southend-on-Sea City Council, a dynamic local authority making a difference in the community.
- Benefits: 25 days annual leave, flexible working, and excellent training opportunities.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on continuous improvement and safeguarding.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact on children's lives while shaping inclusive practices.
- Qualifications: Postgraduate qualification in Educational Psychology and HCPC registration required.
The predicted salary is between 46000 - 52000 £ 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. 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. 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).
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.
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. 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.
Educational Psychologist (Permanent, Temporary) in Southend-on-Sea employer: Hays
Contact Detail:
Hays Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Educational Psychologist (Permanent, Temporary) in Southend-on-Sea
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Southend-on-Sea City Council on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give us insider info about the role and the team, plus it shows our genuine interest in the position.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the council's recent projects and initiatives. We want to show that we’re not just interested in the job, but also in how we can contribute to their mission of making lives better in Southend.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice common interview questions related to educational psychology and leadership. We can even do mock interviews with friends or family to boost our confidence and refine our answers.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after the interview! A quick thank-you email reiterating our enthusiasm for the role can leave a lasting impression. Plus, it’s a great way to keep the conversation going!
We think you need these skills to ace Educational Psychologist (Permanent, Temporary) in Southend-on-Sea
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the specific skills and experiences that align with the role of Principal Educational Psychologist. Highlight your leadership experience and any relevant projects you've worked on that demonstrate your commitment to inclusion and continuous improvement.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter 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 how you've influenced practice or policy in your previous roles, and show us your vision for the Educational Psychology Service.
Showcase Your Qualifications: Don’t forget to mention your recognised postgraduate qualification in Educational Psychology and your HCPC registration. These are essential for us to know you meet the professional standards required for this role.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. This ensures your application is received promptly and allows us to process it efficiently. Plus, it’s the best way to stay updated on your application status!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hays
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the latest developments in educational psychology, especially around SEND. Familiarise yourself with Southend-on-Sea City Council's initiatives and how your expertise can align with their goals. This shows you're not just interested in the role, but also invested in the community.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Principal Educational Psychologist, you'll need to demonstrate strong leadership abilities. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams or projects in the past. Think about times when you’ve influenced practice or policy and be ready to discuss these experiences in detail.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
This role requires working closely with various stakeholders, so highlight your experience in partnership working. Be prepared to discuss specific instances where you've collaborated with schools, health professionals, or other agencies to achieve positive outcomes for children and young people.
✨Prepare for Ethical Scenarios
Safeguarding is a key part of this role, so think about ethical dilemmas you might face as an Educational Psychologist. Prepare to discuss how you would handle these situations, demonstrating your commitment to safeguarding and the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.