Senior Educational Psychologist

Herefordshire Educational Psychology Service (HEPS) is seeking to recruit an experienced candidate to the role of Senior Educational Psychologist (SEP). As a SEP you will be supporting the Service in applying psychology to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEN and additional educational needs in Herefordshire.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Principal Educational Psychologist (PEP) in providing a strategic and professional lead to the Educational Psychology Team.
• Provide line management and supervision for a small group of main‑grade psychologists, trainee EPs and Assistant EPs, facilitating their ability to apply psychology to meet the needs of children, young people, adults, schools, settings and families in Herefordshire.
• Take a strategic lead in areas of expertise.
• Support the provision of statutory and early‑intervention educational psychology services across Herefordshire.
• Support service development and design and implement a range of training for schools.
• Support the service’s quality assurance (QA) processes.
• Work collaboratively with Senior Officers and Intervention and Support teams, and through effective inter‑agency working, improve inclusive policy, practices and provision for all vulnerable children and young people and adults, including those with SEND.
• Attend panels and meetings with professionals from a range of services that facilitate the local authority’s work supporting SEN.

About the Candidate

We are looking for a highly motivated, passionate, dynamic and flexible Senior Educational Psychologist.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Registered Educational Psychologist with HCPC.
• At least five years of experience working within a team of educational psychologists.
• Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills and knowledge of the context in which psychological services, schools and settings operate.
• Lead by example, responding flexibly to the needs of the whole team with integrity, accountability, compassion and care.
• Conformance to HEPS’s co‑produced shared values: “Our mission is to apply psychology with kindness, empathy and relational understanding to empower schools, families and young people across Herefordshire. Through collaborative, reflective and evidence‑informed practice, we create safe spaces for communication, promote inclusion and wellbeing, and inspire positive systemic change so that every child and young person can thrive and reach their potential.”
• Meet the criteria set out in the job description and person specification documents.

Benefits

• Competitive salary £63,638 - £67,526.
• Enrolment in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Career progression: clear pathways.
• Annual leave: 31 days pro rata plus bank holidays, with option to purchase 10 additional days per annum.
• Flexible working: potential for job‑sharing, part‑time hours and agile working.
• Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 access to support and counselling.
• Payment of professional membership fees (based on role requirements).
• Access to a range of retail, leisure, holiday and health benefits, including savings, cash back and discounts.

Contact

For an informal discussion or further information, contact Caryl Griffiths – Principal Educational Psychologist on 07792 881930 or caryl.griffiths@herefordshire.gov.uk.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

We are an equal opportunities employer. The following candidates will be interviewed if they meet the essential criteria for the post they are applying for:

• Those who indicate that they have a disability.
• Those who indicate in their application that they are an Armed Forces Veteran or Reservist.
• Those who indicate in their application that they are a Herefordshire care leaver.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This position will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced check and further pre‑employment checks.