Trainee Educational Psychologist in Knowsley

We are looking for driven and passionate people to work with us to deliver real benefits for our residents and businesses and become part of the Knowsley Journey.

Location: Nutgrove Villa, Westmorland Road, Huyton, Knowsley, L36 6GA, Hybrid Working

Contract: Temporary

Working Pattern: Full Time

Hours: 36 hours per week.

Closing Date: 01/03/2026 at 23:59

Reference: CVP 0548

Knowsley Council is an award-winning Local Authority, named Local Authority of the Year in the Municipal Journal Awards 2024. We are an Accredited employer under the Liverpool City Region Fair Employment Charter, demonstrating that we are committed to the principle of fair employment and we are dedicated to providing a healthy, fair, inclusive and just workplace.

Knowsley Educational Psychology Service has a vacancy for a Trainee Educational Psychologist (TEPs) who will begin their second (or third) year of doctoral training in educational psychology in September 2026. This is a full-time post, and the expectation is that successful applicants will make a commitment to work within Knowsley Educational Psychology Service, for the remaining placement years of their period of training.

We wholeheartedly welcome applications from those with a strong desire to live or work in or around the Knowsley area, owing to future recruitment prospects within the service. As a TEP in Knowsley you will work alongside our talented and dynamic EPs to develop your skills and critical thinking. We are invested in early intervention and the application of psychology in a proactive and positive way to make a real difference to the children, young people, and families of the Borough.

Through our diverse service offer you will have the opportunity to develop and hone your skills in assessment, consultation and training, in addition to taking part in our ongoing project work as overseen by our Senior EPs. Further to our high-quality statutory work and traded involvement in schools, the EPS offers:

• ELSA and MeLSA training and supervision across the Borough.
• Established Group Consultation models providing support for Early Years Providers, Primary school Staff, Secondary Behaviour and Inclusion Leads/SENCos and all Designated Safeguarding Leads.
• Multi-professional, trauma-informed consultation with our Youth Offending and Prevention Services.
• Collaboration through research and intervention on national and local scale as part of our Cognition and Learning project.
• Support, advice and guidance through the SEND Community Drop‑ins.
• Ongoing and expanding opportunities to engage in authority wide project work.

The coming year also offers new endeavours for the Service including pilot interventions to support both children and families experiencing Emotional Barriers to School Attendance. There will be plentiful experiences for TEPs to get involved as you embark upon the next stage of your journey to becoming a well‑rounded and skilled EP.

You will become a valued member of Knowsley’s well‑regarded Educational Psychology Service, whilst being fully supported to fulfil university requirements. You will also have access to extensive benefits, including:

• Support from a warm, dynamic, and committed team of psychologists with the luxury of professional business support.
• Regular clinical and peer group supervision.
• A full corporate induction.
• Internal professional development through Enquiry Based Learning and Interest groups.
• Use of Q interactive along with a wide range of other assessment tools, resources and materials.
• A hybrid working model, enabling flexible home working as well as access to a well‑equipped and vibrant working environment located in Nutgrove Villa in Huyton.
• Easily accessible location (15 mins to Liverpool, 30 mins to Manchester), with train links and ample free parking available on site and nearby.
• Car user allowance and increased mileage rates (conditions apply).
• Access to working rewards including: Staff technology purchase scheme, Discounted gym membership (with Volair), A host of other discounts and wellbeing support via VIVUP.

For the period of employment, the host university will be deemed to be the approved employee base for all other working days. Applicants must already be in Year 1 or 2 of a recognised EP professional doctorate training course and be eligible for HCPC registration on completion.

We look forward to receiving your application if you are passionate about applying psychology, are committed to empowering service users, and have excellent communication skills. We welcome applications from residents and beyond, regardless of background, belief, or identity, recognising the value that diversity brings to our organisation. We particularly welcome applications from individuals from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and candidates with disabilities as we acknowledge their underrepresentation in our workforce.

If you have any questions about this specific job role or what it is like to work at Knowsley, please contact: eps@knowsley.gov.uk or call 0151 443 3516.

If you are interested in this vacancy, please upload your CV along with a supporting statement as one document in PDF or Word format. Your CV and supporting statement should be tailored to reflect the competencies within the person specification. Please note if a CV and supporting statement does not reflect the person specification it is unlikely to be shortlisted.