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- Tasks: Lead a dynamic Educational Psychology Service focused on equity and empowerment.
- Company: Join South Ayrshire Council, committed to improving educational outcomes for all children.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, excellent pension, wellbeing initiatives, and work-life balance support.
- Other info: Flexible hybrid work environment with strong professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable children and young people.
- Qualifications: Qualified psychologist with leadership skills and a passion for innovative practice.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
This post offers the opportunity to lead a dynamic Educational Psychology Service whose vision is of ‘equity, excellence and empowerment through psychology’. We have a passionate commitment to applying psychological research to improve the educational outcomes of all children and young people, especially those who are vulnerable. As a service we have a strong focus on early intervention and prevention, reducing the poverty related attainment gap, and developing nurture approaches across a variety of sectors including early years, primary, secondary and specialist educational provisions. We have a strong commitment to enhancing the lives of children who are care experienced. The Service actively encourages and supports innovative and creative practice. The Service welcomes applications from aspiring leaders who are suitably qualified to lead our dynamic team. The service has a strong commitment to supporting continuing professional development for all staff. Applications are welcomed from suitably qualified psychologists.
If you wish to discuss this post further, please contact Gayle Ferguson 01292 612129.
ABOUT US
South Ayrshire is at the heart of historic Ayrshire, with a wealth of local heritage and culture, first class leisure amenities, world-wide travel links, diverse landscapes and thriving communities. Making a difference for our communities is at the heart of what we do and working with us means, you can use your skills, knowledge and experience to help us do just that. We currently employ around 6000 people to serve a population of more than 112,000 people located across a diverse area that includes the towns of Ayr, Girvan, Maybole, Prestwick and Troon as well as small rural villages, coastline and farmland. We are an ambitious Council, and we aim to place people at the centre of everything we do as we look to deliver the best possible outcomes. We are ambitious for our communities too and our new Council Plan is based on priorities and outcomes that we believe will have the greatest impact on the wellbeing of our communities, our local economy, and our environment.
BENEFITS
- Competitive salary
- Excellent pension scheme
- Wellbeing initiatives and Occupational Health services
- A healthy environment supportive of work-life balance and caring responsibilities
- Car leasing scheme
- Discounts on major supermarkets and retailers, cinemas and gym memberships (including Council leisure facilities)
- Purchase of white goods and more via salary sacrifice
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Scotwest Credit Union
REQUIREMENTS
This post is considered to be Regulated Work with children as specified in the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) (PVG) Act 2007. Accordingly, the preferred candidate will be required to become a member of the PVG Scheme, or undergo a PVG Scheme update if already a Scheme member, prior to any formal offer of employment being made. If you wish further information on the PVG Scheme you can visit the Disclosure Scotland website at www.disclosurescotland.co.uk. Please note you may be required to meet PVG cost.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Interviews for this post are scheduled for 04/06/2026. The grade of this post is Depute/principal educational psychologist - point 5. The work style for this post is Hybrid. The successful candidate will be required to work flexibly between home and the office and the frequency for attending the office may vary depending on the exigencies of the service.
Principal Educational Psychologist - County Buildings, Ayr - SOA12491 - SOA12491 employer: South Ayrshire Council
Contact Detail:
South Ayrshire Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Educational Psychologist - County Buildings, Ayr - SOA12491 - SOA12491
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees of the Educational Psychology Service. They can give you insider info on what it’s really like and might even put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by diving deep into the service's vision of ‘equity, excellence and empowerment through psychology’. Think about how your experience aligns with their goals and be ready to share specific examples.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion for early intervention and prevention! Be prepared to discuss innovative ideas you have for reducing the poverty-related attainment gap and enhancing the lives of care-experienced children.
✨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 are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Educational Psychologist - County Buildings, Ayr - SOA12491 - SOA12491
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for educational psychology shine through. We want to see how committed you are to improving the lives of children and young people, especially those who are vulnerable.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to tailor your application to reflect the values and vision of our Educational Psychology Service. Highlight your experience with early intervention and prevention strategies, as well as any innovative practices you've implemented.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured responses that directly address the requirements of the role. Avoid jargon and make it easy for us to see why you're the right fit.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us without any hiccups. Plus, it shows you’re tech-savvy and ready to embrace our digital approach.
How to prepare for a job interview at South Ayrshire Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the latest psychological research and practices, especially those that focus on early intervention and reducing the poverty-related attainment gap. Brush up on your knowledge about nurture approaches and how they can be applied across various educational settings.
✨Show Your Passion
Demonstrate your commitment to improving educational outcomes for vulnerable children and young people. Share specific examples from your experience where you've made a difference, and express your enthusiasm for leading a dynamic team dedicated to equity and excellence.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect to face scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and leadership abilities. Think of situations where you’ve successfully implemented innovative practices or led a team through challenges, and be ready to discuss these in detail.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions that show your interest in the role and the service’s vision. Inquire about their current initiatives, professional development opportunities, and how they measure success in enhancing the lives of care-experienced children. This will demonstrate your proactive approach and genuine interest in the position.