Principal Educational Psychologist

Job Introduction

Principal Educational Psychologist – Lincolnshire

Soulbury Scale B (Points 12–14)

Shape the Future of Educational Psychology in Lincolnshire

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to join Lincolnshire at a pivotal point in its SEND improvement journey.

We are looking for an ambitious and experienced Principal Educational Psychologist who is motivated by the opportunity to lead, influence and develop Educational Psychology within a large and evolving local authority system.

This is not a role focused solely on managing an existing service. It is an opportunity to provide strategic leadership across Educational Psychology provision while helping to establish and shape Lincolnshire's future Educational Psychology model.

At the heart of the role will be responsibility for the oversight, quality assurance and professional leadership of Educational Psychologists delivering statutory SEND work on behalf of the Local Authority through commissioned arrangements. Alongside this, you will play a key role in developing Lincolnshire's longer-term Educational Psychology workforce, supporting the establishment and growth of an internal Educational Psychology team that will work alongside commissioned provision.

This developing internal team will contribute not only to complex statutory casework but also to wider inclusion, early intervention, professional consultation and the delivery of SEND reform priorities across Lincolnshire.

About the Role

As Principal Educational Psychologist, you will provide strategic and professional leadership for Educational Psychology across Lincolnshire, ensuring that psychological advice and statutory contributions are timely, high quality and have a meaningful impact on children and young people.

A significant aspect of the role will involve managing the relationship with commissioned Educational Psychology providers and overseeing the onboarding, induction, quality assurance and ongoing professional oversight of agency Educational Psychologists delivering statutory assessments on behalf of the Local Authority.

You will ensure clear expectations, robust quality standards and effective moderation processes are in place, supporting consistency and continual improvement across all Educational Psychology advice.

Alongside this, you will lead the development of Lincolnshire's internal Educational Psychology capacity. Working collaboratively with universities, training providers and professional networks, you will help design and establish a sustainable local authority Educational Psychology workforce that strengthens professional leadership and supports long-term workforce resilience.

As this internal offer develops, Educational Psychologists will increasingly contribute to:

• complex and high-profile casework;
• inclusion and early intervention activity;
• consultation and support for schools and settings;
• workforce development across the SEND system;
• delivery of Lincolnshire's emerging SEND Reform Programme;
• development of Lincolnshire's evolving Experts @ Hand model and wider SEND improvement initiatives.

This is an opportunity to influence how Educational Psychology contributes not only to statutory processes, but to wider system transformation and improved outcomes for children and young people.

What Makes This Opportunity Different

This is not simply a vacancy to fill. It is a chance to shape a service at a key point of change.

You will be joining a SEND leadership team that is ambitious about improving outcomes for children and young people and committed to developing a sustainable Educational Psychology model for the future.

You will have the opportunity to:

• provide professional leadership and oversight of Educational Psychology provision across Lincolnshire;
• oversee the onboarding, development and quality assurance of commissioned Educational Psychologists undertaking statutory work;
• shape and establish Lincolnshire's internal Educational Psychology service;
• develop partnerships with universities and training providers to support workforce growth and succession planning;
• strengthen quality assurance, moderation and professional standards across Educational Psychology advice;
• contribute to complex casework and strategic SEND decision-making;
• influence the development of Lincolnshire's SEND Reform Programme and Experts @ Hand offer;
• work collaboratively with schools, settings, health partners and SEND leaders to improve inclusion and outcomes;
• develop a service model that is sustainable, professionally rewarding and responsive to local need.

Who We Are Looking For

We are looking for an experienced HCPC-registered Educational Psychologist who combines professional credibility with strong leadership and a passion for system improvement.

You will be confident operating within a complex local authority environment and able to provide leadership across both commissioned and directly employed Educational Psychology provision.

You will be someone who can balance quality assurance with professional support, build strong partnerships and help create a shared vision for Educational Psychology across Lincolnshire.

We are particularly interested in someone who:

• understands the opportunities and challenges facing local authority SEND services;
• has experience of leading or quality assuring statutory Educational Psychology work;
• can oversee and support a commissioned workforce while maintaining high professional standards;
• has the vision and determination to help establish and grow an internal Educational Psychology service;
• values workforce development and partnership working with universities and training providers;
• can contribute strategically to inclusion, early intervention and SEND reform;
• is collaborative, values-led and focused on improving outcomes for children and young people.

Why Lincolnshire?

• Lincolnshire offers the opportunity to work at scale, across a diverse local area, with real visibility and influence. This role sits at the heart of SEND improvement and provides the scope to shape not only how Educational Psychology is delivered now, but how it develops for the future.
• We recognise that Educational Psychologists have choices about where and how they work. This role offers something different: the opportunity to lead strategically, build capacity, influence reform and develop a service model that is both professionally meaningful and genuinely needed.
• You will be supported by a committed SEND leadership team and will have the opportunity to make a lasting contribution to children, young people, families and schools across Lincolnshire.
• Alongside a competitive salary, Lincolnshire County Council offers a strong employment package including pension, flexible working, generous annual leave and a range of employee benefits. 

At Lincolnshire County Council, we believe our people are at the heart of everything we do. That’s why we offer a rewarding package designed to support your work–life balance, health and wellbeing, financial security, and career growth. Find out more about our offer to you in the attached brochure.

Interested?

If you are ready for a role where you can lead, shape and make a lasting impact, we would welcome your application.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Katie Marsden, Head of SEND, by emailing katie.marsden@lincolnshire.gov.uk.

PLEASE NOTE: It is imperative that your personal statement clearly states why you have applied, how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role as set out in the Job Description (attached on LCC jobs Site) and what you feel you can bring to this role, the team and the wider County Council.

Please refer to our Job Information Pack here to support you in your application.

Please be advised that this position may be subject to a criminal record check. 

On occasion we receive significantly more applications than expected for some vacancies and under such circumstances we reserve the right to bring forward the closing date of the advertisement. We therefore strongly advise you to apply for the role promptly to avoid disappointment should the closing date be brought forward. Please also note: once an application is submitted it is final and cannot be amended. If you withdraw your application, it cannot be reinstated and you will not be able to submit another application for that vacancy. If you have an issue with your submitted application, please contact recruitment@lincolnshire.gov.uk.

We operate a talent pool scheme whereby candidates who are not successful on this occasion may be considered for a period of up to 3 months for equal positions.

Lincolnshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

A Smarter Working Employer

We have embraced new ways of working and hybrid working will be a feature of this role. You will be given a nominated contractual work base and you will be required to commute to this work base when necessary.  Working arrangements regarding hybrid working will be discussed as part of the appointment process.

Our technology platform and equipment is very good enabling you to connect and collaborate remotely. We require that you have in place good connectivity, and we will discuss during the recruitment process if support with this is needed.

Fluency Duty 

In accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 (Fluency Duty), the ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

Our values – collaborative, adaptable, eco-conscious, supportive, and responsible – guide everything we do. We’re looking for candidates who share these values and bring them to life in their work, helping us build strong teams and make a real difference in the communities we serve.