Senior Educational Psychologist

Job Introduction

Lincolnshire County Council is pleased to offer an exciting opportunity for an experienced and motivated Senior Educational Psychologist (SEP) to join our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Service on a full-time basis. This role is available on a hybrid working model, incorporating both remote and in-person working arrangements to promote flexibility and work-life balance.

About the Role

We are seeking a dynamic, forward-thinking, and compassionate professional to contribute to our vision of delivering a high-quality, inclusive child-centred service to our children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families.

This is a pivotal role within the SEND Service, designed for an individual who is committed to the ongoing development and improvement of educational psychology service delivery. The successful candidate will take a leading role in our commissioned locum Educational Psychologist (EP) service delivery model, ensuring that all commissioned psychological advice reflects best practice in the application of psychology, is underpinned by innovation, and maintains the highest standards of professional integrity.

The post holder will:

• Lead the onboarding process for new locum Educational Psychologists, ensuring they are well-supported and aligned with the council’s expectations and quality standards.
• Oversee the quality assurance of psychological advice informing Education, Health, and Care Needs Assessments (EHCNAs) and subsequent Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs).
• Contribute to the development and implementation of the EHCP Plan Quality Assurance Framework, driving consistency and excellence in EHCP advice and outcomes.
• Provide expert educational psychology input at the SEND Moderation Panel
• Personally contribute psychological advice for EHCP assessments.

This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced Educational Psychologist looking to step into a leadership role within a progressive local authority that is committed to innovation and making a meaningful difference in the lives of the children, young people, and families across Lincolnshire.

About You

Required experience:

• You should have grounded post qualification knowledge and experience as a practicing Educational Psychologist and hold current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), demonstrating a commitment to maintaining professional standards and ethical practice.
• You are an articulate and confident communicator, with well-developed interpersonal and presentation skills. You are experienced in designing and delivering high-quality training and professional development sessions to diverse audiences, including education professionals, multi-agency teams, and other key stakeholders.
• You demonstrate a thorough and up-to-date understanding of best practices within the field of Educational Psychology, alongside a strong working knowledge of relevant legislation and statutory guidance pertaining to special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice.
• You will demonstrate a commitment to continuous professional development and reflective practice.

About Our Offer

Along with a competitive salary we are offering:

• A Contributory pension
• Comprehensive benefits package including excellent discount schemes and cycle to work
• Flexible working policies
• Career progression opportunities
• A generous annual leave entitlement plus the option to buy more

Further details about the benefits of working for Lincolnshire County Council are available here: Rewards and benefits – Lincolnshire County Council 

If you would like an open and informal discussion regards this role, then please contact; Katie Marsden, Head of Service SEND, via email katie.marsden@lincolnshire.gov.uk  

Applications Close on 15th May with interviews due to take place on the 2nd June.

We wish you the best of luck with your application!

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

All candidates are advised to read the attached job information pack prior to making an application.

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. 

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.