Specialist Educational Psychologist

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Please apply online by clicking the link below

Specialist Educational Psychologist (Soulbury Scale B 3–7+ up to 3 SPA points)

Wirral: Making a Difference for Children and Young People

Join a service that is truly making a difference. Wirral Children’s Services are dedicated to securing brighter futures for all children and young people (CYP). Our Educational Psychology (EP) Service is forward-thinking, and committed to delivering meaningful, lasting impact for families and communities.

If you are an EP who values early intervention and relational approaches, if you are passionate about inclusion, motivated by collaboration, and driven to create widespread positive change, then Wirral offers an exciting opportunity to to make a positive, wide-reaching impact to the lives of children and young people with SEND and their families.

Welcome to Wirral: About Us

Wirral EP Service is a forward thinking and warm, supportive team of skilled practitioners united by shared values and a strong commitment to inclusive practice. Our work is valued and underpinned by positive psychology, consultation, and solution-focused approaches, enabling us to deliver high-quality, impactful support. As part of our welcoming and supportive team, you'll benefit from frequent peer support, collaborative practice, and regular social events that help colleagues stay connected and thrive.

Wirral EP Service is ambitious for Wirral’s children and young people, and this is an exciting time to join us.  We are playing a central role in delivering the Experts at Hand model, helping to improve inclusive outcomes for children, young people and their families through our consultation and systemic working; as well as continuing to promote inclusive practice through a range of initiatives, including:

• The Neuroinclusive Education Network
• Emotional Literacy Support (ELSA)
• Innovative approaches such as the AV1 robot programme

The team’s involvement in the development of LA wide initiatives is highly valued by senior leaders. We have good working relationships with Wirral’s SEND support teams and wider professionals, including Wirral’s Youth Justice Service. We have strong links the University of Manchester’s EP doctorate programme through both our associate tutor EP and our fantastic trainees who always offer an extra vibrancy to our service.

While statutory work remains an important part of the Educational Psychology Service, our extensive locum EP provision enables the core team to focus increasingly on early intervention and preventative practice, supporting the ambitions of SEND reform and Wirral's Experts at Hand model.

Schools and settings value our input and are keen to work with us for positive change.  Our team of EPs, trainee EPs and Assistant EPs, all work collaboratively within a culture of support and professional growth.

About the Candidate:

We are seeking experienced EPs with knowledge and experience in the area of Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH).

In addition to core EP responsibilities, you will:

• Lead and champion inclusive practice across the Local Authority in this area
• Work on embedding relational and trauma-informed approaches in schools, as part of our Experts at Hand work
• Shape and deliver strategic developments to support engagement and belonging in schools, setting and communities, as lead for our emotional barriers to school attendance (EBSA) work
• Work collaboratively across agencies to drive systemic change and boost inclusion
• Promote and embed evidence-based practice across the service
• Support the development of colleagues and strengthen professional expertise in our team; and in wider children’s services

What You’ll Need to be Successful When Applying to Wirral

We are looking for enthusiastic and committed professionals who:

• Thrive in collaborative environments and are passionate about service development
• Hold a recognised postgraduate qualification in Educational Psychology
• Are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Have a sound understanding of SEND legislation, safeguarding, and statutory processes

What Wirral Can Offer You

We are committed to supporting your professional and personal wellbeing. Benefits include:

• A welcoming, friendly service with a strong team ethos
• A comprehensive and supported induction
• Soulbury pay scale with up to 3 SPA points and existing SPA points honoured
• Clear and supported career progression pathways for EPs, including Specialist and Senior EP roles
• Reimbursement of HCPC registration fees
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements to support work-life balance
• Excellent CPD and career development opportunities
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme, staff networks and employee discounts
• Modern, well-equipped office space in a central location
• Salary exchange schemes, including additional annual leave and cycle-to-work options

Want to Find Out More?

We would love to hear from you. For further information about living and working on Wirral, please see our candidate brochure attached.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact our Senior Eps, Judith Temlett on [email removed] or Pauline Mellor on [email removed]

This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check, including a check of the relevant Barred List(s). The Safer Recruitment & Employment Policy and the Disclosures for Recruitment Procedure can be found at : https://www.wirral.gov.uk/jobs-and-training/job-vacancies/safer-recruitment-and-employment

If you’re already a Wirral Council employee, and as part of our Talent Strategy, we’re committed to strengthening opportunities for our people to learn, grow, progress and thrive. For many of you, this may be preparing and applying for your next role with us, and we're passionate about ensuring you feel supported throughout your internal recruitment experience. Please get in touch if you want to know more about some of the ways in which we could support you by emailing [email removed]

If you are a Wirral resident, are unemployed or out of work, and require help with your application, please contact Involve Northwest’s employment and skills team on [email removed] or contact [phone removed] or [phone removed].

Working at Wirral

Wirral offers the best of both worlds: a vibrant, accessible location with excellent transport links to Liverpool and surrounding areas, alongside attractive coastal and green spaces—making it a fantastic place to live and work.

You’ll also want to know what it’s like to work here so, as a start:

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