Educational Psychologists

About the role

We are pleased to offer flexibility regarding the locality of this role, subject to the needs of the service. Hybrid working arrangements are also available, enabling a balance between office-based and remote working where appropriate.

Relocation scheme available up to £8000 for eligible appointments.

Are you looking to work within a thriving team, where you can make a difference every day, broadening and deepening your psychological skills?

Dorset Children’s Services is seeking to recruit a creative and innovative educational psychologist to its existing team of skilled and friendly staff.  Do you want to be part of a dynamic, supportive and highly respected group of educational psychologists? We are looking for educational psychologists who have an enthusiasm for applying psychology to make a difference for children and young people.  We are always interested in developing new practice and approaches and welcome applicants that can bring new practice to Dorset.

We are seeking applications from educational psychologists who are:

Qualified educational psychologists registered with the HCPC and those in their final year of training. We would be interested in receiving applications from trainees currently in their 2nd year of training. We are currently seeking applicants for the Chesil (Weymouth) and Dorchester and West locality.

We are looking for educational psychologists who:

• are compassionate
• take a restorative approach to building and developing relationships
• use solution focused thinking and approaches
• are person centred
• are committed to developing inclusive practice and developing belonging for CYP with SEND and other specific groups to improve equity
• are reflective and open to development of their own practice and that of their colleagues
• apply a strengths-based approach to working with children, young people, their families and education settings
• are creative and flexible in their approach
• can bring new and innovative ways of working to Dorset EPs and multidisciplinary working.

Dorset Council offers varied and rewarding work across a wide range of topics such as Relational Practice, emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), Therapeutic Thinking, ELSA and Autism in Schools … I could go on.  This is alongside completing psychological advice towards EHCNAs.

About Dorset Children’s Services

‘Dorset Children Thrive’ is our locality model to deliver Children’s Services.  It brings together services and support for children and families into four integrated locality teams. The locality teams include Family help, Children’s Social Care, and Learning and Belonging.  Through our integrated structure, colleagues work in multi-disciplinary integrated teams, educational psychologists are part of the Learning and Belonging strand.

About us

Dorset EPs provide:

• psychological advice towards education, health and care needs assessments. We always take the approach that every interaction is an intervention
• a solution focused consultation-based approach to preventative work
• group supervision to ELSAs, and other colleagues in schools such as DSLs and staff groups across Children’s Services such as the leaving care team
• link work to schools including joint consultation planning meetings working with our centrally funded specialist teachers
• training to EY providers, schools and FE providers and Children’s Services workforce
• critical incident and sad event support to schools and are the lead in working with schools and partners when such events happen
• strategic support and lead on approaches and interventions
• work in collaboration with colleagues from Childrens Services and partner agencies including MHSTs and CAMHS
• support to the LA to use evidence-based practice to develop a continuum of provision

What will you get in return?

• Work for an LA which is leading the way in social care reform as one of the Pathfinder LAs and received a positive outcome from the SEND Area Inspection March 2024
• be highly regarded and respected by stakeholders and colleagues
• flexible working
• Soulbury terms and condition
• peer and management supervision
• access to professional development and support and good ICT
• a beautiful mix of rural, town and coastal environments, The Jurassic Coast and Blue Flag beaches.

An enhanced DBS for adults and children is a requirement of the post

Applicants are required to hold a driving licence and have access to means of transport

For further details of how we work visit our website

If you would like to discuss the posts informally or visit the team please call or email:

• Miriam Leigh, Principal Educational Psychologist
  01305 228300 / miriam.leigh@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

or make contact with one of the senior educational psychologists on the Dorset Council webpage.

• Closing date 9th March 2025
• Interviews will be in-person on 21st March 2025