Educational Psychologist

Swindon is a borough that embraces diversity, with a rich tapestry of languages, cultures, and backgrounds represented in our schools. We serve a diverse community, where high aspirations meet the realities of significant areas of deprivation. While some children face hurdles like low attendance and lower education outcomes, their potential is limitless—and it’s our mission to help them unlock it. Swindon is a small unitary authority that is easily accessible and is an exciting and innovative place to work; recently having been selected by the DfE as a joint leader within the South West for the SEND Change Programme Partnership. The EPS operates within a newly structured Education and Inclusion Service within Children’s Services and is centrally located close to the town centre. We are currently operating a hybrid working model which involves a mixture of working on site and remotely in order to promote and encourage a positive work life balance.

The EPS is a well-respected, valued team with good relationships with schools and other partners and committed to multi-agency working and improving outcomes for children and families. We provide statutory services on behalf of the Local Authority and have a successful traded service to schools that has enabled us to expand and diversify.

Our EPs enjoy a supportive time allocation model that ensures a manageable workload with a generous amount of flexibility built in, whilst also prioritising the balance of at least 50% traded/commissioned work. Within the service we place a particular focus on team well-being, healthy work-life balance and protecting the provision of regular quality supervision. EPs enjoy varied opportunities to develop and deliver interventions, training programmes and creative ways of working such as group supervision, coaching, consultation clinics, circles of support, organisational research, ELSA, Cygnet and MeLSA (Mediating Learning Support Approach).

Please consider making an application if you are:

• Committed to supporting the inclusion of vulnerable children and young people
• Place children and young people at the centre of your practice
• Creative, flexible, positive and focused on solutions
• Able to work successfully in a multi-disciplinary team
• Able to develop positive working relationships with other practitioners and partners
• Pro-active in developing and sharing your knowledge and skills

We offer regular support and supervision, appraisals, induction, excellent CPD opportunities and flexible working practices.

An ability to travel throughout the Borough, flexible working and an enhanced DBS disclosure will be required.

All applicants must be registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC); operate within the professional code of ethics and practice guidelines; and be fluent in the English language (as a requirement of Part 7 of the Immigration Act – “for the effective performance of a customer-facing role”).

Please see the quotes from our current employees:

Why EPs enjoy working within Swindon EPS

• Swindon EPS is a great service to work for, where I feel fully supported and valued by my colleagues and managers.
• We have a lovely team and it is a reflective environment to work within.
• I really enjoy the breadth of work offered within Swindon EPS and find that there are opportunities here to expand my areas of interest.
• I feel that the team is made up of EPs who are forward-thinking, and enthusiastic.
• I feel my time is protected through the allocation model and there are ongoing discussions around wellbeing.

What Swindon EPS has to offer

• I have been given lots of opportunity to engage in a variety of initiatives within the service which allows me to apply psychology across a range of contexts, whilst also supporting my professional development.
• A determination to improve as a service, and apply psychology to support those we work with.
• A good balance between traded and statutory work.
• Opportunities to work at different levels (casework, school, LA) and with different stake holders (virtual school for children looked after, foster care team).
• There is a good balance in Swindon of autonomy (so that I can choose the ways I practice) and boundaries (so that I know what to expect and what is expected of me).

Your next package

As an employee, you will receive a diverse and exciting environment in which to work, encouraging creativity and innovation whilst recognising the need to support ongoing personal development and a flexible work life balance.

For Swindon to thrive in the future, we need to lay the foundations now. It’s why our regeneration and transformation programmes are already underway. So, you’ll be joining us at an exciting time on our journey. We’ll look to you to share your knowledge, influence decisions and drive real, positive change. With your contributions, we’ll achieve our vision of a prosperous, re-vitalised Swindon together. And you’ll be proud to say it was made better with you.

Please see our Vision and Values page for more details and our new Swindon Plan.

Your next steps

Read the role profile and to apply please send your CV and cover letter to resourcing@swindon.gov.uk  quoting the ref number 234 and outlining your skills and experience.

For an informal and confidential discussion please contact Alexa Denham, Principal EP on adenham@swindon.gov.uk or Suzanne Horgan, Deputy Principal EP on shorgan@swindon.gov.uk

You are also welcome to book an individual informal discussion slot with 2 of our maingrade EPs, at a mutually convenient time, which will be an opportunity for you to hear about what it is like to work in Swindon and to ask any initial questions. Please email EPSenquiries@swindon.gov.uk if you would like to book on to one of these optional information sharing sessions.

Please indicate in your personal statement, if your application is for the Full time or Part time vacancy. Early applications are encouraged.

As an inclusive employer, we welcome applications from a diverse range of communities, and in particular disabled people and people from ethnic minorities. Read our statement of commitment to equality & inclusion.

If you are experiencing technical issues submitting your application please email resourcing@swindon.gov.uk