Educational Psychologist

About the team

North Somerset Educational Psychology Service is a small, supportive and close team. We look out for each other and we're passionate about what we do. Our service values are compassion, curiosity and collaboration, and they shape how we work with children, families, schools and each other.

We work across statutory, preventative and traded functions, and we're at the centre of North Somerset's SEND reforms. Our Principal EP leads the Experts at Hand programme, and our EPs are shaping how it works from the ground up.

The Role

We're looking for an educational psychologist to join us on a permanent contract. You'll have your own group of link schools and work with children and young people aged 0 to 25, their families and the adults around them.

Our aim is to ensure that no more than 50% of your allocation will be statutory work. The rest covers Experts at Hand, traded work with schools, early years, and wider service work that can include the virtual school and children in care, and our library of EP-developed training.

In North Somerset, Experts at Hand will have three tiers. Tier 1 is what every school provides for children with additional needs, backed by our SEND Provision Expectations and EP-developed training and resources. Tier 2 is the heart of the programme. Multidisciplinary locality teams of EPs, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, advisory teachers and parent experts work alongside school staff through consultation, coaching, supervision, modelling and training, and schools can access this support without a referral. Tier 3, coordinated by our Senior EP, offers individual assessment and formulation, including person-centred approaches such as PATH and MAP, where Tier 2 support is in place and a question remains.

This is a chance to use the full range of your psychology, work systemically with schools and families, and help shape a new way of working across North Somerset. The traded service continues alongside it, so you keep variety in your practice.

The team includes an Impact Analyst who runs our data systems and supports admin, so more of your time is spent on delivering face-to-face support

Key responsibilities:

• Provide a consultation-based EP service to a group of link schools
• Work in a multidisciplinary Experts at Hand locality team, building school capacity through consultation, coaching, supervision and training
• Carry out individual assessment, formulation and intervention where needed
• Provide psychological advice for Education, Health and Care needs assessments, and contribute to reviews and tribunals where needed
• Deliver training and traded work, and contribute to service development and evaluation

This position is exempt under the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions) Order 1975 and is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Valid driving licence and own transport, or be able to provide alternative, suitable method of travel is an essential condition for this role.

Work Style

At North Somerset Council, we offer a hybrid working environment based on four distinct work styles. Depending on the role and personal circumstances, you will fall into one of these categories. However, please note that during the induction period, it may be necessary to spend more time in the office to support your learning and development. We are flexible and open to discussions about your preferred working style, and if you wish to be in the office more frequently, this can be negotiated.

This role falls into the category of Flexible Worker which means you can expect to work in the following way:

• 2-3 days in the office
• Works both from home and the office, depending on the task at hand.
• Training is provided to help balance work-life and manage time effectively, with an emphasis on communication for team touchpoints and planning in-office days for collaboration.

About You

We want to hear from educational psychologists who believe in inclusion, enjoy working systemically with schools and families, and want to help shape a new way of working. We're looking for the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria:

• A recognised postgraduate qualification in educational psychology, and HCPC registration as a practitioner psychologist (educational), or eligibility to register before taking up the post
• Knowledge of a broad range of approaches to assessment, formulation and intervention, informed by current research
• Commitment to consultation, and to supporting schools to include children with special educational needs
• Knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice and the ability to write clear, accessible psychological advice
• Good organisational skills, with the ability to manage your own workload and meet deadlines

Desirable criteria:

• Experience of multidisciplinary or systemic work with schools, such as coaching, supervision or training
• Experience of person-centred planning approaches such as PATH or MAP
• Interest in contributing to service development and evaluation

What We Offer

At North Somerset Council, we value our employees and provide a supportive and inclusive work environment. We offer:

• A generous 29 days' annual leave, rising to 34 days after five years' service, plus bank holidays
• The option to buy up to 10 extra days' annual leave each year
• A balanced allocation, with no more than 50% statutory work
• Six CPD days a year and a healthy CPD budget
• Monthly one-to-one supervision, plus peer and group supervision
• Impact Analyst support with data and admin
• A compact county, so less time driving between schools, and good parking at our Weston-super-Mare base
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Hybrid and flexible working
• Salary sacrifice Cycle to Work and Electric Vehicle schemes
• A dedicated in-house Wellbeing Team
• Inclusive staff groups, including Carers, Disabled, LGBTQ+, REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage) and Young Staff Forums

Further details of our excellent rewards package can be found in our Benefits booklet.

How to Apply

If you share our vision and valuesand are ready to make an impact to North Somerset, please select the apply online button below. If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please submit your application by 11.59pm on the application closing date. When completing our online application form, please detail how you meet the essential criteria for the role.

Contact Information

For further information about the role, please contact Guy Clayton, Principal Educational Psychologist at guy.clayton@n-somerset.gov.uk or 07811 307321.

Important Information

As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job role.

Interview Date: 12th October 2026

Please note: We are currently only able to accept applications from candidates who have full permission to work in the UK and are unable to provide Sponsorship for this role.

Equal Opportunities

At North Somerset Council we want all our employees to feel valued and appreciated. We aim to ensure equality of opportunity and prevent discrimination irrespective of your sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or belief, race, age, disability, including neurodiversity, if you are married or in a civil partnership or are pregnant or currently on maternity leave. We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We reserve the right to close this advertisement early or extend the closing date depending on the number of applications received.