Educational Psychologist

Package Description

In addition to your salary, we offer a range of benefits including:

• Great holiday benefits - most roles include 28 days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years. In addition, there is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.
• Excellent pension - everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.
• A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support.
• Access to an award-winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low-cost bike purchase scheme as well as high street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.
• Salary sacrifice car scheme - eligible employees can lease an electric or low-emission vehicle at a reduced cost through salary sacrifice, subject to National Minimum Wage and other eligibility requirements.
• Blue Light Card - employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.

Why join us? Along with more on our Benefits, discover why Working at the City Council could be the right move for you here Working at the Council | Milton Keynes

Roles are either ‘site based’ or ‘home based’.

Site based roles are mainly based at the workplace, with the option to work from home for up to two days a week, depending on service needs.

Home based roles are mainly based at home, with the expectation of attending the workplace up to one day a week.

The working arrangement for each role is set by the manager, based on service requirements.

Job IntroductionWe're recruiting Maingrade Educational Psychologists to join the Milton Keynes Educational Psychology Service. You'll be part of a friendly, supportive team that values different perspectives, experiences and professional interests. We encourage colleagues to develop their skills across a wide range of psychological practice, helping children and young people achieve positive outcomes.

Our service is committed to early intervention, prevention and collaborative working. We work alongside children, young people, families, schools and partner organisations to support positive change at individual, group and organisational levels. We take a community-focused approach, seeking to understand and respond to the needs of Milton Keynes children, young people and communities.

The role is paid on Soulbury Scale A, points four to nine, plus up to three structured professional assessment points.

This role may be suitable for home working, following an assessment. Home‑based roles require a minimum of one day per week working from the office or site.

Applications are reviewed weekly, and shortlisted candidates will be contacted promptly regarding the next stage of the recruitment process.

In this role, you’ll play an important part in delivering key priorities, helping shape better experiences and outcomes while ensuring our work stays aligned with both local needs and national expectations. It’s a chance to be part of meaningful, system-wide change where your contribution really matters.

If you’re interested in finding out more, we’d welcome your interest. For an informal chat before applying, please contact the Rachel Caldwell - Principal Educational Psychologist and Inclusion Service Lead - Rachel.Caldwell@milton-keynes.gov.uk

Find out more about working with us here: www.mkcounciljobs.org.uk

Role Responsibilities

• Use psychology creatively through casework, projects and service-wide initiatives to improve outcomes for children and young people.
• Provide clear, high-quality psychological advice, including advice for Education, Health and Care needs assessments.
• Plan and deliver evidence-based consultation, assessment and intervention work with children, families, education settings and other professionals.
• Develop and deliver accessible, high-quality training for a wide range of audiences.
• Contribute a psychological perspective to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities panel processes, supporting effective decisions and use of resources.
• Build strong partnerships, promote early intervention and take part in professional peer supervision.

Ideal Candidate

• A good honours degree in Psychology or an equivalent master’s degree, together with a postgraduate qualification in Educational Psychology recognised by the British Psychological Society.
• Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council as a Practitioner Psychologist, with qualified teacher status or relevant recognised experience of working with children.
• Bringing sound professional knowledge, you’ll apply psychological skills confidently and remain committed to your continuing professional development.
• Confident working at individual, group and organisational levels, you can deliver effective training and produce clear, high-quality written advice.
• With a dedicated, respectful and collaborative approach, you’ll build effective relationships with families, colleagues and professional partners.
• Skilled at managing a varied workload, you’ll set priorities, meet deadlines and apply equality and diversity principles throughout your work.

Safer Recruitment

Safer Recruitment applies to this role. This means that, before any appointment is confirmed, we’ll carry out a range of pre-employment checks to help ensure the safety and wellbeing of children, young people and vulnerable adults. These checks may include identity verification, where candidates will be required to provide original identification documents, including a full birth certificate, employment history and reference checks, qualification checks and an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, (unless you are currently registered with the DBS Update Service). check where required.

About The Organisation

Milton Keynes City Council is a large, modern and financially stable employer with around 2,500 people working across our eight areas. Together we provide local residents and businesses with a wide range of important round-the-clock services and aim to make our city a better place to live.

We work hard because of the demands placed on us, like protecting children from harm or preventing homelessness. However, working for the city is always rewarding and everyone has the opportunity to make a real difference.

We’re very proud of our diversity and are committed to having a workforce that reflects the community we serve. Whatever your background, you will be welcome here if you share our values of being dedicated, respectful and collaborative.

We offer great training and support and because of the size and scale of the organisation there are always new opportunities to explore when it’s time for a new role.

If you’d like to know more about how we do things and what matters to us, take a look at our short booklet What makes us Milton Keynes City Council, see attached.