Maingrade Educational Psychologists

Islington Council; London; Hybrid; GBP 3,000 - 50,000

Job description

About The Role

Salary: Soulbury Scale A Spinal Points 5-10 (plus up to 3 SPA points) and Inner London Weighting (£3685 per year)

Both posts are full time, but consideration will be given to part time working (0.8 fte).

Would you like to be part of a dynamic and dedicated team that is making a real difference to the lives of children and young people? The London Borough of Islington is seeking enthusiastic and creative Educational Psychologists to join our friendly, supportive and highly regarded Educational Psychology Team.

This is an exciting time to join our Service. The Council's commitment to inclusion has provided significant funding for SEN support, allowing us to develop innovative evidence-based training and early intervention approaches. We offer many opportunities for team members to engage in projects and deliver varied commissioned work, including:

1. Training Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs), delivering Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) training and Autism Education Trust (AET) modules as well as developing training to improve children’s wellbeing, and maximise their attainments and progress.
2. Working with Islington’s Virtual School, Youth Justice Team and Targeted Youth Support Team to support and improve outcomes for vulnerable children and young people in the Borough.
3. Working systemically in schools to develop trauma informed practice as part of the ITIPS team (Islington Trauma Informed Practice in Schools).
4. Delivering group supervision to Early Years’ practitioners, SENCOs, DSLs, ELSAs and Early Career Teachers.
5. Becoming a university field work tutor on one of the three London Doctoral Courses.
6. Supporting the EPS and our schools to develop culturally sensitive, anti-racist and non-discriminatory practice.

The successful candidates will be committed to working within the principles of consultation, co-production and collaboration to support children to thrive in their local communities and have positive futures. You will contribute to all aspects of core, statutory and traded service delivery to schools and Early Years settings and work jointly with other professionals committed to bringing about positive change at a strategic and individual child level.

The EPS offers a competitive salary with generous annual leave and privilege days. We are committed to the development of our practice as psychologists and offer a wide range of varied work and CPD opportunities. We are particularly proud of the high-quality individual and peer supervision available for all team members. We have strong links with the three London Universities and so benefit from having a number of TEPs on placement who play an integral part in our service delivery. Islington is a wonderfully vibrant borough with a diverse community. We offer a flexible and hybrid working environment with plenty of cafes, restaurants and shops to enjoy on Upper Street and the surrounding area.

We welcome applications from experienced EPs as well as from year 3 trainees who will be completing their training in August 2025.

Applicants must be a professionally qualified Educational Psychologist and registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Trainee EPs are expected to have eligibility confirmed following completion of their recognised training course - within 3 months of commencing employment.

Successful applicants will demonstrate a commitment to challenging inequality and discrimination, promoting equal opportunities and valuing the diversity of communities within the Borough and within the Islington workforce.

This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS clearance.

We are a friendly and supportive team who are passionate about the work we do. If you feel that this could be the place for you to further develop your psychological skills or start your career, then please do get in touch to find out more.

Please contact Gill Sassienie (Principal Educational Psychologist) or Amanda Holgate, Trudy Kearney, Ellie Raman or Chris Shaldon (Senior Educational Psychologists) on 0207 527 3747.

Closing date: Monday 5^th May 2025 at 23:59.

Provisional Interview Date: Wednesday 14^th May 2025.

For further information or for an informal conversation about the post, please contact:

Gill Sassienie (Principal Educational Psychologist)

Email: [e-mail]

Working for the team, service and our organisation

Islington is a place rich with diversity and culture. As a council our sense of purpose couldn’t be clearer: we serve. It’s in the logo. We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Together we can change the future.

We are determined to create a more equal Islington, where everyone who lives here has an equal chance to thrive.

To do this, everyone who works at Islington Council lives by a set of values which guide us in everything that we do: collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering. They spell out ‘CARE’, which is what we think public service is all about.

Our offer to you

We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Our staff benefits include:

• Up to 31 days leave per year, increasing to 36 days after five years of local government service.
• A range of flexible working arrangements to maintain a healthy work-life balance, as well as a 35-hour working week.
• Learning and development opportunities to maximise your potential.
• Competitive pay and a commitment to paying all staff the London Living Wage at minimum.
• Excellent local government pension scheme.
• Cycle to Work scheme and discounted gym memberships.
• Local discounts from restaurants, shops, health and beauty therapists, and more!

Recruitment information

It is the policy of Islington Council that no user of service, present or future employee or job applicant receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of their sex, perceived or actual sexual orientation, marital status, race, religion or belief, age, creed, colour, nationality, national origin, ethnic origin, or disability, or on the grounds of their association with someone in one of these groups; nor is disadvantaged by any conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justified. We welcome applications from Black and Minority Ethnic candidates and acknowledge our responsibility to mitigate against racial discrimination.

Islington Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria and we are committed to providing support to applicants who request reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process and throughout their career with us.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts are subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

The post is subject to an enhanced DBS check with children, qualifications check and 3/5 years referencing.

Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Islington Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.