Location
Romford

Hours
Full Time (hours not specified)

Salary
Soulbury EP B Scale 7 – 10*, plus Outer London Allowance, plus up to 3 SPA points (previously awarded SPAs will be honoured)

About the Role
This is an exciting opportunity to join Havering Educational Psychology Service (EPS), a thriving, fully-staffed team delivering services aligned with SEND Reforms and the ‘Experts at Hand’ approach. The focus is on capacity building within schools and settings to improve outcomes for children and young people.

We are recruiting a Senior Educational Psychologist to provide strategic leadership and specialist psychological expertise in Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA). The post holder will lead the development of evidence-informed practice across the Local Authority, collaborating with schools, families, and wider children’s services to enhance attendance, engagement, wellbeing, and educational outcomes.

Responsibilities include developing inclusive systems and graduated approaches for early identification, prevention, and intervention for children and young people experiencing EBSA. The role also involves developing the Assistant Educational Psychologist role and line managing a team of approximately six Assistant EPs.

Havering EPS operates within the wider SEND Service, offering close multi-professional collaboration with Advisory Teachers, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and the 0–5 Team through the Team Around the School model. Senior EPs benefit from a reduced EHCP allocation.

Working within Havering’s Education Support Service offers a tailored induction and senior transition package, business support to streamline reporting and diary systems, state-of-the-art AI tools to support productivity and wellbeing, regular supervision including senior peer supervision and leadership development, protected CPD time, and a talented, welcoming team of nearly twenty EPs. The service maintains strong links with training providers and universities and offers flexible and hybrid working options, excellent IT equipment and support, easily accessible workspaces, and strong transport links including the Elizabeth Line.

An enhanced DBS check is required for this post.

Experience
Experienced Educational Psychologist with a passion for Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH), particularly with expertise in supporting children and young people experiencing Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) and attendance difficulties.

About you
Committed to anti-racist practice and able to provide strategic leadership and specialist psychological expertise. Skilled in collaborative working with schools, families, and multi-agency partners to improve outcomes for children and young people. Able to manage and develop a team of Assistant Educational Psychologists.

Qualifications
Qualified Educational Psychologist with relevant professional accreditation (Soulbury EP B Scale eligibility).