Assistant Educational Psychologist – Hybrid, SEND Impact

Are you passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND? Do you want to gain invaluable experience within a forward-thinking Educational Psychology Service while helping to shape Dorset's innovative Experts at Hand offer?

• Be part of a pioneering SEND reform programme.
• Work alongside Educational Psychologists and a multidisciplinary team of specialists.
• Develop skills in consultation, coaching, training and early intervention.
• Gain valuable experience for a future career in Educational Psychology.
• Make a tangible difference by helping schools build confidence, capacity and inclusive practice.

• Contribute to psychological advice for early years children as part of EHC needs assessments.
• Deliver training and co‑develop parent workshops as part of the Autism in Schools project and support the wider rollout of Neuroinclusive Education Network training.
• Complete school case studies to support the implementation of Therapeutic Thinking.
• Assist in the rollout of Relational Practice approaches in schools.
• Co‑facilitate Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) parent groups alongside school staff.
• Support the delivery of ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) training.
• Participate in assessments, observations and interventions under supervision and contribute to service development initiatives.

• Hold a degree in Psychology (BPS‑recognised).
• Be keen to further develop experience to support an application to a doctorate.
• Be passionate about inclusion and committed to promoting the wellbeing and learning of children and young people.
• Have excellent interpersonal and communication skills to build positive relationships with children, families and professionals.
• Be organised, reflective, willing to learn and contribute to a team.
• Be able to work autonomously and independently.
• Have essential experience working with children or young people in educational or care settings.
• Desirable evidence of experience using psychology to support practice.

'Dorset Children Thrive' is our locality model to deliver Children's Services. It brings together services and support for children and families into four integrated locality teams, including Family Help, Children's Social Care, and Learning and Belonging. Through our integrated structure, colleagues work in multidisciplinary integrated teams; educational psychologists are part of the Learning and Belonging strand.

Dorset Council Educational Psychologists are creative, person‑centred and have excellent relationships with families, children and young people, education settings, social care and health colleagues, as well as with each other. Our team values are Relationships, Hope, Diversity, Curiosity and Creativity.

Various. We are pleased to offer flexibility regarding the locality of this role, subject to the needs of the service. Hybrid working arrangements are also available, enabling a balance between office‑based and remote working where appropriate.