Assistant Educational Psychologist

About the role

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? This is a unique opportunity to join Dorset's Educational Psychology Service and be part of Dorset's Expertise Offer (Experts at Hand) designed to bring specialist support closer to schools, strengthen inclusion, and improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND.

• 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.

• Contributing to psychological advice for early years children as part of EHC needs assessments.
• Delivering training and co‑developing parent workshops as part of the Autism in Schools project and supporting the wider rollout of Neuroinclusive Education Network training.
• Completing school case studies to support the implementation of Therapeutic Thinking.
• Assisting in the rollout of Relational Practice approaches in schools.
• Co‑facilitating Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) parent groups alongside school staff.
• Supporting the delivery of ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) training.
• Participating in assessments, observations, and interventions under supervision, and contributing to service development initiatives.

• Holds a degree in Psychology (BPS‑recognised).
• Keen to further develop their experience to support application to the doctorate.
• Passionate about inclusion and committed to promoting the wellbeing and learning of children and young people.
• Has excellent interpersonal and communication skills, to build positive relationships with children, families, and professionals.
• Organised and reflective, with a willingness to learn and contribute to a team.
• Can be autonomous in their thinking and able to work independently.
• Experience working with children or young people in educational or care settings is essential.
• Evidence of experience using psychology to support their practice is desirable.

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.

This post requires significant travel. Applicants are required to hold a driving licence and have access to a vehicle (or transport deemed suitable) available for use as needed.

An enhanced DBS for adults and children is a requirement of the post.

See our policy on the employment of ex‑offenders.

See our policy on safeguarding children and young people. See our adult safeguarding policy.

Closing date for applications 9 August 2026

Interviews will be in person on 14 August 2026. There will be some flexibility around interview dates taking into account annual leave and prior commitments.

The key skills recruitment and retention scheme applies to this position, subject to eligibility. The amount payable will be £2000 (pro‑rata for part‑time positions) after 24 months of employment.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible; if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.

This role is UK‑based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process.

If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us.