Pupil Access and Community Services

                       

                        Norfolk Psychological Service

                        County Hall

                        Room 28

                        Martineau Lane

                        Norwich, NR1 2DL

                        Minicom: (01603) 223833

               

                                                                                                                    Mr James Thatcher

 

              PA&CS/JT/HLS              01603 222574

                   Ass EP Advert Schs 11-02 JT Let

              7th November 2002                   01603 222900                                                            

james.thatcher.edu@norfolk.gov.uk

 

 

All Norfolk Schools

 

 

Dear Colleague

 

Assistant Educational Psychologist

Secondment opportunity (1 year, from September 2003)

 

The secondment offers an exciting opportunity for a teacher with a psychology degree to extend their professional development and gain further insights into learning and teaching.

 

Working in partnership with schools, multidisciplinary teams within Norfolk's Psychological Service and other agencies, the Assistant Educational Psychologist will be engaged in a wide variety of activities including supervised case work and county-wide initiatives.  They will have regular support and supervision with an Educational Psychologist to enable them to build upon their existing knowledge and skills both as a teacher and as a psychologist.  There will also be a comprehensive induction programme for the successful applicants.

 

Application for funded initial training as an Educational Psychologist in 2004/05 will be expected and supported.

 

For an informal discussion about this secondment please contact Helen Phelan (Senior Educational Psychologist) on 01553 669208.

 

A letter of application and a CV should be sent to James Thatcher, Principal Educational Psychologist/Head of Service, Room 28, County Hall by Friday 29th November.  Applicants should discuss the possibility of secondment with their Head teacher before applying.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Bryan Slater

Director Of Education

Norfolk County Council  Education

 

Psychological Service

 

 

Assistant Educational Psychologist

 

Secondment opportunity

(1 year, from September 2003)

 

The secondment offers an exciting opportunity for a teacher with a psychology degree to extend their professional development and gain further insights into learning and teaching.

 

Working in partnership with schools, multidisciplinary teams within Norfolk Psychological Service and other agencies, the Assistant Educational Psychologists will be engaged in a wide variety of activities including supervised case work and county-wide initiatives.  They will have regular support and supervision with an Educational Psychologist to enable them to build upon their existing knowledge and skills both as a teacher and as a psychologist.  There will also be a comprehensive induction programme for the successful applicants.

 

Application for funded initial training as an Educational Psychologist in 2004/05 will be strongly encouraged and supported.

 

If you want to have an informal discussion about this secondment please contact Helen Phelan (Senior Educational Psychologist) on 01553 669208.

 

A letter of application and a CV should be sent to James Thatcher, Principal Educational Psychologist/Head of Service, Room 28, County Hall by Friday 29th November.  Applicants should discuss the possibility of secondment with their Head teacher before applying.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Norfolk County Council: Education Department

 

Pupil Access and Community Services

 

Psychological Service

 

Job Description

 

Job Title                        :            Assistant Educational Psychologist

 

Grade                         :            Soulbury Assistant Educational Psychologist Scale

 

Responsible To        :            Specialist Educational Psychologist for Recruitment/Training

 

Location                        :            Various

 

Main Purpose of Post

 

1.         To enable the post-holder to develop a range of experience and skills in preparation for post-graduate training as an Educational Psychologist.

 

2.         To assist the Psychological Service by undertaking a range of assessments and interventions related children and young people with additional educational needs and their schools.

 

Main Duties

 

1.         To support interventions in early years settings, mainstream and special schools under the direction of the school’s link Educational Psychologist.

 

2.         To undertake supervised assessment and consultation activities at Stage 3

            of the Code of Practice, ensuring the involvement of parents or carers.

 

3.         To undertake supervised Annual Reviews of children with Statements.

 

4.         To undertake supervised case-work with pre-school children.

 

5.         To maintain effective records and produce clear reports of interventions.

 

6.         To work within a multi-professional team and attend team meetings.

 

7.         To participate in and contribute to the Service professional development, support and performance management programmes in accordance with the Service Development Plan and County Council and Government requirements.

 

8.         To attend Service and team meetings as required.

 

9.         To participate in Service Levels 2 (area-wide) and 3 (County-wide) specialist operational and development activities.

 

10.       To contribute to the initiation, development and implementation of new responses to changing needs and demands upon the Service.

 

11.       To undertake such other duties as may reasonably be required from time to time by the Principal Educational Psychologist.

 

Roles And Responsibilities

 

Assistant Educational Psychologists are teachers who have a degree, or its equivalent in Psychology.  Their work is supervised by a qualified and experienced Educational Psychologist.

 

Supervising Educational Psychologist

 

• Assessment of professional development needs;

 

•         Overall programme planning;

 

• Liaison with Area Managers and Educational Psychologists to ensure that the assistant EP has coordinated support;

 

• Weekly Support and Management;

 

• Weekly programme plus review;

 

• Agreed agenda with schools, other provision, parents;

 

•         Initially, shadowing and mentoring arrangements until level of competence achieved;

 

•         Initially, daily debrief, feedback and consultation;

 

• Individual assessments using closed tests;

 

• Support for application for post graduate training and for interview preparation.

 

Assistant Educational Psychologist

 

• Working with groups or individual children in school;

 

• Advising teachers on the IEPs and PSPs;

 

• Gathering information for Educational Psychologist through observations, assessments, discussion, use of schedules and open tests;

 

• Feedback of information and ideas to schools, parents and carers, following discussion with Educational Psychologist;

 

•         Giving advice, suggestions and implementing programmes;

 

• Application for post graduate training.

 

School’s Educational Psychologist (Where different from supervising Educational Psychologist)

 

• Agreed agenda with schools, other provision, parents;

 

•         Day to day support

 

• Debrief, feedback and consultation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NORFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL: EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

 

Pupil Access and Community Services

 

Psychological Service

 

Assistant Educational Psychologist – Person Specification

 

 

Basic Requirements for all NPS Assistant Psychology Posts

 

·        Hons Psychology

·        Teacher training qualification

·        Successful teaching experience

·        Eligibility for BPS/AEP membership

·        Current driving licence

·        Acceptance of driving as a necessary part of the job

·        Evidence of continuing professional development

·        Good health and attendance record

·        Understanding and identification with LEA/Service philosophy, policy and procedures

·        Clear belief in the role of psychology and specialists in the Education Service

·        Acceptance of and commitment to SST working

·        Realistic commitment to integration and preventive activities

·        Commitment to collaborative working with other professionals and parents

·        Commitment to involving parents as partners

·        A belief in the involvement of pupil in decisions regarding their education

·        Commitment to a whole school response to supporting children with special needs

·        Understanding of the wide role of a multi disciplinary Service

·        Understanding and acceptance of the place of a modern professional Service within the LEA.

 

Specialist and Development Requirements

 

·        Up to date professional knowledge

·        Proven ability to develop and successfully complete an assigned project

·        Willingness and ability to develop and maintain areas of special expertise

·        Ability to contribute to Service/LEA initiatives

 

Casework Requirements

 

·        Understanding and acceptance of the Code of Practice

·        Up to date professional practice

·        Broad and balanced view of professional role

·        Understanding of the place of standardised tests in assessments

·        Record of successful school support and casework

 

 

-2-

 

·        Prompt and efficient feedback to parents and schools

·        Ability to provide sound professional Advice

·        Ability to ‘problem solve’ difficult cases

 

Personal Attributes

 

·        Ability to make sound judgements

·        Ability to translate judgements into practice

·        Sensitivity

·        Tact/diplomacy

·        Ability to relate positively to individuals/groups

·        Ability to work collaboratively

·        Humour

·        Ability to cope with difficult situations

·        Mature approach /response

·        Ability to demonstrate credibility and effectiveness to teachers in schools

·        Ability to work positively and effectively in a variety of situations

·        Self motivated, enthusiastic

·        Ability to innovate

·        Ability to keep calm under stress

·        Ability to project a positive image of the Service

·        Reliable and efficient in visits, reports and action

·        Flexible/able to cope with change

·        Ability to learn quickly to compensate for any lack of experience

 

Other Requirements

 

·        Commitment to collaborative working with SEN staff

·        Ability to support the area’s SEN procedures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGISTS

 

The Educational Psychology Team comprises 22 Educational Psychologists, 3 (FTE) Senior Education Social Workers, Advisory Support Teachers, Education Co-ordinators, Portage Home Visitors and Specialist Support Assistants.  Educational Psychologists work with children, young people, families, schools and other agencies on behalf of the LEA.

 

School Support Team work is based on a time allocation and work is reviewed termly with schools.  There are opportunities to work at whole school and County levels according to your interests.

 

Educational Psychologists are based in four areas, each under an Area Manager/Senior Educational Psychologist and supports schools in all phases.

 

Support to schools is provided as part of an integrated School Support Team which comprises of Educational Psychologists and Advisory Support Teachers.  In Special Schools the educational psychologist takes the lead role and can seek the involvement of specialist teachers as appropriate.  All psychologists also have assigned 'out-county' cases.

 

Educational Psychologists are encouraged to work in a preventative way in responding to the needs at Stages 2 and 3 of the Code of Practice.  All psychologists are encouraged to be develop areas of specialist interest and to use that expertise to support Service and LEA developments through training, information papers and involvement in development projects.


The Service provides psychological support to schools and colleges, which have experienced a traumatic event.

 

Educational Psychologists and educational social workers meet monthly to consider current issues.  Our induction, development and appraisal programmes are comprehensive and each member of the team has access to regular support from a Senior Educational Psychologist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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