Educational Psychologists (Shefford, GB) at GOV.UK

We're Growing – Join Our Educational Psychology Team at Central Bedfordshire Council!

At Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC), we are proud to be growing—and growing with ambition. We're investing in our Educational Psychology Service (EPS), and this is your opportunity to be part of something exciting, meaningful, and future-focused.

We are committed to early intervention, with strong backing from senior leaders across the Local Authority. Our return to a non-statutory Link EP model through a consultation-based delivery approach marks a bold step forward in supporting children and young people more effectively—and we’re just getting started.

As part of SEND Specialist Services (Education, Support and Inclusion), our Educational Psychologists collaborate closely with SEND Advisors, Sensory Impairment Specialists, and Special School Outreach Practitioners to make a real difference in young lives.

We’re expanding our Link EP model to ensure that every school has access to EP consultations as well as other early intervention projects and activities guided by the principles of co-production. This collaborative approach has already helped us successfully roll out Therapeutic Thinking across the local authority with the EPS being central to the implementation plan for this approach.

• As part of our successful project work (granted funded by the DfE) we have recently developed a new Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance guidance document and training package, which was co-produced with our families in CBC,
• A new SCERTS training offer for all schools and settings delivered across a multiagency team including EPs
• Direct involvement with the training and implementation of ARC project, Therapeutic Thinking, Emotion Coaching and ELSA

You’ll be working alongside a highly experienced and supportive SEND leadership team:

• Daniel Newbolt, Service Director for Education, SEND & Inclusion.
• Dr Karen Harris, Head of SEND Specialist Services & Principal Educational Psychologist.

We prioritise your professional development, with ringfenced CPD time, individual and group supervision, research opportunities, and a strong focus on providing reflective space for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

As an Educational Psychologist with us, you will:

• Deliver both statutory and non-statutory EP services across schools and settings
• Plan and deliver impactful training and interventions for schools, parents/carers, children, young people and other teams
• Achieve positive, sustainable change by working with key adults around children
• Collaborate with and be supported by Assistant EPs
• Develop specialisms aligned with service priorities and the LA’s strategic vision
• Conduct action research, participation projects, and service user evaluations

We’re shaping Psychology in the community

We are building a locality model to embed psychology in the heart of our communities, and value exploring opportunities to embed psychology within the communities we work in to facilitate positive and powerful change for the children and young people we support

If you're passionate about making meaningful impact through community-focused practice, you’ll thrive here.

About you

You will need a recognised postgraduate training qualification in Educational Psychology or will have this qualification when you join us and meet the requirements for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as an applied psychologist as well as having the qualifications to hold BPS chartered membership.

We warmly welcome Year 2/3 trainee EPs and encourage applications from groups underrepresented in the profession.

Our offer

• A comprehensive induction package.
• Hybrid working and excellent office facilities.
• Free onsite parking and full IT support.
• 12 days ringfenced CPD time (pro-rated).
• A culture of collaboration, support and wellbeing.
• High-quality supervision and peer support.

We’re also happy to arrange a meeting with members of our extended team so you can hear first-hand what it’s like to work with us.

Let’s build something meaningful together—a great place to live and work, and a great place to grow as an Educational Psychologist.