Educational Psychologist

Rochdale Child and Educational Psychology Service (CEPS)

We are recruiting to four Maingrade Educational Psychologist posts within our supportive, nurturing and innovative team. Central to our consultative model is a strong commitment to the application of person-centred approaches and our values centre around social justice and anti-discriminatory practice. Applications from Trainee EPs are welcomed for a September 2027 start.

Our Values

• Empathy: We aim to create a safe, non-judgemental space to enable families and children to share their stories.
• Relationships: We believe that relationships are key to creating positive change. Feeling connected to others and having a sense of belonging helps us all to thrive.
• Collaboration: We value the knowledge of parent/carers and other professionals. We work alongside others to recognise strengths, identify what is working well and build on this to move things forward towards improved outcomes for children and families.
• Inclusion: We believe that everyone has the right to access opportunities to enable them to grow and develop as a person. We value diversity and are committed to promoting fair access and equal opportunities for all.

About Rochdale

Rochdale has a diverse community with residents from a range of cultural and religious backgrounds. There is a mixture of urban, suburban and rural areas. We have about 90 schools, including nursery, primary, secondary and special. We also have sixth form and college provision.

The Raising Rochdale strategy is our Children and Young People’s Partnership Plan which aims to support children, young people with SEND and their families to be Safe, Healthy, Successful and Heard. Rochdale has made the commitment to become a Trauma-Informed Borough, reshaping how services and organisations work with children, families, and local communities.

The CEPS is based at Number One Riverside, which is a large building containing most Rochdale Borough services and includes the town library. It’s a modern and attractive building which has been recognised for its excellence in design and functionality. The building is central and close to public transport links, parking, shops and leisure facilities. Each team has an allocated area within the offices and there is a hot desking system.

CEPS team structure

We currently have 16 team members including PEP, Senior EPs, Specialists EPs, Maingrade EPs, Trainee EPs and Assistant EPs.

Our service model

Rochdale CEPS is a part-traded service.

We have five neighbourhood teams, each comprising one or more EPs, Assistants and/or TEPs. Colleagues within each team tend to get to know and work within the schools in their neighbourhood, however there is also flexibility to work in different areas, to support colleagues and to enable experience and skills development.

In Rochdale we can offer:

• A friendly, collaborative team, where all colleagues, established and new, are valued, supported and included.
• A service structure with opportunities for career progression.
• Regular individual, group and informal peer supervision.
• Opportunities for casework, project work, training and statutory work.
• Opportunities to work systemically and through casework with the Virtual School, Inclusion Support Service (ISS), Emotionally Based Non-Attendance (EBNA) pathway and the Equalities Team.
• Ongoing opportunities to reflect on and develop practice as part of the team.
• Opportunities to develop and participate in a range of evidence-based intervention and training packages through our partially traded services model. Our core training involves delivery of programmes including Connect to Communicate, ELSA and Trauma-Informed and Attachment-Aware Schools Programme.
• Regular CPD opportunities to develop a range of skills and pursue areas of interest and/or specialisms, including project work and action research.
• The opportunity to use psychology in a pro-active and positive way to make a real difference to young people and families.
• Close links with other LA teams including Early Years/Area SENDCos. Early Support Keyworkers, Rochdale Additional Needs (RANS) Service and the EHC team.
• Flexible working at home arrangements.
• Administrative support and access to ICT equipment and support.

Applicants for the Maingrade post are required to have a psychology degree, professional qualification in Educational Psychology (Third year Trainee EPs are welcome to apply for a September 2027 start) and registration with the HCPC.

For an informal discussion about the post and/or to arrange a visit please contact Heidi McDermott (Principal EP) on 01706 926400 or heidi.mcdermott@rochdale.gov.uk

In accordance with Section 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 this post requires the ability to converse at ease with the members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English.

Appointment to this post is subject to an enhanced DBS including a barred list check child workforce

To apply please demonstrate how you meet the essential requirements of the person specification.

Please include reference to your qualifications that are specified on the person specification within your application