Educational Psychologist

Senior Principal Educational Psychologist Location: National / Hybrid
Salary: £65,000–£80,000 (dependent on experience) 
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Reports to: Head of Neurodivergent Services

About the Opportunity This is an exciting opportunity to join a well-established multidisciplinary organisation with a strong national reputation for delivering high-quality autism and ADHD assessment services. The organisation is also an innovative provider of VR-based, trauma-informed training, working with local authorities, police forces, health services and, increasingly, the education sector.

As part of an ambitious growth strategy, they are expanding their national schools service and are seeking an experienced Senior Principal Educational Psychologist to lead its development. This is a rare opportunity to shape a service from the ground up while building on established clinical expertise, strong professional credibility and a growing national presence.

The Role The Senior Principal Educational Psychologist will lead the strategic development and delivery of a national schools service, working collaboratively with schools to strengthen inclusive practice and improve outcomes for children and young people.

The successful candidate will provide psychological consultation, advice, training and strategic support to schools, trusts, families and partner professionals. They will also be responsible for developing and leading a multidisciplinary team, ensuring high-quality, evidence-informed support that reflects neurodiversity-affirming practice.

This position combines direct work with schools alongside service development, partnership building, workforce leadership, quality assurance and strategic planning. The postholder will also help create integrated pathways across wider multidisciplinary services, including autism and ADHD assessments and innovative trauma-informed training programmes.

Key Responsibilities Strategic Support to Schools

• Work systemically with schools to develop, implement and embed inclusive strategies that create sustainable improvements in practice.
• Provide psychological consultation, advice and problem-solving support to school leaders, SENDCOs, families and partner professionals.
• Support schools in identifying and understanding the needs of children and young people using evidence-informed psychological approaches.
• Promote inclusive, child-centred and neurodiversity-affirming practice across educational settings.
• Contribute to whole-school approaches relating to SEND, inclusion, wellbeing, participation and emotionally supportive learning environments.

Leadership and Team Development

• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team delivering consultation and support within schools.
• Recruit, mentor and develop practitioners including specialist teachers, therapists and other professionals.
• Design and deliver training programmes, consultation models and professional development for education staff and partner organisations.
• Provide professional oversight of specific learning differences assessments, including cognition and learning assessments, ensuring high standards of practice.
• Develop integrated pathways with wider multidisciplinary services to improve continuity of support for children, young people and families.

Service Development

• Lead the ongoing development of a national schools service, shaping its vision, structure and delivery model.
• Strengthen schools' capacity to meet the needs of children and young people with SEND and a broad range of neurodiverse profiles.
• Contribute to the development of innovative training resources, including immersive and VR-based learning experiences.
• Identify opportunities for service growth, innovation and strategic partnerships.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with schools, academy trusts and key stakeholders.
• Contribute to service evaluation, quality assurance and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure services are delivered in accordance with professional, ethical and regulatory standards.
• Remain up to date with current research, legislation and best practice in educational psychology, SEND and inclusion.
• Travel nationally to support schools through consultation, training, relationship management and service development.
• Work collaboratively with senior leadership on business planning, budgeting and operational priorities.
• Support the development and monitoring of governance frameworks, reporting mechanisms and key performance indicators.
• Develop strong relationships with schools and stakeholders, working alongside operational, commercial and finance teams to support sustainable service growth.

Person Specification The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Registration as an Educational Psychologist with the HCPC.
• Significant post-qualification experience within educational psychology.
• Experience working strategically with schools and education leaders to improve inclusive practice.
• Strong knowledge of SEND legislation, educational psychology practice and neurodiversity-affirming approaches.
• Experience leading, supervising or developing multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent consultation, communication and relationship-building skills.
• Experience designing and delivering training for professionals.
• Strong leadership, organisational and project management skills.
• Commercial awareness with the ability to support service growth and partnership development.
• A collaborative, innovative approach with a commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people.
• Willingness to travel nationally as required.

What You'll Receive

• Competitive salary of £65,000–£80,000 depending on experience.
• Comprehensive benefits package.
• Flexible hybrid working.
• The opportunity to shape and lead a growing national service.
• A collaborative multidisciplinary environment with opportunities for innovation and professional development.
• The chance to make a meaningful impact on inclusive education across the UK.