Depute Principal Psychologist (Strategy)

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Job Details

We are looking for a skilled, motivated and experienced educational psychologist who is passionate about improving life chances for all, with a particular focus on those young people who are most vulnerable and at risk of poor outcomes.

As a Depute Principal Psychologist (Strategic) in Fife you will join the leadership team of a dynamic Educational Psychology Service that offers a comprehensive induction and supervision programme. There is a strong commitment to supporting the Professional Development of all staff through regular service development days and self-led professional learning.

We are delighted that in February 2024 Fife Council agreed a substantial investment in the Educational Psychology Service to increase the core staffing budget. This is in recognition of the work the service already does, in partnership with key stakeholders, to focus on achieving better outcomes for children and young people who need us most. This is an exciting new opportunity for us to increase the impact we can make at a strategic and school development level through an enhanced focus on effective implementation of initiatives. This will also have implications for both operational and strategic management of the service, with which the postholder will have significant involvement.

FCEPS is currently involved in leading on a range of exciting strategic developments within the Education Service and with multi-agency partners. These include:

the Fife-wide roll out of the Neurodevelopmental Pathway in Fife, an innovative new approach to multi-agency assessment, intervention, staff training and parental support for young people who may have neurodevelopmental conditions

a refresh of Fife Council’s ASL Strategy, building on the recommendations in the national ASL Review: All our Children and All their Potential

a focus on Relationships and Behaviour, to support schools to address emotional wellbeing needs and prevent the distressed behaviour that can contribute to concerns about violence and aggression

FCEPS is a large service with a range of opportunities for distributed leadership and developing innovative professional practices. We have a clear identity and purpose as a service, a leadership style characterised by the promotion of professional autonomy within a culture of collective responsibility, as outlined in How We Work.

We have support systems for new entrants to the profession, several experienced supervisors on the BPS Register of Supervisors and staff familiar with the Qualification in Educational Psychology (QEP), British Psychological Society (BPS) and Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) processes, enabling us to support psychologists to benefit from high quality professional supervision.

Qualification, Registration and Skill Requirements

Honours degree in psychology, conferring basis for graduate membership of the BPS, and a postgraduate qualification in educational psychology.

recent experience as an educational psychologist within a local authority EP Service, including involvement in service development and leading initiatives.

practice consistent with Fife EPS aims and priorities.

a high level of interpersonal, organisational and consultation skills and abilities which will enable you to demonstrate professional autonomy within a culture of collective responsibility to our service and our stakeholders.

demonstrable success in collaborative working, which has made a strategic contribution to staff and service development.

a commitment to your own professional learning as an educational psychologist through career-long professional learning activity and to be able to show how this has impacted on your practice.

Before confirming your appointment, you will be required to obtain Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme membership through Disclosure Scotland and become a member of the relevant PVG scheme.

You are required to be fully registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) or to be on track to complete your Qualification in Educational Psychology, which will ensure you are eligible to register with the HCPC; to model all behaviour expected of an Educational Psychologist in Scotland in line with the relevant Professional Standards.

Applications are welcomed from qualified and experienced Educational Psychologists who are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

For more information, please contact: Vivienne Sutherland, vivienne.sutherland@fife.gov.uk