Head of Service (Hampshire Educational Psychology)

Overview

As Head of Service for Hampshire Educational Psychology, you will steer one of the country’s leading educational psychology services. You’ll shape strategic direction, drive innovation, and ensure high-quality statutory and traded services across Hampshire. You’ll lead a ~70-strong team with a £6.5m budget, partnering across education, health and social care to improve SEND outcomes. This role offers influence over major SEND transformation and the Experts at Hand programme, with a strong focus on inclusion and workforce development.

Pay / Benefits

• Health Assured Employee Assistance Programme
• generous annual leave entitlement
• occupational sick pay
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• hybrid working
• competitive benefits package

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for Hampshire Educational Psychology and ensure ongoing high-quality service delivery
• Drive innovation and promote evidence-informed practice to achieve service excellence
• Lead the Experts at Hand SEND transformation programme within the department
• Influence policy and practice across education, health and social care
• Ensure delivery of statutory and traded services to high professional standards
• Build partnerships for a whole-system approach to strengthen inclusion and improve SEND outcomes
• Champion educational psychology contributions locally, regionally and nationally

Key requirements

• Honours Degree in Psychology (BPS recognised)
• Postgraduate qualification in Educational Psychology (Doctorate, MSc or equivalent)
• HCPC registration
• Significant experience as a practising Educational Psychologist
• Senior leadership experience within educational psychology and multidisciplinary services
• Proven track record of large-scale transformation and service improvement
• Experience developing strategic partnerships and influencing policy across sectors
• Experience managing substantial budgets and resources
• Strong communication, influencing and strategic leadership skills
• Commitment to inclusion, innovation and continuous improvement

• strong communication
• influencing and collaboration
• strategic leadership
• HCPC registration
• Educational Psychology practice
• budget management

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