Our Values
In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do.
Our Values are:
- Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
- Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
- Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
- Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
- Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
- Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.
We value diverse perspectives and experiences and are striving to create a workplace culture that is inclusive, is accepting of all and is free from discrimination and bias.
The Coventry Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) Support Service exists to deliver the aspirational challenge set to us by young people with SEND and their families: ‘To Lift the Cloud of Limitation and enable them to enjoy an ordinary life’.
We are a creative, connected and forward-thinking service. Together with our families and partners in schools, settings, the NHS and third sector, we have driven change that has pushed us to the cutting edge of SEND. This includes embedding co-production across all areas of service delivery, investing in our SEND workforce, and pioneering new initiatives such as the award-nominated 'Together We Can' partnership group to engage Early Years children and their families and 'My Support Plan', a family-centred approach to understanding children's strengths and needs and tailoring their support.
When Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) completed a Local Area inspection of Coventry in October 2019, they commended our “genuine passion and commitment to get things right for children and young people with SEND and their families”; our respect for the “lived experiences of children and young people with SEND and their parents” and the “strong partnership between school settings and education service providers, with a high level of buy-back of specialist services”.
Coventry’s Educational Psychology Team play a key role in maintaining the quality of our local SEND provision. Our respected EPs work within a strong and committed team with a vibrant mix of Qualified, Trainee and Assistant EPs, Complex Communication Specialists and a Clinical Psychologist.
Excellent relationships exist with schools and a strong traded offer, enabling us to engage in creative, early-intervention work.
What is the job role?
The Assistant Educational Psychologist will support Educational Psychologists to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND.
They will apply psychological knowledge, research skills and evidence-informed approaches through supervised casework, project work, intervention, consultation support and evaluation.
The role offers a valuable opportunity to strengthen inclusive practice, contribute to Experts@Hand and support every child achieving and thriving.
This is an excellent opportunity for individuals intending to apply for Educational Psychology doctoral training who wish to gain substantial experience within a highly regarded Educational Psychology Service.
All candidates must have the Right to Work in the UK. We are currently not offering sponsorship for this role.
This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for enthusiastic, reflective and compassionate individuals who are passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
You will have a strong interest in educational psychology, child development and inclusion, together with the ability to build positive relationships with children, families, schools and professionals. You will be curious, organised and motivated to use psychological knowledge and evidence-informed approaches to make a difference.
This role would be particularly suited to graduates who are considering a future career in Educational Psychology and who are seeking high-quality supervised experience within a supportive local authority service. We welcome applicants with experience of working with children and young people in educational, health, care or community settings.
Successful applicants will be able to:
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Communicate effectively with a wide range of people.
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Gather, organise and analyse information accurately.
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Work sensitively with children, young people and families.
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Contribute to consultation, intervention, training and project work under supervision.
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Demonstrate a commitment to inclusion, equality and anti-discriminatory practice.
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Reflect on their own practice and make use of supervision and feedback.
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Work independently while also contributing positively to a collaborative team.
In return, we offer excellent supervision from qualified Educational Psychologists, opportunities to contribute to innovative service developments, training and professional development, and valuable experience of applying psychology in practice across a wide range of educational settings.
Following recommendations from Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) for an additional pre employment check with effect 1 Sept 22, please note, an online search may form part of this recruitment process.
If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you.
Guaranteed Interview Scheme - As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria:
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Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
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Are currently in care or have previously been in care
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If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition
We recognise that you might use AI tools to help with your application. While these tools can be useful, please make sure that all information you provide about your experience, skills, and qualifications is accurate. What matters most to us is hearing about your experience and the achievements that truly reflect you!
Interview date: 1st, 8th and 13th October 2026
About Coventry
Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change.
We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse.
At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around 5100 staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things.
To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities.
If you join us, we will provide a fantastic rewards and benefits package - to find out more please visit https://www.coventry.gov.uk/council-vacancies
