Educational psychology service

Multi agency working and safeguarding

The Educational Psychology service (EPS) is a core service to achieve high standards of education, health and care for all children and young people in Southwark. This role is developing more specifically to achieve the five key outcomes for children outlined in Every Child Matters:

• being healthy
• staying safe
• enjoying and achieving
• making a positive contribution
• economic well being

This is achieved by providing a psychological service to children and young people with special educational needs from pre-birth to post 19 years old, their families, and the people who work with them and plan for them. The EPS also contributes to strategic developments with other agencies.

Working in partnership

Educational psychologists (EPs) work closely with other early years educational support services such as the early intervention team, the educational advisory services for children with a visual or hearing impairment and for children with autistic spectrum disorder. We also work closely with colleagues in special educational needs, the education welfare and attendance service and the behaviour and attendance support service.

EPs also link with other professionals including speech and language therapists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, social care and the voluntary agencies to promote collaborative working.

Safeguarding

The educational psychology service seeks to be a safe organisation in accordance with the findings of the Bichard Enquiry and to contribute fully to best practice in safeguarding in Southwark. All staff, regardless of previous experience, attend safeguarding training as part of their induction with regular updating for experienced staff. We adhere to safer organisations guidance in selection and recruitment, only appointing staff with a high level of awareness and skill in this area.

In the professional practice of educational psychology we understand the link between safeguarding issues and the behaviour of children and young people and apply psychology that takes account of the environment in which behaviours occur. We're fully committed to implementing the Southwark safeguarding procedures and join colleagues to deliver training in this area.

For more information on safeguarding issues, visit our webpages on protecting children and young people from harm.

Page last updated: 15 September 2021