Psychology Service: Service Statement

• To bring the Psychology service’s professional knowledge and expertise to serve the best interests of children as they learn and develop as members of their schools, families and communities.

• To share, extend and develop psychological approaches which promote the effectiveness and well-being of individuals, groups and organisations.

• To collaborate with others to provide and develop positive outcomes for children- especially through assisting the LEA/LA in serving their needs.

• Recognising and valuing individuals, their entitlements, responsibilities and relationships in the groups and institutions (i.e. families, schools and communities) in which they participate.

• Working with schools and others to overcome difficulties, prejudice and failure by building solutions from strengths, diversity and achievements.

• Supporting individuals, groups and organisations in setting and meeting meaningful and realistic goals and learning objectives.

• Promoting the importance of self worth, self-fulfilment and development and seeking to enable individuals to have access to information, opportunities and choice in reaching and taking their own decisions.

• Seeking to maximise children’s potential.

• To provide high quality psychological practice, characterised by…

A psychological perspective which ensures a systematic consideration and understanding of the relevant background as well as the particular circumstances that lead to any enquiry or request for assistance.

The application of psychological knowledge, skills and approaches which can make a difference to effective learning (including those which can enhance school effectiveness).

 

Sound professional judgements and advice.

• To sustain and develop high quality and psychological practice by…

Focusing what we do and evaluating and appraising how we do it.

 

Ensuring that all members of the Service act in a responsible manner towards children, parents and other clients, as required by the Code of Conduct of the British Psychological Society and the Code of Practice of the Association of Educational Psychologists.

 

Ensuring that all members of the Service achieve professional standards acceptable to the Service and continue to develop and update their professional practice.

• To provide a high quality public Service which…

Is approachable, courteous, professional, sensitive and which listens and responds in a constructive, creative and honest manner.

 

Is sensitive to cultural, racial and religious diversity.

 

Is effective in identifying when the Service can offer support and seeks to provide information about alternative sources of assistance when this is not possible.

 

Asks others to collaborate and be willing to make a commitment to change so as to establish effective partnerships which move situations forward.

 

Gives and earns respect and is recommended by others as a helpful Service to use.

• To provide and develop a flexible and effective Psychology Service for children and young people (aged 0-19 years) who reside in Leicester and to provide associated advice to their parents and carers free at the point of delivery.

• To provide a range of specialist advice, support and assistance to Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership providers and to Leicester schools and colleges which is relevant to the needs of individual pupils and the developmental needs of schools.

• To collaborate and work in partnership with schools, teachers, parents and other professionals undertaking preventative work promoting good practice and resolving difficulties which effect children’s education and psychological development.

• To establish and sustain a series of working partnerships and other agencies which ensure the LEA collaborates appropriately in identifying, prioritising and meeting the psychological and educational needs of children and young people, for example, through its commitment to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Strategy and which addresses the needs of groups identified within the Council’s Children’s Services Plan, for example, Looked After Children and children with disabilities.

• To contribute to a range of LEA statutory duties (e.g. identification and assessment, follow up and review of Statements of Special Educational Needs under the 1996 Education Act and the duty to collaborate under the 1989 Children Act)

• To provide specialist advice to the Education Department and City Council on matters concerning the education and psychological well being of children and young people in Leicester and the quality of education they receive.

• To contribute psychological knowledge and approaches relevant to current issues within the LEA, for example, through the LEA Behaviour Support Plan and Education Development Plan and assist the strategic direction of the City Council.

• The Service comprises Educational Psychologists, Bilingual Support Teachers and a Secretarial and Support Team.  It is located at Collegiate House in the city centre.

• Educational Psychologists have a broad specialist knowledge of children and of the application of Psychology throughout education.  They are additionally specially trained to advise, assess and consult on the needs of children and about ways of helping them.

• Educational Psychologists hold an Honours Degree in Psychology, a post-Graduate qualification in Educational Psychology and have trained and worked as teachers.  Our work is guided by the Code of Conduct and Charter of the British Psychological Society and the Code of Professional Practice of the Association of Educational Psychologists.

• The Psychology Service has two qualified Bilingual Support Teachers.  They assist Educational Psychologists in the assessment of children and also carry out independent assessment through teaching programmes in Gujarati, Punjabi, Urdu, Hindi and Kutchi.

• The Service is accountable to the local authority’s elected members through the Director of Education and the Principal Educational Psychologist.

• As a part of the Education Department and the Psychology Service works with the network of agencies providing and planning for children and young people.