Medway Council is seeking an experienced and highly effective Interim Principal Educational Psychologist to provide senior leadership and strategic oversight during a pivotal period of improvement and change. This interim assignment represents an excellent opportunity for a seasoned leader who can deliver immediate impact, drive innovation in statutory EP functions, and support the council through a planned service review linked to wider SEND and Children's Services reforms.

With national SEND changes underway and rising demand for statutory services, Medway is entering a critical phase of development. We need a confident, strategic and solution‑focused interim leader who can help stabilise, strengthen and modernise our Educational Psychology Service while longer‑term structural work takes place.

As their Interim Principal EP, you will provide visible, decisive leadership and ensure that statutory responsibilities are met to a high standard. You will also play a key role in preparing the service for future redesign and improvement activity. This is a role for someone who can quickly understand a complex system, build credibility fast, and make informed decisions that support both immediate delivery and longer‑term transformation.

You will lead on:

• Oversight and quality assurance of statutory EP functions
• Innovative approaches to increase capacity and manage growing demand
• A service-wide review, contributing to recommendations for structure, practice, and workforce
• Embedding efficient, research‑led processes across assessment and intervention pathways
• Maintaining strong operational performance and compliance
• Providing professional supervision to EPs and senior practitioners
• Supporting the wider 0-25 SEND leadership team

A core priority for this interim position is to lead smarter, more streamlined and innovative approaches to statutory EP work, including:

• Reviewing and improving statutory pathways and operating models
• Introducing practice changes that create capacity for anticipated increases in demand
• Strengthening early intervention involvement to reduce pressure on formal assessment routes
• Exploring and implementing multidisciplinary solutions to improve workflow and impact
• Ensuring compliance remains strong while creating room for preventative and systemic EP work

We are seeking an interim professional who is:

• An experienced Principal EP comfortable in complex environments
• Able to deliver steady and confident leadership during periods of change
• Skilled at balancing operational delivery with strategic planning
• Highly knowledgeable about SEND reforms and local authority statutory duties
• A creative thinker with a track record of driving improvement
• Comfortable leading service reviews, redesign, and transformation activity
• Solutions‑focused, resilient and able to build strong relationships quickly
• HCPC registration and a recognised EP qualification are essential.

If you are interested in this role please send your updated CV in the first instance.