Education Psychologist

The Government of Montserrat is inviting applications from suitably qualified persons for the post of Education Psychologist, within the Ministry of Education.

The Government of Montserrat is inviting applications from suitably qualified persons for the post of Education Psychologist, within the Ministry of Education. The successful applicant will be appointed immediately after the HR process is fully completed.

JOB PURPOSE

To deliver diagnostic and psycho-educational assessment, psychological counselling and design special educational needs programme to support students, and parents/guardians within schools and communities. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The key responsibilities include:

• Leadership and Management: Deliver a planned and coordinated program of educational psychology services to students, schools and parents from Early Childhood through to primary and secondary levels.
1. Provide leadership direction for Counselors and evaluation and monitoring oversight for the SEND Programmes and staff.
2. Create and contribute to school wide interventions, behaviour plans and policies.

• Assessment and Intervention: Use modern processes and standardized screening, diagnostic and intervention tools to identify and respond to the support needs especially those of SEND students.
1. Design Individual Education Plans (I.E. P’s)
2. Convene and chair IEP meetings on a periodic basis.
3. Provide mediation and counselling in order to improve relationships between students, parents and teachers.

• Training: Provide and facilitate access to ongoing professional support (consultation and training) for School Counselors, SEND Teachers, parents and external community stake holders.
1. Collaborate with Guidance Counselors to deliver teaching/learning experiences relevant to social skills, conflict resolution and emotion regulation to students.
2. Provide training on various topics (e.g. managing challenging behaviours, trauma, ADHD, ASD, Bullying) so as to support students with emotional needs.

• Integrated Service Delivery: Assist in planning, developing, executing and evaluating programs to address the support needs of students and other professional staff.
1. Assist and provide guidance to School Leaders and Administrators on matters directly associated with promoting SEND programmes and events.
2. Refer students to supporting agencies external to the Ministry of education for interventions where appropriate.

• Professional Development: Participate in professional workshops and become affiliated with psychological organizations and continually seek to improve professional knowledge and skills.
1. Possess sound knowledge and understanding of confidentiality and child safeguarding issues and relevant policies.
2. Demonstrate the ability to remain calm and maintain professional conduct under stressful circumstances.
3. Capable to employ crisis-intervention techniques to stabilize highly emotional situations.
4. Must be a registered member of a professional and regulatory body within the associated field.

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATIONS

Minimum Requirement 

The successful applicant should;

• Have a Master’s Degree in Education Psychology or related field from a recognized university. 
• Professional Certification in Counselling and/or Special Educational Needs and Disability.
• Have at least (3) years’ experience in providing psychosocial services within schools.
• Demonstrate personal qualities of understanding others, trust, empathy, maturity, conscientiousness, integrity and initiative.

Preferred Experience

• Professional Teacher Training and/or Teacher Training Certification is desirable. 
• Substantial experience in using diagnostic tools to screen and analyze SEND students.