We just received another review from one of our previous AEPs reviewing her year in the role and we wanted to take a moment to share it with you.
I began working as an Assistant Educational Psychologist (AEP) upon graduating from my Masters degree in 2015. I was eager secure a role as an AEP because I felt that working alongside qualified Educational Psychologists (EPs) would give me the best insight into the profession and secure my understanding of the role. Applying for the AEP job in Norfolk was one of the best decisions I ever made because I found myself immersed into a team that immediately sought to understand me as an individual and ensure that I was provided with every opportunity to build my knowledge base and experience. Weekly supervisions allowed me to constantly reflect on my journey and make sure that the work I undertook remained wide and varied, allowing me to progress and develop both personally and professionally.
The type of work that I undertook as an AEP varied throughout the year and increased in autonomy as the months progressed, but generally the work was divided into three main stands, namely research, intervention and casework (which could include assessment, observation, collecting a child’s views etc.). There was also invaluable support offered to me by my supervisors, and the team as a whole, when I came to submitting my application for the Doctorate in Educational Psychology.
I was lucky enough to be offered a place on the professional training course in Nottingham, but I feel immensely privileged to have worked as part of the Educational Psychology and Specialist Support (EPSS) team in Norfolk. I have opted to come back and complete my first year placement within EPSS and hope to continue in Norfolk for my second and third year placements, eventually securing a role as a qualified EP. Part of my reasoning for this is the excitement of being part of such a rapidly expanding, diverse and supportive multidisciplinary team, but it is also based on the positive experience that I had as an AEP.
S.R.
