The role of an educational psychologist in a multi-agency team supporting families

• Main Author: Erasmus, Naomi
• Published: Cardiff University 2013
• Subjects: BF Psychology
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.585282

This thesis is formed from two papers: a systematic literature review and an empirical research study. The first, a systematic literature review, explores and critically discusses the current research evidence assessing the roles that educational psychologists (EPs) have held in various multi-agency teams. The second, an empirical research study, explores the perceptions of an EP’s role currently held by other team members in a multi-agency team supporting families (MATSF). For example, other team members’ constructions of: the methods, tools and techniques underpinning the professional practice of an EP; and the ethical guidelines governing the professional practice of an EP. MATSF team members’ views were obtained using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. The study found that some team members did still hold ‘traditional’ constructions about the methods, tools and techniques underpinning the professional practice of an EP, despite the theoretical underpinnings of the MATSF under consideration being Motivational Interviewing (MI), Solution-Focused and Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) approaches. The study also found that the majority of team members had a limited knowledge of, and understanding of, the ethical guidelines governing the professional practice of an EP. The thesis concludes with a discussion of some of the emerging themes that were generated, and the implications for future educational psychology practice in the MATSF and other multi-agency contexts. Some suggestions for further research and expansion of the role played by an EP in a MATSF are presented