A YEAR-LONG dispute which saw an educational psychologists union refuse to advertise Jersey jobs amid fears that the Island was an “unsafe” place to work has been resolved.
The Association of Educational Psychologists, which represents the profession, last year said it was no longer recommending the Island as an “appropriate or safe place” to its members and refused to carry adverts for local positions while “in dispute” with the government.
At the time, the association described a “failure” to “deal appropriately” with concerns raised by educational psychologists – who are employed to support children with special educational needs – as a reason behind its decision.
But in a joint statement published yesterday, the union and the government confirmed that the dispute had been resolved.
Education Minister Rob Ward said: “We appreciate the commitment and collaboration shown by all parties throughout this process and look forward to continuing our shared focus on delivering positive outcomes for children and young people using our services.”
Association of Educational Psychologists general secretary Donna Wiggett added: “We welcome the resolution of this dispute and are pleased that, through open and constructive discussions, we’ve reached a positive outcome.
“This agreement represents an important step forward in rebuilding a strong working relationship, ensuring the best for Association of Educational Psychologists members and the children and young people they support.”
The resolution follows the appointment of a transformation lead within Jersey’s educational psychology service, and recruitment is also under way for a new principal educational psychologist.
