17 April 2026
The Island's new Principal Educational Psychologist has officially started her work as part of the continued transformation and strengthening of the Educational Psychology Service.
Dr Rachel O'Connor has recently moved to Jersey and has begun her induction, working closely with Tracey Moore who has been overseeing the service, and is looking forward to working in partnership with education settings, professionals, and families across the Island.
Her appointment supports the wider transformation of the Educational Psychology Service, led by Dr Jo Lyons, with a focus on developing a more visible and impactful service for children and young people in Jersey.
As part of this work, the Psychology and Wellbeing team (PAWBS) which brings together Educational Psychologists and Well Being Facilitators is being expanded. This term, three Educational Psychologists will join the team alongside Dr Joanna Hill and Dr Kathryn Robinson. Dr Sam Worth will be joining from Greenwich, Dr Susan Lawton from Derbyshire, and Dr Anika Spanswick has been appointed on a permanent basis following her recent interim role. The service also continues to work with Dr Alun Flynn, an experienced Associate Educational Psychologist, and is recruiting an additional Assistant Educational Psychologist to work alongside current AEP Jeffrey Soares.
Alongside the expansion of the team, a new online Educational Psychology Service resource has been launched on Educational Psychologists (EPs) designed to help parents, carers and professionals better understand the role of educational psychologists and how to access support.
The new online resource brings together clear, accessible information about what the service does, when and how Educational Psychologists work with schools and families, and what support is available at different stages of a child or young person's development.
To improve accessibility, the online resource includes short videos in a range of languages and a downloadable booklet Educational Psychology in Jersey explaining the Educational Psychology Service and answering frequently asked questions. This supports the Government of Jersey's commitment to inclusive, transparent, and easy to understand services for families.
Dr Rachel O'Connor, Principal Educational Psychologist, said: “I'm delighted to have moved to Jersey and to be leading the continued development of the Educational Psychology Service. By expanding the team, strengthening partnerships with schools and families, and improving access to clear information through our new online resources, we are building a service that is sustainable, visible, and focused on improving outcomes for children and young people."
The new Educational Psychology Service online resource is available at: gov.je/EPS
gov.je