Scottish Educational Psychology Services: What does an optimal working environment look like, 2023 onwards? Exploring the national context of hybrid and blended working models for Educational Psychology Services in Scotland

Abstract

A hybrid/blended working approach (a mixture of office working, home working, and working from other locations) can optimize the benefits of working from home (WFH) while also ensuring access to opportunities for face-to-face interaction which are important for collaboration, innovation, effective service delivery and staff wellbeing (Brown et al., 2021). As Educational Psychologists (EPs) returned to offices following the easing of COVID-restrictions, we aimed to explore Scottish Educational Psychology Services’ (EPS’) experiences of hybrid/blended working and identify necessary pre-requisites for effective service delivery and staff wellbeing within such a model. A mixed-methods methodology was adopted. An online survey was distributed to all EPS in Scotland. Focus groups were also conducted at a meeting of the Association for Scottish Principal Educational Psychologists (ASPEP). Results provide the first Scottish overview of work-style trends for the profession, insight into the unique benefits and challenges of hybrid/blended working for EPs and identifies necessary pre-requisites for effective service delivery and staff wellbeing within such a model. Results identify a need to balance individual flexibility alongside the wider needs of the EP service. Additionally, clear operational service guidance is required with predictable face-to-face time as a core element of any hybrid/blended model to support professional development and staff wellbeing. A blended working checklist is provided to support organisational planning and evaluation.