To deliver high-quality autism (ASD) assessments for children and young people in line with NICE guidance, Vertis Health SOPs, and commissioned service requirements. The postholder will contribute to safe, timely diagnostic decision-making through structured assessment, multi-informant evidence gathering across settings, MDT discussion, and high-quality reporting. Outcomes and recommendations will be communicated clearly to families and shared with GPs, with appropriate signposting and onward referral routes used where unmet needs are identified.
About the Services
The services currently include:
* Adult ADHD assessment and ongoing clinical reviews, with medication titration delivered under appropriate prescribing governance and shared care with GPs where agreed.
* Adult ASD diagnostic assessment pathway delivered through an MDT model.
* Children and Young People (CYP) ADHD an assessment and diagnosis pathway (with onward treatment and medication pathways subject to commissioning and wider system arrangements).
* Children and Young People (CYP) ASD a diagnostic assessment pathway delivered through a multidisciplinary model, aligned to national guidance and local commissioning arrangements.
Main duties of the job
* Deliver CYP ASD assessments in line with service SOPs and NICE guidance, integrating developmental history, neurodevelopmental history, functional impact and differential considerations.
* Gather and integrate multi-informant evidence across settings (home and education), including use of validated questionnaires and objective assessment measures as required by the pathway model.
* Conduct an initial appointment to establish background and contextual information and coordinate assessment activity as required by the pathway (including acting as case coordinator for the family during the assessment episode where this is part of the model).
* Participate in MDT discussion and contribute to diagnostic decision‑making within governed diagnostic processes aligned to DSM‑5/ICD‑11 criteria, ensuring conclusions are evidence-based and defensible.
* Identify co‑occurring needs and risk factors (including safeguarding), escalating appropriately via clinical governance routes.
* Produce high‑quality ASD assessment reports within agreed timeframes, written in clear, neurodiversity‑affirming language.
* Communicate outcomes sensitively to families and share results with the GP in line with consent and information governance requirements.
* Practice within safeguarding legislation and organisational safeguarding procedures, identifying concerns promptly and escalating appropriately.
About us
About Vertis Health
Vertis Health is a GP‑owned organisation in Worcestershire. We deliver safe, evidence‑based community services through clinician‑led teams, robust governance, and practical, data‑driven improvement.
Job responsibilities
Accountable to: Neurodevelopmental Service Lead / Head of Operations (as locally agreed)
Professional/Clinical partner: Consultant Psychiatrist and/or Paediatrician (designated senior medical oversight for diagnostic governance)
Base: Redditch hub (B97), fully in‑person working
Hours: Open to both full‑time or part‑time roles within service hours, Monday‑Friday 09:00‑17:00 (no on‑call)
Pre‑employment checks: Enhanced DBS and barred lists, Safeguarding Level 3, Right to Work (UK)
Person Specification
* Current professional registration with NMC or HCPC (or equivalent relevant regulator) in a nursing, psychology, SLT or other mental health role.
* Significant post‑qualification experience working with children and young people in neurodevelopmental, paediatric, CAMHS or closely related settings.
* Direct experience delivering CYP ASD assessments within a diagnostic pathway.
* Ability to integrate information from multiple sources into clear clinical reasoning and defensible conclusions aligned to DSM‑5/ICD‑11 diagnostic criteria within MDT governance.
* Strong report‑writing skills with evidence of producing high‑quality clinical documentation to deadlines.
* Sound understanding of safeguarding, risk identification and escalation within CYP services.
* Confident MDT working and ability to follow governed diagnostic pathways and service SOPs.
* Commitment to equality, reasonable adjustments and neurodiversity‑affirming practice.
* Experience using objective ASD assessment measures and validated questionnaires within a diagnostic pathway model.
* Experience of coordinating assessment episodes (case coordinator approach) and delivering feedback appointments.
* Experience working with dual presentation (ASD and ADHD) and navigating pathway interfaces safely.
* Experience of audit, service improvement or documentation standards work in ND services.
* ADOS-2 trained.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
£45,000 to £60,000 a year, depending on experience
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