Contact information
If you would like further information about this job please contact Jayne Murray Children's Occupational Therapy Clinical Team Lead for Multi Disciplinary Assessment for Autism Team on myh-tr.mychildrenstherapy@nhs.net or telephone 01924 541411
About the role
We are a team of Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Clinical Psychologists and MDA coordinators who assess children and young people for Autism in the Wakefield Area. We aim to support children and young people while they are waiting for assessment and offer a quality assessment experience with an individualised plan and post assessment follow up. We also offer workshops into educational settings and parent groups.
The Occupational Therapist working with a Speech and Language Therapist will assess the child using standardised assessment, clinical analysis of presenting history and observation in another setting if required. Therapists feedback assessment outcome to parents and provide a report with an individualised plan. Occupational Therapy knowledge of sensory processing and participation in childhood occupations contributes valuable information to the assessment process and follow up plan.
The team sits within and has strong links with the wider Children's Therapy service working in Pinderfields and Pontefract Hospital
Main duties
Triage of incoming referrals to the Autism Assessment Pathway
Administration and analysis of Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule 2
Clinical observation and analysis
Communication of assessment outcomes to parents
Complex Clinical report writing
Ability to make individualised recommendations based on assessment outcomes
Teamwork
Key requirements
Occupational Therapy Degree or equivalent
Experience of working with children and young people with autism
Experience of working with a diagnostic pathway
Experience in administration and assessment using standardised assessment
Ability to undertake complex clinical reasoning
Experience in managing challenging conversations
Be part of MY team
We are an acute trust caring for over one million people in Wakefield and Kirklees. Our 10,000 staff work in patients’ homes, the community, and our three hospitals in Pontefract, Dewsbury, and Pinderfields (Wakefield). We prioritise our people and values so we can deliver the best possible care to patients. Our team is friendly, passionate, and innovative, always seeking better ways to work.
We support work-life balance and foster a diverse, inclusive environment where everyone belongs. Our staff networks offer safe spaces to share ideas and concerns so we can increase awareness and appreciation of equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and especially encourage members of the LGBTQ+ community, ethnic minority groups, and people with disabilities or neurodivergence to apply, as they are currently underrepresented in the Trust.
If you value caring, high standards, improvement, and respect, join the MY team to make a difference every day.
Application guidance:
We understand that more applicants are using AI technology to help with their applications. While these tools can be useful, they cannot fully capture your skills, knowledge, and experience. It’s important that you personalise your application. Relying solely on AI is not recommended, as it may reduce your chances of success. Our screening process is thorough, so if you have used AI, please make sure to disclose this on your application form.
Our benefits
* Access to the NHS pension plan
* Generous holiday allowance of 27 days plus bank holidays, increasing with 5 and 10 years of service
* Exceptional employee health and wellbeing services
* Extensive benefits and support, including:
* Onsite nurseries and childcare salary sacrifice scheme
* Cycle to work scheme
* Home electronics scheme
* Car lease salary sacrifice scheme
* Working carers support and advice, carers network and carers passport
* Flexible working options and family and carer-friendly policies
* Established staff networks, including LGBTQ+ and Race Equality
* Career progression, training and support
Skilled worker sponsorship
You can find out more about skilled worker and health and care visas on our careers site .