About this role
Job summary
We are looking for an experienced and passionate Speech & Language Therapist to join our growing Children & Young People's Neurodevelopmental Service. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role within our ADHD and Autism assessment pathways, helping children, young people and families access timely, high-quality, evidence-based diagnostic assessments.
Working as part of a skilled multidisciplinary team, you will contribute specialist speech, language and communication expertise to support diagnostic decision-making and improve outcomes for children and young people across Worcestershire. Your knowledge and clinical insight will be central to understanding each child's unique communication profile, ensuring assessments are thorough, person-centred and aligned with best practice.
This is an excellent opportunity for a clinician who is passionate about neurodevelopmental practice and wants to make a meaningful difference to children and families at a pivotal point in their journey. As our service continues to develop, you will have the chance not only to deliver high-quality assessments but also to influence pathway design, contribute to service improvement and help shape a modern, neurodiversity-affirming model of care.
Main duties of the job
As a Speech & Language Therapist within our Children & Young People's Service, you will provide specialist assessment of speech, language, communication and social interaction needs as part of ADHD and Autism diagnostic pathways.
Your responsibilities will include:
Conducting structured speech, language and communication assessments.Reviewing referrals and supporting evidence to inform pathway decisions.Gathering information from families, schools and other professionals.Contributing specialist clinical reasoning to multidisciplinary diagnostic discussions.Supporting diagnostic decision-making through evidence-based assessment.Identifying co-occurring communication, language and social communication needs.Producing high-quality assessment reports using neurodiversity-affirming language.Sharing assessment outcomes sensitively with children, young people and families.Providing practical recommendations, communication strategies and reasonable adjustments.Maintaining accurate clinical records and working within safeguarding and governance requirements.
About us
Vertis Health is a federation of general practices delivering high-quality NHS services across Worcestershire. We were founded by local primary care clinicians and are owned by the practices we serve. As a purpose-led limited company, the money we generate is reinvested into the local healthcare economy, helping to strengthen services, support innovation and improve patient care.
Our neurodevelopmental services are being built around clinical quality, meaningful outcomes and strong governance. You will join an organisation that understands NHS systems and values while giving experienced clinicians the opportunity to influence, develop and improve services.
Depending on the role, our benefits include access to the NHS Pension, structured learning and development, clinical leadership opportunities, career progression and genuine flexibility.
If you want to help build a clinically rigorous, compassionate and sustainable service, we would be pleased to hear from you.
Job description Job responsibilities
Vertis Health is seeking an experienced Speech & Language Therapist to join our Children & Young People's Neurodevelopmental Service. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will provide specialist speech, language and communication expertise within ADHD and Autism diagnostic pathways, supporting high-quality, evidence-based assessments for children and young people aged 6-17 years. Your contribution will play a vital role in helping ensure accurate diagnostic decision-making, meaningful outcomes and a positive experience for families accessing the service.
You will undertake comprehensive speech, language and social communication assessments, review information from multiple sources including families and education settings, and contribute specialist clinical reasoning to multidisciplinary diagnostic discussions. You will help identify communication profiles, co-occurring needs and factors relevant to diagnostic formulation, while producing clear, high-quality reports and practical recommendations that support children, young people, families and professionals.
The successful candidate will have substantial experience working with children and young people in neurodevelopmental, paediatric, CAMHS or related settings, alongside excellent clinical assessment, communication and report-writing skills. You will be committed to person-centred, neurodiversity-affirming practice and confident working within NICE guidance, HCPC and RCSLT professional standards, and robust clinical governance frameworks.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing and ambitious neurodevelopmental service where clinical quality, collaboration and continuous improvement are at the heart of everything we do. As a Speech & Language Therapist, you will have the opportunity to influence service development, contribute to pathway improvement and help deliver timely access to high-quality ADHD and Autism assessments for children and young people across Worcestershire
Person Specification
Person Specification Essential
Current HCPC registration as a Speech and Language Therapist. Significant post-qualification experience working with children and young people in neurodevelopmental, paediatric, CAMHS or closely related settings. Demonstrable experience conducting speech, language and communication assessments within a CYP diagnostic or neurodevelopmental pathway. Ability to integrate multi-source assessment evidence into clear clinical reasoning, contributing to MDT diagnostic decision-making aligned to DSM-5/ICD-11 criteria. 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.
Desirable
Experience using validated standardised language and communication assessment tools within a ND or diagnostic pathway model. Experience of assessing children and young people with dual presentation (ASD and ADHD) and navigating pathway interfaces. Experience of working within high-volume assessment services or Right to Choose models. Experience of audit, service improvement or documentation standards work in neurodevelopmental or CAMHS services. Familiarity with ADOS-2 administration as part of an MDT model
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Vertis Health
Address 38 Kenilworth Close
Crabbs Cross
Redditch
B97 5JX
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.vertishealth.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)