About this role
Job summary
Vertis Health is seeking an experienced and motivated Speech and Language Therapist or Occupational Therapist to join our Adult Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Assessment Service. In this role, you will undertake specialist face-to-face ADOS-2 Module 4 assessments for adults referred to our autism diagnostic pathway across Worcestershire.
Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will collaborate closely with a Clinical Psychologist or Registered Mental Health Nurse who will complete the developmental history and wider clinical assessment. Together, you will contribute to comprehensive diagnostic formulations and provide high-quality, person-centred assessment experiences for adults seeking diagnostic clarity.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will:
Undertake face-to-face ADOS-2 Module 4 assessments for adults referred to the ASD diagnostic pathway.Administer, score and interpret ADOS-2 assessments in line with recognised standards and service protocols.Record detailed, accurate and clinically relevant behavioural observations.Contribute specialist assessment findings to multidisciplinary diagnostic discussions.Identify and communicate areas requiring further clinical exploration or consideration.Participate in joint diagnostic feedback appointments with service users.Communicate assessment outcomes sensitively and in a neurodiversity-affirming manner.Complete timely, accurate and comprehensive clinical documentation.Maintain compliance with professional standards, safeguarding requirements and clinical governance procedures.
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
This post forms part of Vertis Healths multidisciplinary Adult ASD diagnostic pathway.
The ADOS-2 assessor will work alongside a clinician undertaking the developmental history and wider clinical assessment. Diagnostic decisions will be reached collaboratively through multidisciplinary discussion, integrating developmental history, clinical information, available collateral evidence and direct observational findings.
The role does not routinely include responsibility for developmental history assessment, ongoing post-diagnostic intervention or independent case management.
Following diagnostic decision-making, the ADOS-2 assessor will participate in joint diagnostic feedback with the developmental-history clinician.
We are looking for an experienced ADOS-2 clinician who is confident undertaking adult Module 4 assessments and contributing thoughtful observational evidence to multidisciplinary diagnostic decision-making.
You will bring strong assessment skills, sound professional judgement, attention to detail and a clear understanding that the ADOS-2 forms one component of a broader diagnostic process.
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Minimum 2 years experience undertaking autism diagnostic assessments, including regular use of ADOS-2 Module 4 with adults. Experience contributing to multidisciplinary diagnostic decision-making and diagnostic feedback. Experience working with adults with complex or overlapping neurodevelopmental and mental health presentations. Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, clinically robust documentation.
Knowledge and Skills Essential
Strong knowledge of adult autism presentation, including subtle presentations and masking or camouflaging. High level of competence in ADOS-2 administration and scoring. Understanding of the strengths and limitations of the ADOS-2 within a broader autism diagnostic assessment. Knowledge of current NICE guidance relating to the identification, assessment and diagnosis of autism in adults. Ability to distinguish behavioural observations from wider diagnostic conclusions. Ability to present assessment findings clearly within a multidisciplinary team. Understanding of safeguarding, professional accountability and clinical governance. Commitment to person-centred and neurodiversity-affirming clinical practice.
Desirable
Substantial experience administering ADOS-2 Module 4 with verbally fluent adults. Experience working within NHS or NHS-commissioned adult neurodevelopmental services. Experience using online clinical system, EMIS and Heidi or a comparable AI medical scribe / ambient clinical documentation tool to support clinical documentation. Additional postgraduate training in autism or neurodevelopmental assessment.
Qualifications Essential
Current HCPC registration as a Speech and Language Therapist or Occupational Therapist. Formal ADOS-2 training.
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)