About this role
Job summary
Vertis Health is seeking an experienced and HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologist to join our growing Adult Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Service. In this role, you will undertake ADI-R developmental assessments as part of a multidisciplinary autism diagnostic pathway, contributing to high-quality, person-centred diagnostic assessments for adults.
Working collaboratively with ADOS-2 assessors and other members of the multidisciplinary team, you will bring together developmental history, clinical information and assessment findings to support robust diagnostic decision-making. You will also participate in diagnostic feedback appointments and contribute to post-diagnostic support and psychoeducation.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a clinically led service that places quality, compassion and continuous improvement at the heart of care delivery.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will:
Conduct comprehensive ADI-R developmental assessments for adults referred to the autism diagnostic pathway.Gather, analyse and interpret developmental, collateral and clinical information.Explore autism-related presentations across the lifespan, considering functional impact and co-occurring conditions.Participate in multidisciplinary diagnostic discussions and contribute to diagnostic formulation and decision-making.Integrate developmental history findings with ADOS-2 assessments and other available evidence.Identify and appropriately escalate cases where diagnostic complexity or uncertainty requires further clinical review.Deliver diagnostic feedback in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team.Provide post-diagnostic psychoeducation and support following assessment outcomes.Maintain accurate and timely clinical records and reports.Work in accordance with HCPC standards, safeguarding requirements and organisational clinical governance frameworks.
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 ADI-R clinician will work alongside a clinician undertaking the face-to-face ADOS-2 assessment. Diagnostic decisions will be reached collaboratively through multidisciplinary discussion, integrating developmental history, clinical information, available collateral evidence and direct observational findings.
Following diagnostic decision-making, the ADI-R clinician and ADOS-2 assessor will provide joint diagnostic feedback. The ADI-R clinician will subsequently contribute to appropriate post-diagnostic psychoeducation and support.
The role requires a clinician who is confident working autonomously within their professional competence while also valuing collaborative diagnostic decision-making and clear clinical governance.
We are looking for an experienced clinician with strong adult neurodevelopmental assessment skills who can combine structured assessment with thoughtful clinical reasoning.
You will be confident conducting ADI-R assessments, comfortable working with diagnostic complexity and uncertainty, and able to communicate sensitively with adults undergoing autism assessment.
You will bring professionalism, sound clinical judgement, attention to detail and a commitment to delivering high-quality, respectful and clinically robust autism assessments.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a Clinical Psychologist. Doctorate-level qualification in Clinical Psychology. Formal ADI-R training, with demonstrated competence in administration, scoring and clinical interpretation.
Knowledge and Skills Essential
Strong knowledge of adult autism and the ways in which presentation may vary across individuals and across the lifespan. Sound understanding of differential and co-occurring neurodevelopmental and mental health presentations. Ability to integrate information from developmental history, direct assessment, collateral information and other clinical evidence. Ability to recognise diagnostic uncertainty and work appropriately within a multidisciplinary model. Ability to communicate complex clinical information clearly, sensitively and respectfully. Understanding of safeguarding, risk management, professional accountability and clinical governance. Commitment to person-centred and neurodiversity-affirming clinical practice.
Desirable
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 interviewing, note generation and clinical documentation. Additional postgraduate training in autism, neurodevelopmental assessment, psychological intervention or related clinical practice.
Experience Essential
Minimum 2 years experience working within neurodevelopmental diagnostic services, including undertaking ADI-R assessments, contributing to multidisciplinary diagnostic decision-making, providing diagnostic feedback and supporting adults following diagnosis. 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.
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)