Job summary
Vertis Health is seeking a motivated and experienced Clinical Psychologist to join our Children and Young Peoples (CYP) Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Assessment Service. The successful postholder will play a key role in delivering high-quality autism assessments as part of a multidisciplinary team (MDT), supporting timely access to diagnostic services while maintaining the highest standards of clinical governance and patient care.

This is an exciting opportunity to work within a clinician-led organisation committed to delivering evidence-based neurodevelopmental services and improving outcomes for children, young people and their families.

Main duties of the job

• Deliver specialist CYP ASD assessments in line with NICE guidance, DSM-5/ICD-11 criteria and organisational procedures.
• Undertake developmental history taking, psychological assessments and clinical formulation.
• Utilise validated assessment tools and objective measures, including ADOS-2 where appropriate.
• Collate and analyse information from multiple sources, including families, schools and existing records.
• Contribute expert psychological opinion to MDT diagnostic discussions and decision-making.
• Prepare high-quality diagnostic reports and communicate assessment outcomes sensitively to families.
• Identify co-occurring neurodevelopmental or mental health conditions and escalate safeguarding concerns appropriately.
• Participate in supervision, governance activities, audit and continuous service improvement.

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 responsibilities
The postholder will work as part of a multidisciplinary neurodevelopmental team and will be responsible for:Clinical Assessment

• Conducting comprehensive autism assessments for children and young people.
• Completing psychological assessments and clinical formulations.
• Integrating evidence from families, education settings and previous clinical records.
• Supporting robust and defensible MDT diagnostic decision-making.

Communication and Reporting

• Producing clear, accurate and neurodiversity-affirming diagnostic reports.
• Delivering feedback to children, young people and families in a supportive manner.
• Providing recommendations, advice and signposting following assessment outcomes.
• Maintaining accurate and timely clinical documentation.

Governance and Service Improvement

• Working within safeguarding, consent, confidentiality and governance frameworks.
• Participating in clinical supervision and reflective practice.
• Supporting audit, quality improvement and service development initiatives.
• Contributing to pathway development and maintaining high standards of care.

Person Specification
Essential

• Appropriate qualification in Clinical Psychology.
• Current HCPC registration as a Practitioner Psychologist.
• Significant postqualification experience working with children and young people in neurodevelopmental, CAMHS or related services.
• Direct experience contributing to CYP ASD diagnostic assessments within an MDT.
• Strong formulation, clinical reasoning and reportwriting skills.
• Sound understanding of safeguarding and risk in CYP services.

Desirable

• ADOS2 trained.
• Experience of working with dual presentation (ASD/ADHD).
• Experience supporting service development or audit activity.
• Experience using EMIS.

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).