CYP Speech & Language Assessor

Overview

In this role you will provide specialist speech, language and social communication assessments for children and young people (6–17 years) within ADHD and Autism diagnostic pathways. You join a multidisciplinary team to support evidence-based decision-making and deliver clear, neurodiversity-affirming reports and recommendations. You’ll influence pathway development and service improvement to ensure timely, high-quality assessments and positive experiences for families. This is a chance to shape a growing neurodevelopmental service aligned with NICE and governance standards.

Pay / Benefits

• NHS Pension
• structured learning and development
• clinical leadership opportunities
• career progression
• genuine flexibility

Responsibilities

• Conduct structured speech, language and communication assessments
• Review referrals and evidence to inform pathway decisions
• Gather information from families, schools and professionals
• Contribute specialist clinical reasoning to MDT discussions
• Support diagnostic decision-making with evidence-based assessment
• Identify co-occurring communication needs and relevant factors
• Produce high-quality reports using neurodiversity-affirming language
• Provide practical recommendations and reasonable adjustments
• Maintain accurate records within safeguarding and governance requirements

Key requirements

• Current HCPC registration as a Speech and Language Therapist
• Significant post-qualification experience with children/young people in neurodevelopmental, paediatric, CAMHS or related settings
• Experience conducting SLT assessments within a CYP diagnostic or neurodevelopmental pathway
• Ability to integrate multi-source evidence into clinical reasoning for MDT diagnostic decisions (DSM-5/ICD-11 aligned)
• Strong report-writing skills and timely clinical documentation
• Good safeguarding knowledge and risk escalation practices
• Confident MDT working and adherence to diagnostic pathways and SOPs
• Commitment to equality, reasonable adjustments and neurodiversity-affirming practice

• MDT collaboration and communication
• clear documentation and reporting
• sensitivity when communicating outcomes to families
• Use of validated standardised language assessment tools (desirable)
• ADOS-2 familiarity (desirable)
• language and social communication assessment in neurodevelopmental contexts

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