Adult ADHD and Neurodevelopmental Assessment Clinician
Clinical Psychologist or Advanced/Specialist Nurse
Mirabilis Health Institute | Monkstown, Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland | Independent sessional position
About Mirabilis
Mirabilis Health Institute is a research-active, trauma-informed mental health service based in Monkstown, Northern Ireland.
We are expanding our private adult ADHD assessment and treatment pathway and are seeking an experienced Clinical Psychologist or Advanced/Specialist Nurse to undertake high-quality adult ADHD and broader neurodevelopmental assessments within a supportive, Consultant Psychiatrist-led clinical governance structure.
The role
The successful clinician will undertake comprehensive diagnostic assessments for adults presenting with possible ADHD.
Adult ADHD assessment does not take place in isolation. The clinician must be able to consider the person’s presentation within a broader psychiatric, developmental and neurodevelopmental framework, including the potential presence of autism, dyslexia, developmental co-ordination disorder and other overlapping or co-occurring conditions.
Responsibilities will include:
- undertaking comprehensive adult ADHD diagnostic assessments in accordance with NICE guidance and recognised adult ADHD quality standards;
- obtaining a detailed developmental, educational, occupational, social, psychiatric, medical and treatment history;
- exploring current and childhood ADHD symptoms and the associated functional impairment across relevant settings;
- using validated rating scales and semi-structured diagnostic instruments appropriately, without relying upon them as substitutes for clinical judgement;
- seeking and critically evaluating collateral information and relevant documentary evidence where available, clinically appropriate and obtained with the patient’s consent;
- assessing mental state, clinical risk, substance use, sleep, trauma-related presentations and other psychiatric or physical-health factors that may mimic, complicate or coexist with ADHD;
- recognising, screening for and differentiating autism, dyslexia, developmental co-ordination disorder and other relevant neurodevelopmental conditions;
- identifying whether another condition better explains the presentation or whether multiple conditions may coexist;
- reaching and clearly documenting an ADHD diagnostic conclusion within the clinician’s professional competence and Mirabilis governance arrangements;
- undertaking further neurodevelopmental diagnosis where this falls within the clinician’s verified competence and the agreed scope of the role;
- recommending appropriate further assessment where a possible additional condition requires expertise or testing beyond the clinician’s own scope of practice;
- providing clear post-assessment feedback and appropriate psychoeducation;
- producing clear, balanced, evidence-based and clinically defensible reports;
- presenting complex or uncertain cases for multidisciplinary discussion or peer review; and
- contributing to audit, quality assurance and continuing development of the Mirabilis adult ADHD pathway.
Professional eligibility
Applicants must meet one of the following professional routes.
Clinical Psychology route
- Current HCPC registration as a Clinical Psychologist.
- Recognised post-qualification training in adult ADHD assessment and diagnosis.
- Demonstrable competence and substantial recent experience undertaking adult ADHD diagnostic assessments.
Advanced/Specialist Nursing route
- Current NMC registration.
- Substantial post-registration experience in adult mental health, neurodevelopmental practice or a closely related clinical field.
- Relevant postgraduate or advanced-practice education in adult ADHD assessment and diagnosis.
- Documented supervised experience and demonstrated competence in undertaking adult ADHD diagnostic assessments.
- Ability to practise within agreed Mirabilis clinical governance, supervision and diagnostic review arrangements.
Essential criteria for all applicants
- Several years of relevant clinical practice in adult mental health, neurodevelopmental services or a closely related field.
- Formal and substantive training in adult ADHD assessment and diagnosis.
- Demonstrable competence in conducting a full adult ADHD assessment rather than relying primarily upon questionnaires or checklist-based interviews.
- Knowledge of current diagnostic criteria and NICE guidance relating to adult ADHD.
- Demonstrable understanding of autism, dyslexia and developmental co-ordination disorder, including their overlap and potential co-occurrence with ADHD.
- Ability to recognise and assess relevant psychiatric, developmental, physical-health and substance-related differential diagnoses.
- Ability to determine when ADHD is not the most appropriate or sufficient explanation for the presenting difficulties.
- Experience gathering, evaluating and documenting developmental and collateral evidence.
- Strong clinical interviewing and formulation skills.
- Excellent written communication and the ability to produce clear, proportionate and clinically defensible reports.
- Ability to work autonomously while engaging constructively in multidisciplinary review, supervision and quality assurance.
- Current professional indemnity appropriate to independent clinical practice.
- Evidence of relevant continuing professional development and good standing with the appropriate professional regulator.
- A clear understanding of consent, confidentiality, information governance, safeguarding and clinical risk management.
Desirable criteria
- Additional recognised training and verified competence in the formal assessment or diagnosis of adult autism.
- Additional recognised training and verified competence in dyslexia or other specific learning-difficulty assessment.
- Additional recognised training and verified competence in developmental co-ordination disorder.
- Experience using recognised adult ADHD structured or semi-structured diagnostic interviews.
- Experience working within a private, independent or multidisciplinary mental health service.
- Experience communicating diagnostic conclusions and treatment recommendations to GPs and other healthcare professionals.
- Experience of clinical audit, peer review, supervision or neurodevelopmental service development.
- An independent prescribing qualification, where the applicant wishes to be considered for a separately governed prescribing role.
Working arrangements
This is an independent, self-employed sessional position, subject to an appropriate contract and employment-status assessment.
Sessions will be agreed according to service demand and clinician availability. Assessment activity will principally be undertaken through Mirabilis Health Institute in Monkstown. Remote components may be used where clinically appropriate and consistent with professional guidance, information-governance requirements and any applicable test-licensing conditions.
Remuneration will be agreed according to experience and the scope of work. The agreed arrangement will take account of:
- direct assessment time;
- review of records and pre-assessment information;
- collateral interviews;
- report preparation;
- post-assessment feedback; and
- required multidisciplinary or clinical-governance discussion.
The appointment will be subject to satisfactory verification of:
- identity and right to work;
- professional registration and good standing;
- relevant qualifications and training;
- professional indemnity;
- employment history and professional references; and
- appropriate AccessNI or other pre-engagement checks where required.
Northern Ireland’s independent healthcare regulations require registered providers to satisfy themselves regarding the fitness of those working within the service, so these checks should be completed through Mirabilis’s formal recruitment and governance procedures.
To apply
Please send the following:
- your current CV;
- a brief statement outlining your adult ADHD and broader neurodevelopmental assessment experience;
- details of your professional registration;
- details of relevant ADHD training and supervised diagnostic experience;
- an indication of your availability.
A fully anonymised diagnostic report or equivalent clinical writing sample may be requested from shortlisted applicants. Please do not submit identifiable patient or service-user information with your initial application.
Mirabilis Health Institute is committed to equality of opportunity. We welcome applications from suitably qualified clinicians from all backgrounds and will make reasonable adjustments for applicants with disabilities during the recruitment process.
Pay: £45.00-£65.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Experience:
- ADHD assessment: 2 years (required)
- Report writing: 2 years (required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Newtownabbey BT37 0LF
