Job summary
Join Vertis Health and Help Shape High-Quality Adult Autism Services
Vertis Health is a federation of general practices delivering high-quality NHS services across Worcestershire. Founded by local primary care clinicians and owned by the practices we serve, we are a purpose-led organisation that reinvests profits back into the local healthcare economy to strengthen services, support innovation and improve patient care.
As our Neurodevelopmental Services continue to grow, we are seeking an experienced and motivated Speech and Language Therapist to join our Adult Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Assessment Service.
This is an exciting opportunity to contribute specialist expertise in speech, language, communication and social interaction assessment within a multidisciplinary adult autism diagnostic pathway. You will play a key role in supporting high-quality, evidence-based diagnostic decision-making while helping individuals understand their communication strengths, support needs and preferred ways of engaging with the world.
Working within a supportive and clinically driven MDT, you will contribute to assessments, diagnostic discussions, report writing, support planning and ongoing service development, ensuring care remains accessible, neurodiversity-affirming and aligned with NICE guidance and best practice.
Main duties of the job
As a Speech and Language Therapist within the Adult ASD Service, you will:
- Conduct specialist communication and social interaction assessments for adults referred for autism assessment.
- Review referrals, developmental histories and supporting information to inform clinical reasoning.
- Assess communication strengths, pragmatic language and social interaction differences.
- Gather information from service users, families, carers and available records.
- Contribute specialist speech and language expertise to MDT diagnostic discussions and decision-making.
- Produce clear assessment summaries and contribute to diagnostic reports.
- Support personalised support plans, including communication strategies, reasonable adjustments and signposting.
- Maintain accurate clinical records and documentation in line with service standards.
- Identify and escalate safeguarding, risk, mental health or capacity concerns appropriately.
- Participate in MDT meetings, supervision, audit and service development activities.
- Support safe, timely and evidence-based autism diagnostic assessments.
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
Vertis Health is seeking an experienced Speech and Language Therapist to join our Adult Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Assessment Service. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will provide specialist expertise in speech, language, communication and social interaction assessment, supporting high-quality, evidence-based diagnostic decision-making for adults referred for autism assessment.
You will conduct specialist assessments, review developmental histories and supporting information, contribute to multidisciplinary diagnostic discussions, and produce clear, high-quality clinical reports. The role also involves supporting personalised recommendations, reasonable adjustments and signposting to appropriate services.
The successful candidate will have experience of assessing communication and social interaction differences in adults, excellent clinical reasoning and report-writing skills, and a commitment to person-centred, neurodiversity-affirming practice. You will work within NICE guidance, professional standards and organisational governance frameworks, helping to ensure a safe, compassionate and high-quality experience for individuals accessing the service.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing neurodevelopmental service where clinical quality, collaboration and continuous improvement are at the heart of everything we do.
Person Specification
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Understanding of autism across adulthood, including masking, pragmatic language differences and reasonable adjustments.
- Knowledge of adult safeguarding, consent, confidentiality and the Mental Capacity Act.
- Ability to integrate evidence from multiple sources into clear clinical reasoning.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Commitment to equality, accessibility and neurodiversity-affirming practice.
Experience
Essential
- Significant post-qualification experience within adult neurodevelopmental, mental health, learning disability, community or related services.
- Experience assessing communication and social interaction differences in adults.
- Experience contributing to multidisciplinary clinical assessment and decision-making.
- Strong report-writing and clinical documentation skills.
Desirable
- Experience contributing to Adult ASD diagnostic pathways.
- Experience using structured communication and social interaction assessment tools.
- Experience of ADOS-2, ADI-R or equivalent autism assessment methodologies.
- Experience within Right to Choose or community neurodevelopmental services.
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree or equivalent qualification in Speech and Language Therapy.
- Current HCPC registration as a Speech and Language Therapist.
Pay: £40,000.00-£50,000.00 per year
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Redditch B97 5JX: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Experience:
- Adult ASD Assessment: 1 year (preferred)
Work Location: In person
