Autism ADOS Assessor for Children - Norwich Norwich

Time commitment: Full-time employment is preferred, though we can also offer part-time (minimum of 3 days per week, which can consist of 2 days in clinic and 1 day remote if preferred).

Location: This role is in-person based in our Norwich clinic – Cavell House & Austin House, Stannard Place, St Crispins Rd, Norwich NR3 1YE.

Reporting to: Autism Service Team Manager.

About Paloma: In 2024 our founders, Mark and Darshak, discovered that children needing NHS autism or ADHD assessments were waiting 4‑10 years, resulting in higher risk of mental health and educational setbacks. With 25 years of NHS experience, they founded Paloma to make assessments and care accessible within 4 weeks of a GP referral. By May 2026 we have cut waits to 3 months through a product‑first approach, an in‑house electronic patient record, AI documentation tools, and expanded clinician capacity.

What’s next? We are committed to reducing the wait for up to 500,000 children still awaiting assessment. We will build services to support families and children post‑assessment when NHS support ends.

The Opportunity: Paloma Health has developed a gold‑standard autism assessment pathway and our own Patient Record system, enabling exceptional, timely assessments with clear strengths‑and‑needs outcomes, regardless of diagnosis. High assessor role satisfaction through improved experience and a forthcoming AI tool to streamline report writing.

About you: You are a registered nurse, speech and language therapist, occupational therapist, social worker, or practitioner psychologist skilled in ADOS assessments. You thrive in a learning environment that embraces software and AI tools, bringing a positive, collaborative attitude.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct high‑quality child observations as part of an autism assessment.
• Act in accordance with our Safeguarding Policy, including risk assessments where required.
• Maintain mandatory training and professional qualifications, including CPD.

Qualifications and experience:

Required:

• By background you are either: NMC‑registered Nurse, HCPC‑registered Speech and Language Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Arts Therapist, or Practitioner Psychologist, Social Work England Registered Social Worker.
• Completion of a recognised ADOS‑2 course is required.
• At least 1 year of experience delivering children’s observations within an autism assessment process for ages 5‑18, 2‑4, or the full 2‑18 range.
• Good time‑management skills, including caseload management.
• High‑quality parent and patient communication skills.
• Enhanced DBS with barred‑list check (necessary for working with children).

Desirable:

• Experience in conducting risk assessments within an autism assessment service.
• Evidence of Safeguarding training (Level 3 and above).

Why join Paloma? You will be part of a mission‑driven organisation transforming access to autism and ADHD care in England. For all employees we offer:

• A positive culture prioritising team building, transparency and career development, including protected time and budget for learning.
• Comprehensive compensation (e.g. £68,000‑£70,000 or £70,000‑£72,000 per year for various clinician roles).
• Equity compensation through share options.
• Optional private medical insurance and Employee Assistance Programme.
• Annual salary reviews and a 5% employer pension contribution.
• For employees working at least 0.8 FTE: home office equipment allowance and professional registration fee allowance.
• Unique annual leave benefits: 37 days of annual leave (28 standard days, 8 bank holidays and birthday off), option to buy 5 additional days per year (max 42), and 2 days per year of special leave for personal or family events.
• Additional benefits: premium performance laptop and NHS discounts, including the Blue Light Card.

Equality & Diversity: Paloma Health is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion and does not discriminate on any protected characteristic.

Accommodations: We support candidates who need adjustments throughout the hiring process and encourage openness about the adjustments required.

Safer Recruitment & Pre‑Employment Checks: Paloma Health ensures safety is central, with required DBS checks at Enhanced, Standard or Basic levels, depending on role, and a commitment to safer recruitment practices aligning with our values.