Neurodevelopmental Practitioner (Early Years Assessment Pathway)
Neurodevelopmental Practitioner Transform Lives with Oakdale
Location: Harrogate/Hybrid
Hours: 37.5 hours per week although part time hours with a minimum of 22.5 hours per week across 3 days may be considered.
Make a Difference Every Day
Main duties of the job
Job responsibilities
- Clinical Practice & Assessment
- Undertake comprehensive neurodevelopmental assessments in accordance with Oakdale pathways, professional standards and national clinical guidelines (e.g., NICE)
- Conduct developmental history interviews, direct observations and other assessment activities appropriate to professional background, training and documented competency level.
- Gather, analyse, and integrate multi-source information to form robust clinical formulations and support diagnostic decision-making.
- Formulate diagnostic outcomes and clinical conclusions independently when operating on single-clinician assessment pathways (e.g., ADHD), ensuring practice aligns with professional guidelines and formal sign-off against the internal framework
- Participate actively in multidisciplinary (MDT) discussions and panel formulations to co-produce final diagnostic conclusions, utilizing the oversight and support of senior clinicians where required.
- Utilise and oversee service-approved technology solutions (including dictation, transcription, and automated documentation systems) to enhance pathway efficiency, maintaining ultimate clinical accountability for decision-making and reviewing, quality-checking, and professionally signing off the clinical accuracy of all final outputs.
- Communicate assessment outcomes and recommendations clearly, professionally and compassionately to clients, families and external professionals.
- Clinical Governance, Quality & Documentation
- Maintain accurate, contemporaneous and professional clinical records in accordance with organisational and professional regulatory standards.
- Complete clinical documentation, reports, risk assessments and administrative tasks within agreed timescales.
- Demonstrate clear clinical reasoning and evidence-based decision-making that meets established quality assurance standards
- Participate actively in clinical audits, quality assurance processes, and service improvement initiatives
- Work strictly within professional scope of practice, maintaining a comprehensive awareness of relevant healthcare legislation, safeguarding frameworks, and professional guidance, seeking support where required.
- Identify, assess and appropriately manage safeguarding concerns and clinical risks, escalating concerns promptly in accordance with Oakdale policies and procedures
- Multidisciplinary Team Working & Communication
- Participate actively in multidisciplinary discussions, panels and decision-making processes.
- Build and maintain highly effective, collaborative, and professional working relationships across the organisation and with external stakeholders.
- Engage proactively with organisational communications and professional directives.
- Organisation & Service Delivery
- Manage individual workloads and caseloads efficiently to optimise pathway flow, service delivery requirements, and agreed productivity expectations.
- Proactively monitor capacity and escalate operational barriers, constraints, or service risks to management in a timely manner.
- Demonstrate flexibility regarding working practices, designated clinical locations, and evolving service priorities
- Professional Development & Reflective Practice
- Maintain active, professional registration and comply fully with the codes of conduct of the relevant regulatory body.
- Take personal responsibility for ongoing professional development, lifelong learning, and maintaining an up-to-date log of clinical competencies
- Attend and actively participate in supervision, training, reflective practice, and competency development activities, and demonstrate learning through application of feedback.
- Contribute positively to team development, peer learning, and service improvement initiatives.
Person Specification
Mobility & Flexibility
- Ability and willingness to travel between designated Oakdale centres as required by service needs.
- Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes
Skills and knowledge
- Knowledge of neurodevelopmental conditions (e.g., Autism, ADHD) and a clear understanding of the assessment process.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey sensitive information and build professional relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
- Strong organisational, prioritisation, and time-management skills, with a track record of meeting clinical and operational deadlines.
- Proficiency in the use of digital systems and technology, including electronic patient records
- Direct competency or certification in neurodevelopmental assessment tools and measures (e.g, ADOS-2, SCQ, ADI-R, DIVA, or Young DIVA).
Qualifications
- Core professional qualification and current, active registration with one of the following regulatory bodies:
- NMC: Nursing
- HCPC: Speech & Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, or Clinical/Forensic/Counselling Psychology
- Social Work England: Social Work
- Direct competency or certification in neurodevelopmental assessment tools and measures (e.g, ADOS-2, SCQ, ADI-R, DIVA, or Young DIVA).
Experience
- Minimum of 1 year of Direct, autonomous experience delivering neurodevelopmental assessments with children, young people, and/or adults across either single-clinician or MDT pathways
- Experience working within a mental health, neurodevelopmental, neurodiversity-focused, or relevant clinical setting.
- Experience producing high-quality, comprehensive clinical documentation and robust multi-source formulations to a professional standard.
- Experience working collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams, contributing to clinical formulations and shared decision-making.
- Experience operating within safeguarding, risk management, and professional clinical governance frameworks.
- Direct, autonomous experience delivering neurodevelopmental assessments with children, young people, and/or adults across either single-clinician or MDT pathways
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.
