Senior Practitioner Early Years ND Assessments in Harrogate

This is a senior clinical role within Oakdale's Early Years Neurodevelopmental Assessment Service. The Senior Practitioner will provide clinical leadership, supervision, and specialist expertise across the Early Years assessment pathway.

Main duties of the job include:

• Conducting complex neurodevelopmental assessments.
• Providing clinical oversight and support to practitioners and non-clinical staff.
• Working closely with Clinical Leads to maintain high standards of clinical practice.

About us: At Oakdale, we believe in care that changes lives. For over 25 years, we have been delivering trusted, evidence-based therapies and assessments for children, young people, and adults.

Job responsibilities

• Clinical Practice
  • Conduct complex early years neurodevelopmental assessments (autism).
  • Use clinical interviews, standardised assessment tools, multidisciplinary information and diagnostic frameworks (DSM-5) to reach robust diagnostic conclusions.
  • Provide clear clinical formulations that integrate developmental history, current presentation, and contextual factors.
  • Produce high-quality neurodevelopmental assessment reports.
  • Participate in multidisciplinary discussions and diagnostic decision-making processes.
  • Identify and manage clinical risk, safeguarding concerns, and complex presentations appropriately.
  • Ensure assessments are delivered in a neuroaffirming and person-centred manner.
• Clinical Leadership and Supervision
  • Provide clinical supervision, guidance, and case consultation to neurodevelopmental practitioners.
  • Support practitioners with complex clinical decision making, formulation, and diagnostic reasoning.
  • Provide guidance on safeguarding, risk management, and case management.
  • Act as a clinical resource for practitioners and non-clinical staff where complex presentations arise.
  • Support the development of staff confidence and competence within the adult ND assessment pathway.
• Clinical Governance and Quality Assurance
  • Ensure practice aligns with NICE guidelines, professional standards, and Oakdale policies.
  • Quality check assessment reports to ensure clarity, accuracy, and clinical robustness.
  • Support the Clinical Lead with audits, quality monitoring, and service improvement initiatives.
  • Maintain accurate clinical records and supervision documentation.
  • Contribute to safeguarding oversight and ensure policies are followed consistently.
• Leadership and Service Delivery
  • Support the Clinical Lead in maintaining safe and effective service delivery.
  • Contribute to pathway development and service improvements.
  • Participate in team meetings and contribute to reflective clinical discussions.
  • Ensure service users receive compassionate, inclusive, and high-quality care throughout the assessment process.
• Recruitment, Training and Workforce Development
  • Provide mentorship and professional support to junior practitioners and new team members.
  • Support recruitment processes where required.
  • Contribute to staff induction and ongoing training within the service.
  • Work collaboratively with the CPD champion to support staff development.
• Service Development and Improvement
  • Contribute to the development and refinement of neurodevelopmental pathways.
  • Participate in service audits, evaluation projects, and quality improvement initiatives.
  • Support innovation and best practice within neurodevelopmental assessment.
  • Liaise with external stakeholders and partner agencies when appropriate.
• Client and Family Engagement
  • Ensure person-centred care is central to clinical decision making.
  • Promote clear, compassionate and accessible communication with clients and families.
  • Support practitioners to provide supportive feedback and clear explanations of assessment outcomes.
• Professional and Ethical Responsibilities
  • Maintain professional registration and adhere to relevant professional standards.
  • Work in accordance with safeguarding, information governance, and confidentiality policies.
  • Engage in clinical supervision and reflective practice.
  • Maintain accurate documentation and clinical records.
  • Demonstrate commitment to continuous professional development.

Person Specification

• Experience
  • Significant experience conducting neurodevelopmental assessments for early years children (e.g. autism assessments with children under the age of 5).
  • Experience working with complex or nuanced diagnostic presentations.
  • Experience working within a multidisciplinary team.
  • Experience providing clinical supervision, mentorship, or professional support to colleagues.
  • Experience managing risk, safeguarding, and complex case discussions.
  • Experience supporting service development or pathway redesign.
  • Experience contributing to clinical audits or quality improvement projects.
  • Experience working within NHS commissioned neurodevelopmental services.
  • Experience in staff training or CPD delivery.
• Skills and knowledge
  • Strong understanding of neurodevelopmental conditions and diagnostic frameworks applicable to children in their early years.
  • Clinical confidence in the use of assessment tools (e.g. ADOS-2, developmental history interviews).
  • Strong formulation skills and ability to integrate information from multiple sources.
  • Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to provide supportive leadership within a multidisciplinary team.
  • Confidence using electronic clinical systems and digital documentation.
  • Ability to travel to Oakdale sites (Leeds, Halifax, Harrogate) when required.
• Qualifications
  • Professional qualification in a relevant discipline (e.g. Speech and Language Therapy, Clinical Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Nursing or similar).
  • Current registration with the relevant professional body (e.g. RSCLT, HCPC, NMC).
  • Formal training in clinical supervision.
• Personal Qualities
  • Compassionate, collaborative, and supportive leadership style.
  • Strong commitment to high-quality client care.
  • Proactive and solution-focused approach.
  • Ability to balance clinical oversight with service delivery demands.
  • Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusive practice.
  • Strong organisational and time-management skills.
  • Commitment to ongoing professional development.

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 to check for any previous criminal convictions.