Senior Practitioner: Early Years Neurodevelopmental Assessment Service

Transform Lives with Oakdale

Location: Harrogate/Leeds/Halifax/Hybrid

Hours: 37.5 hours per week. Part‑time hours may be considered with a required minimum of 3 days a week (0.6 FTE)

Salary: £49,570.55 - £61,378.37 (dependent on experience)

Make a Difference Every Day

At Oakdale, we believe in care that changes lives. For over 25 years, we’ve been delivering trusted, evidence‑based therapies and assessments for children, young people, and adults. As a values‑driven, not‑for‑profit organisation, we work with the NHS, schools, local authorities, and private clients, always putting people first. Now, we’re looking for a compassionate and skilled Senior Practitioner to join our supportive, forward‑thinking team. If you’re passionate about clinical excellence, wellbeing, and making a genuine impact, we’d love to hear from you.

The Role – What You’ll Do

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. Alongside undertaking complex neurodevelopmental assessments, the post holder will provide clinical oversight and support to practitioners and non‑clinical staff, ensuring that assessments are safe, evidence‑based, and delivered in line with Oakdale’s clinical governance standards. The role will involve working closely with Clinical Leads to maintain high standards of clinical practice, support staff development, and contribute to ongoing service improvement.

Key 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.
• Support consistent practice across clinicians and practitioners within the service.
• 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.

Essential – About You

• Qualifications And Professional Registration
• 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).
• 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.
• 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.
• Excellent written communication skills, including neurodevelopmental report writing.
• 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.
• Desirable
• Formal training in clinical supervision.
• 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.
• 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.

Why Join Oakdale?

At Oakdale, Your Well‑being And Growth Matter As Much As The Clients You Support. We Offer a Package Designed For Balance, Flexibility, And Long‑term Career Satisfaction, Including 33 days’ annual leave (including bank holidays), increasing with service Flexible and agile working from day one SimplyHealth: 24/7 GP access, counselling, physiotherapy, and more Exclusive, heavily discounted rates for you and your family on private ADHD and autism neurodevelopmental assessments, through our own expert service.* Fully funded flu vaccines Employee Wellbeing Initiative with trained mental health champions Smart Pension it’s a career with purpose, flexibility, and impact. Join Oakdale and help us continue transforming lives. Apply now and make a real difference.

Oakdale is proud to be a registered Disability Confident Committed Employer.