Autism Advisory Team Speech and language therapist

North London NHS Foundation Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS Discounts

Generous annual leave

NHS pension scheme

Flexible working

Job summary

North London NHS Foundation Trust seeks an Autism Advisory Team Speech and Language Therapist to join a newly established, specialist multi-disciplinary team across inpatient and community mental health services in North Central London. The role supports IQTP and aims to improve identification, experience and outcomes for autistic adults, while reducing inequalities.

The post holder will provide autism-informed communication expertise, deliver specialist non-diagnostic SaLT assessments, and

Qualifications

• Specialist autism-informed communication expertise.
• Deliver specialist (non-diagnostic) SaLT assessments.
• Translate assessment findings into practical recommendations and adjustments.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist autism-informed communication expertise to inpatient and community teams.
• Deliver specialist non-diagnostic SaLT assessments where appropriate.
• Translate assessment findings into clear, practical recommendations and adjustments for teams.
• Provide consultation to clinicians on communication strategies and care planning.
• Contribute to development of tools, resources and templates for staff.

Skills

Autism-informed communication

Non-diagnostic assessments

Clinical consultation

Tool development

Job description

The Autism Advisory Team Speech and Language Therapist will be part of a newly established, specialist multi‑disciplinary team created to strengthen autism‑informed practice across inpatient and community mental health services in North Central London. This role supports the local delivery of NCL’s Inpatient Quality Transformation Plan (IQTP), which aims to improve the identification, experience and outcomes of autistic adults, reduce inequalities, and develop a more skilled and confident workforce.

The post holder will contribute to a team that offers specialist autism‑focused consultation, guidance and training to front line staff across five boroughs. The team operates in an advisory, non‑caseload model, supporting inpatient wards, community mental health teams and wider system partners to embed reasonable adjustments, improve personalised care planning and promote earlier intervention. Ongoing case management will remain with the referring service.

Within this model, the Speech and Language Therapist will provide specialist autism‑informed communication expertise, with a particular focus on autistic adults diagnosed later in life and those who have not previously accessed appropriate communication support. The postholder will deliver specialist (non‑diagnostic) SaLT assessments where appropriate, identifying communication profiles, interaction needs, and factors impacting understanding, expression, emotional regulation and engagement (including sensory and environmental considerations where relevant). They will translate assessment findings into clear, practical recommendations and reasonable adjustments that can be implemented by inpatient and community teams and ensure these are documented appropriately within agreed clinical records and team processes.

A key part of the role is enabling others to work more effectively with autistic adults. The post holder will provide consultation to clinicians on communication strategies, support the adaptation of care planning and ward/community approaches, and contribute to the development of tools, resources and templates (e.g., communication guidance, accessible information approaches, contributions to Hospital passport content where used locally).

North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT) is committed to improving mental health care across North London to deliver excellent services to our local people.

Our Five-Year Strategy

• We will provide consistently high-quality care closer to home.
• With our partners in North London and each borough we will ensure equity of outcome for all
• We will offer great places to work, providing staff with supportive environment to deliver outstanding care.

Why NLFT?

• We develop and retain our staff through leadership behaviours and managers programme and many more opportunities.
• We promote flexible working and support staff with a range of health and wellbeing initiatives.
• NHS Discounts, generous annual leave and NHS pension scheme
• Excellent internal staff network

In order to meet the needs of the Trust you may be required from time to time to work at different locations to your normal place of work. This may mean that you are required to work at any location that fall under Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey or Islington. The Trust reserves the right to require staff to work at such other places or locations as it considers reasonable and necessary on a temporary or permanent basis.

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Fabio Feca Job title: Implementation Lead for Autism Advisory Team Email address: [e-mail]