Neurodevelopmental Practitioner

East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust (Cambridgeshire); Hartford; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust in Cambridgeshire is seeking a Band 7 Neurodevelopmental Practitioner to join the new ND Diagnostic Team. You will work within a multidisciplinary group to assess and support children with neurodevelopmental conditions and lead on diagnostic assessments.

The role involves ASD/ADHD pathways, ADOS assessments, feedback to families, high-quality reports, and contributing to service development and waiting list initiatives.

Qualifications

• Professional registration – NMC or HCPC essential.
• Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses including ADOS training.
• Experience with children and young people with neurodevelopmental conditions.

Responsibilities

• Lead on ASD/ADHD diagnostic pathways and MDT discussions.
• Undertake neurodevelopmental assessments and observations, including ADOS.
• Gather and analyse information from families and education professionals.
• Deliver feedback to families after MDT assessments with clarity and compassion.
• Produce high-quality reports and manage a specialist caseload.
• Contribute to service development, audits, and waiting list initiatives.

Skills

Autonomous working

Caseload management

Multi-disciplinary collaboration

Communication skills

Education

NMC/HCPC registration

ADOS training

Tools

ADOS

Job description

Employer East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust (Cambridgeshire) Employer type NHS Site The Oak Tree Centre / The Peacock Centre Town Huntingdon / Cambridge Salary £49,387 - £56,515 per annum, pro-rata Salary period Yearly Closing 04/10/2026 23:59 Interview date 13/10/2026

Band 7

East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust delivers expert healthcare in people’s homes, community hospitals and local settings across the East of England.

Our nurses, therapists, clinicians, support teams and partners work together to provide coordinated care that supports independence, recovery and wellbeing. We believe people are best cared for close to home, in the communities where they live and belong.

By combining professional expertise with strong local relationships, we help people stay well, feel supported and access the right care at the right time. Expert healthcare, close to home, trusted by our communities.

Different ideas, experiences and backgrounds make us stronger and more creative and applications from all walks of life are welcomed. Our processes ensure that all applicants are treated fairly at every stage of the recruitment process.

East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust is committed to creating a modern and inclusive work environment. We actively promote flexible working opportunities where possible to meet the needs and wishes of our workforce and maintain and improve their wellbeing. We also offer flexible working patterns and we would encourage you to discuss this with the recruiting manager before or during the application process if this would interest you.

We welcome applications from people who share our values and can help us deliver outstanding care in our local community.

Before applying for this vacancy, please make sure you’re familiar with ongoing GOV.uk sponsorship eligibility criteria which will impact the organisations ability to provide sponsorship, whether this is currently or in the future.

Please note, our selection processes are in place to ensure we recruit candidates with the right values and skills. Please be advised that the use of AI in applications is monitored. We remain watchful of candidates who misuse these tools to generate an application that doesn’t accurately reflect their skills.

Please note all new starters will be subject to a 6 month probationary period.

Job overview

We are looking for a skilled and motivated Band 7 Neurodevelopmental Practitioner to join our new Neurodevelopmental (ND) Diagnostic Team in Cambridgeshire.

You will be part of a multidisciplinary team including Community Paediatricians, Specialist Nurses, Speech and Language Therapists & other professionals, working together to assess and support children with neurodevelopmental conditions.
This role offers the opportunity to lead on diagnostic assessments, contribute to service development and work collaboratively to improve outcomes for children, young people & their families.

The role will include:

Participate in ASD & ADHD diagnostic pathways
Lead and undertake neurodevelopmental assessments & observations, including ADOS
Gather and analyse information from families, education and other professionals
Deliver clear and compassionate feedback to families following MDT assessments
Provide clinical expertise in differential diagnosis of neurodevelopmental conditions
Manage a specialist caseload, producing high-quality reports
Work collaboratively with MDT colleagues to ensure effective care pathways
Contribute to service development, audit, quality improvement & waiting list initiatives
Support the wider neurodevelopmental pathway and support offer across Cambridgeshire

Should we receive a high no. of applications, we reserve the right to close this vacancy at any point after 21st September 2026

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work as part of an established multi-disciplinary team of Community Paediatricians, Specialist nurses, Speech and Language Therapists and other professionals working as part of the Neurodevelopmental (ND) diagnostic team in Cambridgeshire.

The post holder will participate in the assessment of children with neurodevelopmental conditions. Working in partnership with Community Paediatricians and other professionals within MDT to ensure an effective pathway, inclusive of wider community support. In addition, the post holder will contribute to the development and ongoing review of care pathways, policies, audits of service outcomes and develop waiting list initiatives to achieve agreed targets

The role will involve leading on diagnostic ND assessments/observations and delivering feedback to families on the outcome of the assessment. They will support the ND pathways across Cambridgeshire and deliver as part of the ND support offer.

Working for our organisation

Rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, we are proud to provide high quality innovative services across most of the east of England that enable people to receive care closer to home and live healthier lives.

There’s one reason why our services are outstanding – and that’s our amazing staff who, for the seventh year running, rated us incredibly highly in the national staff survey.

If you share our passion for innovative and high-quality care delivery, then please submit your application and join us on our exciting journey as a leading-edge specialist community provider. All are welcome to apply and our promise to you is a culture which prioritises staff engagement and development.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will work within a multidisciplinary team assessing children with neurodevelopmental conditions. They will utilise evidence-based assessment tools, including ADOS, and gather information from multiple sources to inform diagnosis .

The role includes delivering feedback to families, contributing to MDT discussions and supporting pathway development. The post holder will also contribute to audit, research, governance and service improvement initiatives.

They will communicate effectively with a range of stakeholders including health professionals, education staff, social care and families, ensuring coordinated and person-centred care.

The role involves autonomous practice, high-level clinical judgement and maintaining professional standards in line with Trust policies.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Work as part of the Multidisciplinary Team to identify and address the needs of children being assessed as part of the Team’s ASD /ADHD Pathways.

Utilise up to date and evidence-based assessment techniques and tools, assessing information from education providers and parents/carers alongside observation of the young person. This may include specialist assessments in clinic, and observations in educational settings.

Discuss and agree assessment outcomes with patients, carers and other health care professionals, promoting health education and self-management.

Deliver feedback to families regarding the outcome of the MDT assessment.

Provide clinical opinion in relation to the differential diagnosis of Neurodiversity in pre-school and school age children.

Work with the ND pathway lead to support implementation of the wider ND pathway across the county.

Use highly specialist clinical skills to manage a specialist caseload of children with ASD and other special needs/ Neurodevelopmental disorders

To use clinical skills to generate written reports and care plans, reflecting specialist Knowledge

Collaborate with the wider team and community Paediatric service in developing pathways and intervention development in the area of Autism and neurodevelopmental differences.

Be able to demonstrate a high level of clinical judgement & autonomous practice

To present and communicate complex condition related information in such a manner as to motivate and inform patients, carers, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other professions, agreeing decision -making relevant to patient management.

To use good interpersonal skills to listen well and counsel patients and carers, so providing support and empathy without prejudice.

Assessments to include ADOS, joint assessments, report writing and contribution to care plans.

Take students on placement for clinical teaching and supervision, including exam placement.

Communication

Internal:

MDT colleagues
Community paediatric team
Health Visiting Teams
School Nurses
Paediatric medical staff
Administrative staff.

External:

Education staff, including special educational needs
Co-ordinator and educational psychologist
Social care
Parents / Carers

Budgetary Responsibility

Does not hold budgetary responsibility but is aware of the need to plan non-pay expenditure.

People Management

To offer clinical supervision to colleagues within the community paediatric team.

To provide student placements, including assessment of the placements as appropriate

To provide second opinions to less experienced colleagues, and expert opinions to others, especially in relation to differential diagnoses.

To facilitate the development of others’ problem solving/negotiation skills within peer review/support.

Maintaining own professional development and requirement to take part in appraisal and clinical and management supervision.

To work independently accessing appraisal within an Individual Performance Framework pre-determined intervals ensuring that the objectives set reflect the Service and Trust. Plans, including specific objectives relating to the clinical specialism.

Research & Development Activity

To identify personal/professional development evidenced by Personal Development Plan

To attend relevant training (courses, meetings, special interest groups) and development in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required for the role.

Maintain up to date professional registration with relevant regulatory body eg NMC, HCPC and RCSLT

To actively participate in reflective clinical supervision with peers/clinical supervisor to develop and enhance practice.

To develop and deliver regular specialist training (formal and informal) to the ND team and related professional groups in area of clinical expertise, reflecting on and evaluating the training provided.

To participate in and provide joint training with members of the Education Services and of the MDT Team in the field of ASD / ADHD and other communication difficulties as required.

To identify the training needs linked to specialty for wider service.

To provide advice to non-specialists and other specialists/ professionals within clinical field.

To participate in and develop innovations in areas of risk management, quality standard setting and clinical effectiveness.

To initiate and undertake Research/Clinical Governance/audit projects within area of expertise.

Clinical and Practice Governance

Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to patient/family/staff/records and information in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act

Any data that is taken/shared as part of a phone call or transported, faxed or transferred electronically must be undertaken with regard to the Trust Information Governance and Information Security policies.

The post holder must adhere to the Trust risk assessment and risk management processes.

The post holder must adhere to infection control policies and procedures.

It is a condition of your employment that you are currently registered with the Health and Care Professions Council, OR Nursing and Midwifery Council, and it is your responsibility to maintain your professional registration.

Undertake mandatory training and any other training relevant to the role as required by Cambridgeshire Community Services, NHS Trust.

The post holder must participate in clinical and other audits as required.

Provide patients and their families /carers with information on standards they should expect from the team.

The post holder is required to participate in relevant emergency preparedness process for their team.

To provide leadership within appropriate specialist area

To employ counselling skills with patients, carers with highly complex needs.

To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence-based practice and outcome measures

To be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking advice as appropriate.

To establish and maintain positive interpersonal relationships with other staff, which are characterised by open communication, trust and respect.

To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible.

To use negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations

To attend and participate in professional meetings and other relevant meetings.

To monitor stock levels in own service area and request new equipment as appropriate.

Person specification

Qualifications and Training

• Professional registration – NMC or HCPC essential
• Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses including ADOS training

Experience

• Relevant clinical experience in working with children and young people with a range of Neuro developmental conditions including Autism and ADHD
• Relevant experience in the specialist field inc Autism assessments & diagnosis
• Demonstrates an understanding of the principles of clinical governance/audit
• Experience of carrying out supervision and appraisals

Skills

• Able to demonstrate autonomous working and caseload management
• Proficient in multi-agency partnership working
• Able to communicate effectively with patients with communication problems where difficulties in understanding exist, using observation, listening and empathy
• Demonstrable knowledge of neurodevelopmental disorders underpinned by theory and/or practice

Safeguarding

• Appreciates the significance of safeguarding and interprets this accurately for all individual children and young people whatever their life circumstances
• Shows a personal commitment to safeguarding children

Equal Opportunities - We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome all applications irrespective of age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race or religion. Additionally, people with disabilities that fall under the Disability Confident Scheme will be offered an interview providing they meet the minimum criteria for the post (outlined in the Person Specification). All sites are Smoke Free.

If you need this application in an offline format, please let us know.
Immigration Status – East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust is a diverse employer and welcomes all job applications. However, potential applicants should note that although the Trust is registered with the Home Office as a sponsor organisation for migrant workers, sponsorship can only be offered against eligible roles. If you are an applicant from outside the UK and do not already hold a self-gained right to work, we recommend you check the Home Office eligibility requirements before making an application.

Please note: Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for some job roles, and this will be identified through filtering questions at the start of any job application on the Trac recruitment system.

Our safe recruitment pre-employment checks are undertaken before an appointment is confirmed and may include a DBS check. Where the role requires you to drive, we'll ask you to validate your driving licence online via the DVLA.

Redeployment - Please note that in the first instance priority for this vacancy will be given to staff who are on the Trusts Redeployment Register.
Closing and Interview Dates -This vacancy may close early if sufficient applicants are received.

Data Protection - A privacy notice detailing how we will handle your data is attached to this advert as a document. Your application will be transferred to our recruitment management system (Trac) once the advert has closed and you will receive notification then detailing how Trac will handle your data.

ALL CORRESPONDENCE will be via the e-mail address on your application form. If you have not been invited to interview within 2 weeks of the closing date, you unfortunately haven’t been successful on this occasion, but keep an eye on our vacancies as a job that’s just right for you may appear!

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.