Autism Advisory Team Speech and language therapist

Job overview

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.

Main duties of the job

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).

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Provide specialist, autism‑informed SaLT assessments for autistic adults, with a particular focus on adults diagnosed later in life and/or those with unmet communication needs.

• To monitor and manage assessment waiting lists for specialist ASD input, ensuring that risk is managed and work is prioritised appropriately.

• Develop and implement communication profiles that identify strengths, needs and barriers to engagement, including understanding, expression, interaction style and functional communication.

• To work closely with clients and carers using a high level of empathy, tact, and persuasion to complete assessments, discuss results and agree treatment options.

• To routinely overcome barriers to communication during assessment and intervention. This includes the use of sign, symbols or other alternative and augmentation strategies with communication disordered clients/carers.

• To assess for suitability of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) aids for use with adults who have autism.

• To select appropriate equipment and to train both clients and carers/support workers in the use of the aids. Identify and recommend practical strategies to support communication, reduce distress and improve participation in care planning and treatment.

• Where relevant, consider the impact of sensory and environmental factors on communication and interaction, and integrate this into recommendations and reasonable adjustments.

• Provide clear written outputs from assessments, ensuring recommendations are actionable and tailored for implementation by inpatient and community teams.

• Responsibility for critically evaluating available research and developing and implementing evidence-based practices across own service area on an on-going basis.

• To use specialist knowledge to analyse complex information.

This is not an exhaustive list, please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information on the role requirements and duties.