# Occupational Therapist - Advanced, Autism Diagnostic Pathway

> NHS job listing from Job Clerk for Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust.

## Canonical URLs

- **HTML:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/occupational-therapist-advanced-autism-diagnostic-pathway/0eb83f94-0335-4dfd-b231-394e21f171c8
- **Markdown:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/occupational-therapist-advanced-autism-diagnostic-pathway/0eb83f94-0335-4dfd-b231-394e21f171c8.md

## Summary

- **Status:** Live
- **Employer:** Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
- **Town:** London
- **Region:** London
- **Country:** England
- **Profession:** Occupational Therapist
- **Grade:** Band 7
- **Contract type:** Permanent
- **Employment type:** Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- **Closing date:** 2026-08-16T23:59:00.000Z
- **Posted:** 2026-07-31T12:10:46.989Z
- **Source information URL:** https://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/UK/London/Catford/Lewisham_Greenwich_NHS_Trust/OT/OT-v8126859
- **Application URL:** https://apps.trac.jobs/job-advert/8126859?ShowJobAdvert=&feedid=9002
- **Employer website:** https://www.lewishamandgreenwich.nhs.uk

## Job Content

### Job overview

We are excited to offer a newly created Band 7 post within our Children’s Autism Diagnostic Pathway.

Working within the multidisciplinary team to:

- Apply advanced clinical knowledge to assess, diagnose autism and complex communication needs

- Lead on care pathway development and clinical protocols

- Deliver specialist training and supervision to colleagues and students

- Champion neuro – affirming, inclusive communication practices

We are embarking on major redesign of our neurodevelopmental pathways to reduce waiting times and improve patient experiences. You’ll be instrumental in shaping service delivery, ensuring it is responsive, equitable and aligned with NICE guidance and best practice.

We are seeking a warm, empathetic, clinically confident, inclusive and equity minded speech and language therapist who has significant experience working with children with autism and complex communication needs.

You’ll be part of a supportive team that values your expertise, encourages innovation, and invests in your professional growth. We are committed to supporting your professional growth. As part of this role, you will receive training in autism assessment tools, including ADOS.   This will equip you with the skills to contribute confidently to differential diagnosis and multidisciplinary assessment.

### Main duties of the job

This role supports the clinical and operational leadership for the Autism Diagnostic Pathway, working closely with the Autism Clinical Pathway AHP and MDT Lead. The post holder will support the development and implementation of efficient, NICE‑compliant ways of working aligned to best practice and the local ASC core offer, in partnership with medical, nursing and AHP colleagues. They will take a delegated lead in developing care pathways, service protocols and clinical guidelines, and use advanced specialist OT expertise to contribute to differential diagnosis within the MDT. The role involves independent assessment, diagnosis and management of children and young people with social communication needs, providing second opinions where required, and ensuring care is integrated, evidence‑based and population‑responsive. The post holder will also provide supervision and deliver specialist training to support pathway quality and sustainability.

### Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For more detailed information about the job and main responsibilities see the attached job description and person specification.

## Person Specification

### Knowledge

**Essential**

- Understanding of National Service Frameworks and NICE guidance relevant to client group/care setting and its application across healthcare and educational settings
- Extensive knowledge of a broad range of assessment and diagnostic tools relevant to the specialist clinical area

### Experience

**Essential**

- Significant post-qualification experience working with children with a wide range of challenges with participating in daily activities.
- Significant experience of working with children with autism and related including referral for autism assessment
- Experience of multiagency and multidisciplinary collaboration and/or working
- Experience of service development
- Experience of developing and delivering training for others

**Desirable**

- Experience of diagnosing and/or contributing to diagnosis of autism
- Experience of writing/guidelines protocols/standing operating procedures/or policies

### Qualifications and training

**Essential**

- Recognised Occupational Therapy Degree or equivalent
- Successful completion of additional specialist training relevant to this area
- Health and Care Professions Council – Licence to Practice
- Leadership and/or supervisory training

**Desirable**

- Membership of relevant Clinical interest groups
- Registered as a member of the Royal College Of Occupational Therapists

## Documents

- [jd (pdf, 410.4kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10504071)
- [working at lgt (pdf, 4.2mb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2533)
- [candidates guidance on applying (pdf, 175.2kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2964)
- [candidate guidance on the use of ai (pdf, 3.8mb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2978)
- [visa and certificate of sponsorship information for applicants (pdf, 3.8mb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2936)

## Agent Notes

- This Markdown page is generated from the same Job Clerk job record as the HTML job detail page.
- Use the canonical HTML URL for user-facing references.
- Use the application URL when the user wants to apply on the source NHS site.