Occupational Therapist - Advanced, Autism Diagnostic Pathway


Location
Salary
£49,387 - £56,515 per annum plus HCAS
Profession
Occupational Therapist
Grade
Band 7
Deadline
21 Sep 2026
Contract Type
Permanent
Posted Date
07 Sep 2026
Medical Protection — the side of locally employed doctors from £83

Job requirements

Essential

11 listed

Requirements the employer expects applicants to meet.

  • Knowledge

    Understanding of National Service Frameworks and NICE guidance relevant to client group/care setting and its application across healthcare and educational settings

  • Knowledge

    Extensive knowledge of a broad range of assessment and diagnostic tools relevant to the specialist clinical area

  • Experience

    Significant post-qualification experience working with children with a wide range of challenges with participating in daily activities.

  • Experience

    Significant experience of working with children with autism and related including referral for autism assessment

  • Experience

    Experience of multiagency and multidisciplinary collaboration and/or working

  • Experience

    Experience of service development

  • Experience

    Experience of developing and delivering training for others

  • Qualifications and training

    Recognised Occupational Therapy Degree or equivalent

  • Qualifications and training

    Successful completion of additional specialist training relevant to this area

  • Qualifications and training

    Health and Care Professions Council – Licence to Practice

  • Qualifications and training

    Leadership and/or supervisory training

Desirable

4 listed

Additional qualities the employer would prefer.

  • Experience

    Experience of diagnosing and/or contributing to diagnosis of autism

  • Experience

    Experience of writing/guidelines protocols/standing operating procedures/or policies

  • Qualifications and training

    Membership of relevant Clinical interest groups

  • Qualifications and training

    Registered as a member of the Royal College Of Occupational Therapists

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.

Applicant requirements

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.

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Applying for this NHS job

This advert is for Occupational Therapist - Advanced, Autism Diagnostic Pathway with Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust in London, England. It is listed as a Band 7 Occupational Therapist role. The advertised salary is £49,387 - £56,515 per annum plus HCAS. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 21 Sep 2026.

Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (07 Sep 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHSjob search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.

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