Autism Specialist Practitioner
At a glance
- Band
- Band 6
- Contract
- Fixed-term
- Pattern
- Part-time
- Posted
- 04/09/2026
- Closes
- 20/09/2026
Sponsorship verdict
This contract type is not eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship.
NHS Trusts cannot issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for part-time, bank, locum, zero-hours, job-share or short fixed-term (under 12 months) contracts under current Home Office rules. This applies even when the wider Trust holds a Skilled Worker licence.
Role summary
This role is for an enthusiastic and experienced clinician (Speech and Language Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Nurse or Social Worker) to work as an Autism Specialist Practitioner within the Tower Hamlets Autism Service. The successful candidate will be involved in diagnostically assessing and working with autistic adults as part of a multidisciplinary team. Key duties include screening and assessing for autism, planning and facilitating post-diagnostic support, and providing specialist advice and training to other staff and organisations. This is a fixed-term, part-time position until August 2027.
Essential criteria
- Diploma/Degree in Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Mental Health nursing or Speech and Language Therapy.
- HCPC registration / or Nursing and Midwifery Council registration.
Desirable criteria
- Trained in the use of ADOS-2.
- Minimum two years post registration experience as a qualified professional.
- Experience of undertaking assessments and care planning.
- Experience of working in a multi-cultural setting, including working with interpreters.
- Experience of working with autism and neurodevelopmental conditions and / or mental health conditions.
- Experience of facilitating groups
- Knowledge and Skills
- A thorough knowledge of Autistic Spectrum Condition, major mental health disorders and relevant, contemporary, evidence-based intervention strategies/models.
- Knowledge of what clinical governance is and skills in quality improvement of services.
- Knowledge of mental health act, mental capacity act, and other relevant legislation.
- Knowledge and skills in risk assessment and management
- Education/ Qualification/ Training
- Diploma/Degree in Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Mental Health nursing or Speech and Language Therapy.
- HCPC registration / or Nursing and Midwifery Council registration.
- Trained in the use of ADOS-2.
- Minimum two years post registration experience as a qualified professional.
- Experience of undertaking assessments and care planning.
- Experience of working in a multi-cultural setting, including working with interpreters.
- Experience of working with autism and neurodevelopmental conditions and / or mental health conditions.
- Experience of facilitating groups
- Knowledge and Skills
- A thorough knowledge of Autistic Spectrum Condition, major mental health disorders and relevant, contemporary, evidence-based intervention strategies/models.
- Knowledge of what clinical governance is and skills in quality improvement of services.
- Knowledge of mental health act, mental capacity act, and other relevant legislation.
- Knowledge and skills in risk assessment and management
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 6 at £37,338 – £44,962 a year, across England.
This advert: £47,951 – £56,863 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 3d ago · Closes in 14d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
East London NHS Foundation Trust
Autism Specialist Practitioner
The closing date is 20 September 2026
Job summary
Autism Specialist Practitioner, Band 6, Tower Hamlets Autism Service (THAS), 0.6 WTE (fixed-term post till August 2027)
We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced clinician (Speech and Language Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Nurse or Social Worker) with an interest in developing their skills and experience in diagnostically assessing and working with autistic adults. The successful candidate will work as part of a well-integrated, capable multidisciplinary team delivering high quality evidence-based diagnostic assessment and post diagnostic support services for this group.
The Tower Hamlets Autism Service (THAS) is a specialist diagnostic and brief intervention service. Designed in accordance with NICE guidelines, we operate an open referral system, accepting referrals from any source when it is thought that an adult living in Tower Hamlets may be autistic. We use screening tools and specialist assessments (ADOS-2) alongside clinical experience and expertise to diagnose autism spectrum conditions in adults (without a learning a disability).
Main duties of the job
The main purpose of the role is:
- As part of the multidisciplinary team, to screen and assess for autism in adults (without a learning disability).
- To plan, organise
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