Neurodevelopmental Practitioner

About Oakdale and the Role

Oakdale Group, a values-focused, not-for-profit organisation with over 25 years of experience, specialises in providing evidence-based therapeutic and assessment services to children, young people, and adults. Collaborating with NHS, schools, and local authorities, Oakdale emphasizes putting individuals first through high-quality care.

The Neurodevelopmental Practitioner role, based primarily in Harrogate with options for Horsforth or hybrid locations, involves working 37.5 hours weekly, with part-time arrangements of at least 22.5 hours across three days considered. The salary range is from £39,474 to £56,000 per annum full-time equivalent, depending on experience.

Key Duties

• Conduct thorough neurodevelopmental assessments for children, young people, and adults according to established clinical pathways such as ADHD or Autism, either independently or as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Perform developmental history interviews, direct observations, and utilise appropriate assessment tools matching your professional background and competency.
• Integrate data from multiple sources to develop comprehensive clinical formulations supporting diagnostic decisions.
• Deliver autonomous diagnostic outcomes when assigned to single-clinician pathways and participate collaboratively in team-based assessments where applicable.
• Utilize approved technology systems to aid documentation and administrative efficiency, ensuring all final clinical outputs are reviewed and signed off professionally.
• Communicate evaluation results clearly and compassionately to clients, families, and external professionals.
• Maintain accurate, professional clinical documentation and complete required reports, risk assessments, and other paperwork within agreed deadlines.
• Engage actively in clinical governance activities including audits, quality assurance, and service improvement efforts.
• Follow professional guidelines, safeguarding policies, and clinical governance frameworks rigorously, escalating any concerns promptly.
• Contribute to multidisciplinary team efforts, fostering strong collaboration and communication with internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage your workloads efficiently, monitoring service capacity and reporting any operational issues to management as necessary.
• Adapt to changing work environments, clinical locations, and service priorities.
• Commit to continuous professional development through ongoing learning, supervision, skill enhancement, and reflective practice.

Candidate Profile

• We seek candidates experienced in assessments within the Early Years pathway (children aged 2-5 years).
• You will be assigned a primary base, with some travel between centers during induction and training, with advanced notice.
• Must hold direct competence or certification in neurodevelopmental assessment tools such as ADOS-2, SCQ, ADI-R, DIVA, or Young DIVA.
• Must possess a core professional qualification with current, active registration with regulatory bodies such as NMC (Nursing), HCPC (Speech & Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, or Clinical/Forensic/Counselling Psychology), or Social Work England.
• At least one year of autonomous experience conducting neurodevelopmental assessments with children or young people is essential.
• Experience in mental health, neurodevelopmental, neurodiversity-focused, or related clinical environments is required.
• Proven ability to produce detailed clinical documentation and work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams.
• Knowledge of neurodevelopmental disorders like Autism and ADHD, good communication skills for sensitive conversations, strong organizational and time-management skills, and proficiency with digital clinical record systems are required.
• Flexibility and willingness to travel between Oakdale centres is expected; a full UK driving license with vehicle access is advantageous but not mandatory.

Benefits and Perks

• 33 days of annual leave (including bank holidays), with additional days based on length of service.
• Flexible and agile working options available from the start.
• Access to SimplyHealth program featuring 24/7 GP services, counselling, physiotherapy, and related support.
• Significant discounts on private ADHD and autism assessments for employees and their families.
• Fully funded annual flu vaccinations.
• Access to employee wellbeing programs and mental health champions.
• Participation in Smart Pension & Rewards including discounts and cashback offers.
• Enhanced occupational sick pay provisions.
• Cycle to Work and Technology Salary Sacrifice schemes.
• Employee discount schemes and protected CPD days.
• Annual team away days and dedicated high-quality training opportunities.
• Coverage of professional registration fees where applicable.
• Opportunities to contribute to service improvements and innovations.
• Provision of necessary work equipment including laptop, monitor, and keyboard.

Additional Information

This role is more than a clinical position; it offers a meaningful career with flexibility and real impact on the lives of clients. Oakdale is committed to disability confidence and inclusive employment. The application deadline is 31 July 2026, with interviews planned for 18 August 2026. Early applications are advised as the position may close sooner.