Autism Practitioners.
We place experienced autism practitioners across NHS diagnostic services, Right to Choose providers and private assessment clinics – and connect clinicians with flexible, well-scoped roles in one of the fastest-growing areas of mental health and neurodevelopment.
Welcome to Hunter Gatherer Mental Health, your specialist partner for autism practitioner recruitment across the UK.
Demand for qualified autism practitioners has never been higher. NHS waiting lists for autism assessment run into years for both children and adults, and the growth of Right to Choose commissioning and private diagnostic services has created a sustained and active market for clinicians with the right tools, training and clinical background. We connect skilled practitioners with NHS trusts, community providers and private assessment services, and we help services find clinicians who are ready to work safely and autonomously from day one.
What Does an Autism Practitioner Do?
Autism practitioners carry out structured diagnostic assessments to determine whether a patient meets the diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder, across both children and adults. Assessments typically combine a detailed developmental history, clinical observation, standardised assessment tools such as ADOS-2 and ADI-R, collateral information from family members or carers, and a clinical formulation that draws on NICE guidance (NG142).
The role draws on clinicians from a range of professional backgrounds. Most NHS and private autism assessment services are staffed by psychologists, nurses, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and paediatricians with specialist neurodevelopmental training. The clinical setting – whether NHS CAMHS, adult community mental health, a Right to Choose provider or a private diagnostic clinic – shapes the scope and focus of the role.
Why Services Choose Hunter Gatherer for Autism Practitioner Recruitment:
- We understand the neurodevelopmental landscape NHS services, Right to Choose, private diagnostic clinics – we work across all three. Our consultants understand the difference between an NHS Band 7 CAMHS autism assessor, a remote adult ADOS-2 assessor for an independent provider, and a CYP diagnostic practitioner in a private clinic, and we match accordingly.
- Assessment competency confirmed, not assumed ADOS-2 training is the minimum clinical standard for most autism assessment roles – but training alone isn’t enough. We confirm which modules practitioners are competent to administer, their volume of completed assessments, and their experience with the relevant age group before any name goes forward.
- Compliance checked before they start Professional registration, DBS (including children’s barred list for CYP roles), ADOS-2 competency and relevant clinical experience – all verified before placement.
- Locum and permanent placements Urgent cover for a stretched assessment service or a long-term hire to build diagnostic capacity – we support both.
Need support growing your Autism service capacity?
Autism Practitioner Roles We Place:
- Autism Assessors (Adults) Clinicians completing autism diagnostic assessments for adults using ADOS-2 Module 4, clinical interview, developmental history and standardised rating tools. Most NHS and private services require demonstrated ADOS-2 competency and at least 12 months of relevant clinical experience in autism assessment.
- Autism Assessors (Children and Young People) Practitioners trained in ADOS-2 Modules 1–3 and/or ADI-R conducting autism assessments for children and young people in NHS CAMHS, independent Right to Choose services and private clinics. Enhanced DBS with children’s barred list is required for all CYP placements.
- Combined ADHD and Autism Assessors Many neurodevelopmental services conduct combined assessments – screening for both ADHD and autism within a single pathway. Practitioners competent in both ADHD tools (QbTest, Conners) and autism tools (ADOS-2) are particularly sought after and command a premium across all settings.
- Right to Choose (RtC) Autism Practitioners Clinicians working for NHS-funded private providers under Right to Choose autism commissioning – typically remote or hybrid, often sessional. ADOS-2 competency and relevant registration are the baseline requirement.
- Autism Practitioners in CAMHS Practitioners working within CAMHS neurodevelopmental services, assessing children and young people aged typically 5–18. Often Band 7, requiring CAMHS experience alongside ADOS-2 competency and familiarity with the impact of comorbidities including ADHD, DLD and anxiety.
- Neurodevelopmental Lead Practitioners Senior clinicians overseeing assessment quality, report standards and pathway governance within neurodevelopmental services – often Band 8a or equivalent in NHS settings.
Settings We Recruit For:
- NHS CAMHS neurodevelopmental and specialist autism assessment services
- NHS adult autism diagnostic services and community mental health teams with neurodevelopmental pathways
- Right to Choose (RtC) autism providers – remote and in-person
- Private autism diagnostic clinics and assessment centres – CQC-registered, adult and CYP
- Combined ADHD and autism neurodevelopmental services
- Integrated CAMHS and community teams delivering multi-condition neurodevelopmental assessment
Qualifications We Look For:
Every Autism practitioner we place holds:
- Registration with the appropriate professional body – HCPC (psychologists, OTs, SLTs, social workers), NMC (nurses), GMC (doctors)
- Demonstrated ADOS-2 competency – confirmed during registration. We ask for evidence of modules trained in, volume of assessments completed and age group experience
- Familiarity with NICE guidelines for autism (NG142) and relevant diagnostic frameworks
- Valid DBS – enhanced with children’s barred list for all CYP placements without exception
- Current mandatory training and professional indemnity appropriate to the role and setting.
For CAMHS and CYP roles, experience working with children and young people and an understanding of neurodevelopmental comorbidities (ADHD, DLD, anxiety, attachment difficulties) is expected. For combined assessment roles, competency in ADHD tools (QbTest, Conners or DIVA) alongside ADOS-2 is required.
Locum Autism Practitioner Opportunities:
Autism assessment work has become one of the most active areas of neurodevelopmental practice in the UK – with demand for ADOS-trained clinicians significantly outpacing supply across NHS, Right to Choose and private settings. Experienced autism practitioners with the right tools training, professional registration and clinical background are in sustained demand, in both community and remote settings.
Whether you’re looking for sessional assessment work alongside a permanent role, a block booking within an NHS neurodevelopmental team, or a longer-term locum arrangement with a Right to Choose provider, we’ll find opportunities that match your competencies, registration and availability.
Explore Autism Practitioner jobs
ADHD Practitioner Pay Rates (2025/26):
Locum Band 7 NHS autism assessors typically earn £32–£48 per hour depending on setting, age group and location. Private and independent provider sessional work is often paid per completed assessment – typically £250–£500 per developmental history and £250–£350 per ADOS-2 observation session, depending on the provider and complexity.
Right to Choose and private provider rates tend to sit higher than NHS-capped rates, reflecting the volume expectations and autonomous delivery model. Combined ADHD and autism assessors — practitioners competent in both — command a premium across all settings, reflecting their relative scarcity in the market.
For permanent salaried roles, Band 7 autism assessors in NHS settings earn £47,810–£54,710 per year on NHS Agenda for Change scales. Band 8a neurodevelopmental leads earn from £55,690 upwards.
Rates vary by setting, professional background, assessment competency, age group and location. Our consultants can advise on what the market looks like for your specific background and region.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Do I need ADOS-2 training to register as an autism assessor? For most NHS and private autism assessment roles, yes – ADOS-2 competency is the expected clinical standard. Some services also require ADI-R. We confirm which tools each role requires and will only put you forward for roles your training supports. If you have relevant clinical experience but have not yet completed ADOS-2 training, let us know – some providers will support training for the right candidate.
- Can I do autism assessment work remotely? Yes – remote autism assessment is increasingly accepted, particularly for adult assessments, following the development of validated remote ADOS-2 administration protocols. Several Right to Choose and private providers now offer fully remote assessment pathways.
- Do you place both adult and CYP autism practitioners? Yes. We place practitioners working with adults, children and young people, and those with a mixed-age caseload – with DBS and competency verified accordingly for each group.
- Can I work as both an ADHD and autism assessor? Yes – and combined neurodevelopmental assessment competency is increasingly in demand. If you are trained in both ADOS-2 and ADHD assessment tools, let us know when you register. See also our ADHD Practitioners page.
- What areas do you cover? We place autism practitioners across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – including remote and in-person roles nationwide.
Testimonials:
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