Person Specification

Training and qualifications

Essential

• An upper second-class honours degree or higher in a relevant subject such as psychology

Desirable

• Further postgraduate training in areas relevant to NDD assessment, intervention, and/or research design and analysis.
• Further training in relation to children and young people

Experience

Essential

• Previous experience of working in children and young people’s services.

Desirable

• Proven experience in a similar assistant role, such as a therapy assistant or assistant psychologist, a research assistant or as an HCA or equivalent in a children and young people’s setting.
• Experience in using clinical and managerial supervision.
• Experience of co-delivery of assessment or intervention
• Experience in gathering information and contributing to clinical reports.
• Experience of supporting children and young people and their families.

Knowledge and skills

Essential

• An understanding of the strengths and needs of neurodivergent children and young people
• Awareness of the principles of trauma-informed care
• Ability to work effectively within a team
• Knowledge of the principles of NDD assessment

Desirable

• Able to understand therapeutic models, assessments, and interventions
• An understanding of the use of outcome measures in clinical settings.

Planning and organisational skills

Essential

• Ability to effectively plan and organise a work diary, to prioritise meetings.
• Ability to manage and meet deadlines for submitting reports and communicating key information to colleagues (System 1 notes and other system records).

Personal

Essential

• An interest in working with children and young people who may be neurodivergent.
• Ability to work effectively within a stressful working environment, though using formal and informal sources of support.

Communication Skills

Essential

• High standard of report writing.
• High-level communication skills (both written and verbal), including an ability to consider individual cultural identity when communicating with service users and their families.
• Ability to communicate professionally through various mediums, e.g., email, letter, and telephone.

Desirable

• Experience in presenting, delivering teaching, or training.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Closing Date: 29 January 2026