[Hiring] Associate Practitioner Psychologist — Neurodiversity Assessment @Spectrum.Life

Role Description

Waiting lists for neurodiversity assessments in Ireland are long — often years. For autistic people and those with ADHD, that wait is not just frustrating. It affects education, employment, relationships, and mental health.

At Spectrum.Life, we are building a digital-first neurodiversity multidisciplinary assessment service that is clinically rigorous, neuroaffirmative in its values, and genuinely accessible. We are looking for experienced Associate Practitioner Psychologists to join our growing clinical network — people who bring the specialist technical competence this work demands and a genuine belief in the difference that timely, high-quality identification can make to a person's life.

This is a fully remote, flexible, self-employed role. You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team of psychologists, Speech and Language Therapists, and Occupational Therapists, contributing to integrated, person-centred assessments and psychological therapy for children aged seven and above and adults.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality, neuroaffirmative Autism and ADHD identification assessments for children (aged seven and above) and adults through virtual platforms, in accordance with NICE guidelines.
• Administer, score, and interpret the ADOS-2 and ADI-R, as well as validated ADHD assessment measures including DIVA-5.
• Conduct thorough initial neurodiversity consultations and deliver sensitive, neuroaffirmative feedback sessions, clarifying presenting concerns, priorities and individual goals in a collaborative, person-centred manner.
• Complete biopsychosocial and multidisciplinary formulations, identifying and communicating relevant reasonable accommodations across educational, workplace, and community settings.
• Produce high-quality written assessment reports that present complex clinical information clearly, accessibly, and in a strengths-based manner — suitable for individuals, families, and professional stakeholders.
• Provide evidence-based psychological therapy to neurodivergent individuals and their families, adapting therapeutic approaches to address co-occurring mental health presentations and support post-diagnostic adjustment and wellbeing.
• Draw on evidence-based therapeutic modalities adapted for neurodivergent populations, which may include CBT, ACT, DBT-informed approaches, or narrative and systemic frameworks, in line with best practice guidance and individual need.
• Undertake risk screening and safeguarding assessments in line with relevant Irish legislation and organisational procedures, with particular attention to children and young people.
• Collaborate with MDT colleagues including SLTs, OTs, and fellow psychologists to ensure integrated, person-centred care.
• Maintain accurate and contemporaneous case notes and records in line with professional standards and GDPR requirements under Irish data protection law.

Qualifications

• Doctoral qualification in Psychology (Clinical, Counselling, or Educational) from a PSI-accredited or recognised programme.
• Chartered Membership of the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) — C.Psychol.PsSI.
• Current, valid Garda Vetting (or willingness to obtain prior to commencement).
• Current professional indemnity and public liability insurance (minimum €2 million cover).
• Registration with the Data Protection Commission (DPC) as a data controller.
• Minimum two years of post-qualification experience, including direct neurodiversity assessment experience.
• Demonstrated experience assessing combined AuDHD presentations.
• Formal training and demonstrated competence in ADOS-2 and ADI-R administration and interpretation, and in the administration and interpretation of validated ADHD assessment measures (e.g. DIVA-5).

Essential Experience and Knowledge

• Experience conducting neurodiversity assessments across the lifespan, with awareness of age-related presentation differences.
• Experience producing comprehensive neurodiversity assessment reports, including recommendations and reasonable accommodations.
• Experience delivering psychological therapy adapted for neurodivergent individuals, including post-diagnostic support for individuals and families.
• Experience working as part of a multidisciplinary assessment team.
• Experience of biopsychosocial and systemic formulation of neurodevelopmental presentations.
• Experience delivering remote or virtual assessments to children (aged seven and above) and/or adults.

Clinical Knowledge

• Strong knowledge of NICE guidelines relevant to Autism (NG142, NG228) and ADHD (NG87), DSM-5 and ICD-11 diagnostic criteria.
• Knowledge of co-occurring conditions (anxiety, learning disabilities, developmental trauma) and their interaction with neurodevelopmental presentations.
• Knowledge of reasonable accommodations under the Equal Status Acts 2000–2018 and their application in educational and workplace settings in Ireland.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and risk frameworks relevant to children, young people, and adults in Ireland, including Children First Act 2015 and mandatory reporting obligations.
• Ability to work independently and manage own caseload and administration as a self-employed practitioner.

Desirable

• Experience adapting assessments and therapy for individuals with co-occurring intellectual disabilities, sensory needs, or complex communication profiles.
• Training in therapeutic modalities specifically adapted for neurodivergent populations (e.g. adapted CBT, ACT, DBT-informed, or PDA-informed approaches).
• Experience providing clinical supervision to more junior staff.
• Experience working across HSE and private/independent sector pathways.

Benefits

• Flexible, self-employed associate contract with competitive sessional rates.
• Fully remote — work from anywhere in Ireland.
• The opportunity to practise in a genuinely neuroaffirmative service and contribute to meaningful change in how neurodiversity is understood and supported.
• Access to a welcoming and supportive multidisciplinary team of specialist clinicians.
• The chance to contribute to the development of an innovative, digital-first neurodiversity service.
• Working for an organisation where values genuinely drive decisions at every level.