Sarah Smith – Neurodevelopment Specialist – Leeds

Sarah Smith – Neurodevelopment Specialist – Leeds

Sarah Smith serves as a Neurodevelopment Specialist at Clinical Partners Leeds, bringing more than 15 years of expertise in speech and language therapy. She earned a BA Hons in Spanish and Linguistics from the University of Leeds and subsequently completed an MMedSci in Human Communication Sciences at the University of Sheffield. Furthermore, she undertook ADOS-2 clinical training and ADI-R certification, enabling gold-standard autism diagnostics. Moreover, she maintains full registration with the Health and Care Professions Council. Additionally, she contributes to ongoing research on communication strategies in autism and presents her findings at national conferences.

During her early career, she joined The Hesley Group to provide specialist residential services for young people and adults with complex needs. Subsequently, she advanced her clinical skills within Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, where she led service improvements in neurodevelopmental pathways. Currently, she practises at Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust, leading multidisciplinary diagnostic panels. Over nine years, she honed her expertise in autism diagnosis and therapy, while also mentoring junior clinicians in ADOS-2 and ADI-R administration. Consequently, her integrated approach enhances both assessment accuracy and therapeutic outcomes.

Within her Clinical Partners role, Sarah conducts in-depth parental interviews, direct ADOS-2 assessments, and collaborative panel discussions. She delivers diagnostic feedback with sensitivity, ensuring that families understand results clearly. Furthermore, she runs interactive workshops for parents on communication strategies in autism, covering augmentative communication devices and social interaction techniques. Additionally, she supports children and young people with learning disabilities, behavioural challenges, and complex medical needs. She applies specialist SLT methods such as Intensive Interaction, PECS, and visual supports. Moreover, she manages dysphagia cases using advanced swallowing therapy. Finally, she provides language support for young people in the criminal justice system, promoting equitable access to services.

Services

• Comprehensive Neurodevelopmental Assessments to evaluate speech, language, cognition, and social engagement

• Autism Spectrum Diagnostic Assessments using ADOS-2 and ADI-R protocols

• Parental Communication Workshops to equip families with evidence-based home-support strategies

• Speech and Language Therapy addressing articulation, expressive language, and pragmatic skills development

• Dysphagia Management through advanced swallowing techniques and tailored exercise programmes

• Intensive Interaction & PECS Implementation for non-verbal and minimally verbal clients

• Visual Support Development with personalised communication aids and visual schedules

• Criminal Justice Communication Support for young people with language impairments in legal contexts

• Teletherapy Sessions via secure video platforms for flexible remote care

• Multidisciplinary Case Coordination with therapists, nurses, educators, and families

Additional Information

The Leeds clinic features modern assessment suites, including soundproof therapy rooms and interactive digital whiteboards for collaborative goal-setting. Moreover, it employs advanced speech analysis software and eye-tracking modules to monitor progress objectively. Additionally, the clinic offers augmentative communication devices for hands-on practice. Secure telehealth infrastructure enables remote sessions with high-definition video and audio. Furthermore, patients access a private online portal to review session notes, access resources, and message their therapist between appointments.

The clinic also provides comfortable waiting areas with sensory-friendly equipment and refreshments to ease pre-session anxiety. A dedicated multidisciplinary team—including neuropsychologists, specialist nurses, and support staff—ensures integrated care pathways. Flexible appointment times—including early mornings, evenings, and weekends—accommodate varied schedules. In addition, private parking and nearby transport links improve accessibility for all. Moreover, the clinic holds a Good rating from the Care Quality Commission, reflecting its commitment to high standards.

Finally, to begin a personalised neurodevelopmental care journey, schedule an appointment with Sarah Smith at Clinical Partners Leeds today. She looks forward to empowering you and your family toward improved communication and confidence.