Autism Evaluator - LCSW-C - Contract/1099

Position Summary

As an Autism Evaluator at Blackbird Health, you will play a central role in giving families clarity and long-term support by combining neurodevelopmental diagnostic evaluations (specifically autism spectrum assessments) with ongoing, evidence-based psychotherapy.

Working alongside an interdisciplinary care team, you will help kids, adolescents, young adults and families gain diagnostic clarity and transition seamlessly into effective, whole-child care. This role offers flexible customization to align your direct care hours between testing and therapy based on clinician strengths, business needs, and patient demand.

What Makes You, You

• Clinically Skilled Evaluator: Skilled (or eager to grow) in neurodevelopmental diagnostic tools (ADOS-2, ASRS, CARS-2) with an aptitude for synthesizing complex data into clear, actionable formulations.
• Therapeutically Grounded: Passionate about delivering high-quality, evidence-based psychotherapy to children, adolescents, and young adults.
• Developmentally & Neurodiverse-Informed: Skilled at meeting individuals where they are across developmental stages and neurodiverse profiles.
• Interdisciplinary Collaborator: Thrives in a team-based model, working alongside psychiatric nurse practitioners, executive function coaches, and speech/language therapists.
• Organized & Agile: Comfortable managing a dynamic schedule that balances autism evaluations, report writing, feedback appointments, and ongoing therapy sessions.
• Family-Centered Communicator: Able to convey diagnostic findings and complex clinical feedback to families with deep empathy, clarity, and care.

How You’ll Make an Impact

Autism Evaluations & Diagnostics

• Conduct Assessments: Perform neurodevelopmental diagnostic evaluations, focusing on autism spectrum evaluations (ADOS-2, ASRS, CARS-2).
• Synthesize & Formulate: Analyze, interpret, and synthesize assessment data into clear, clinically sound diagnostic conclusions.
• Deliver Family Feedback: Provide clear, compassionate feedback to clients and families following evaluations, outlining recommendations and care pathways.
• Manage Evaluation Timelines: Complete progress notes within 24 hours of service and oversee report-writing, feedback appointments, and schedule adjustments.
• Care Team Alignment: Communicate evaluation findings directly to the broader interdisciplinary team and participate in weekly clinical consultations.

Psychotherapy & Clinical Care

• Deliver Evidence-Based Care: Provide direct psychotherapy to a tailored caseload of pediatric and young adult clients.
• Conduct Diagnostic Intakes: Perform biopsychosocial assessments for incoming therapy clients to establish individualized treatment plans.
• Drive Integrated Outcomes: Partner with multidisciplinary providers to establish and maintain comprehensive, integrated treatment plans.
• Maintain High Documentation Standards: Track patient progress continuously and complete accurate, timely clinical documentation.

Schedule & Work Model

• Onsite Commitment: Minimum of 2 days per week onsite at the assigned clinic location (primarily dedicated to direct patient care and evaluation appointments). Remaining responsibilities may be completed remotely.
• After-School Coverage: To support school-aged children and families, a schedule that includes weekday hours after 3 PM or weekends is preferred.
• Role Customization: Productivity and split between autism evaluations and therapy sessions are customized per clinician and documented upon hire.

The Basics You’ll Need

• Active, independent LCSW-C license in Maryland.
• Minimum 2+ years of experience delivering clinical care to children, adolescents, and families.
• Exceptional clinical writing and diagnostic documentation skills.
• Proven ability to collaborate within a multidisciplinary healthcare team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience conducting autism spectrum or neurodevelopmental diagnostic evaluations.
• Familiarity or formal training in standardized diagnostic tools (ADOS-2, ASRS, CARS).
• Background in integrated or collaborative pediatric mental health settings.

Why Blackbird is Unique

• Hybrid Variety: Enjoy a balanced mix of testing and ongoing therapy without the burnout of mono-focused caseloads.
• Integrated Support: Work within a full ecosystem of PMHNPs, therapists, and specialty coaches.
• Administrative & Credentialing Support: We handle billing, credentialing, and scheduling logistics so you can focus on clinical care.
• Paid Consultation & Training: Dedicated time for multidisciplinary team consults and ongoing diagnostic skill development.