Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Arts Psychotherapist (either Art, Music, Dance-Movement or Drama) to work on the newly developed Forensic Learning Disability and Autism (LD-A) Ward which provides specialist care and treatment to people who have an intellectual impairment, some of whom also have an autism diagnosis. All service-users have additional mental health needs, challenging/offending behaviour, personality disorder and/or a history of problematic substance misuse.
Given that there is increased engagement with the arts psychotherapies in this client population, we are looking for a dynamic and enthusiastic Arts Psychotherapist to join our multi-disciplinary team, comprising psychiatry, psychology, nursing, social work, OT and SLT colleagues. The ward works closely with three other forensic mental health wards (one 15-bedded male medium-secure, one 15-bedded female medium secure, and one 15-bedded male low-secure), a Forensic Outreach Service (FOS) and Support Plus Team, together comprising the Forensic Service.
Main duties of the job
We are seeking an Arts Psychotherapist (HCPC registered) with experience of working with people with intellectual impairments with or without autism. Experience of working in forensic settings would be a distinct advantage. The post holder will be responsible for the provision of arts psychotherapy (of their chosen modality) to service-users on the ward, alongside other arts psychotherapies colleagues within the Forensic Service. There is a strong tradition of offering placements to arts psychotherapy trainees within the Forensic Service and the post-holder will be encouraged to develop placement opportunities within the LD-A ward in order to increase the capacity for arts psychotherapies further.
In addition to the ward MDT, you will be supported by a large Psychology and Psychotherapies department (Forensics) in assessing, prioritising and engaging with service-users on the ward and as such, there will be ample opportunities to work across the other three forensic wards.
About us
We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.
We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.
This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services.
We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.
We offer flexible working, career development and a variety ofbenefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive. Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.
For a full list of our benefits please visit:
https://www.swlstg.nhs.uk/about-the-trust/why-work-for-us/staff-benefits
About our locations:
Springfield University Hospital, Tooting
Our largest, 19-ward site is in Springfield Village, created following our £150m investment into two new world class mental health facilities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. Ensure own ethical practice by working within the Code of Professional Ethics and Discipline (for your specific modality) and abiding by the regulations and policies of the Health Professions Council.2. Adapting your modality of arts psychotherapy to best engage service users with a learning disability, with or without autism, mental health problems, a history of offending or otherwise challenging behaviour.3. To provide arts psychotherapy assessment, formulation and interventions according to the best available evidence for this specific population.4. Provide consultation and clinical supervision for trainee arts psychotherapists (of your modality) and to hold clinical responsibility for their work with service-users on the LD-A ward.5. Overseeing feedback on arts psychotherapy engagement by service-users on the LD-A ward (i.e. own or trainees individual or group work) in ward round and CPA meetings and other meetings such as CTRs.6. To contribute to the assessment of risk in collaboration with the ward MDT to ensure safety of staff, visitors and service-users (including the use of standardised measures such as the HCR-20).7. Provide specialist advice via analysis and interpretation of patients non-verbal presentation, including the provision of a arts psychotherapeutic perspective.8. Undertake ongoing evaluation of patients progress, including risk management, and the management of therapy endings and follow up.9. To recommend alternative therapeutic approaches as appropriate.10. Take the delegated lead in the planning and development of Arts Psychotherapy (of your modality) for the LD-A ward.11. Make active contribution to the planning and development of the LD-A ward policies and systems, via formal meetings and written recommendations.12. Manage Arts Psychotherapy Trainees on Clinical Placement and evaluate their learning outcomes in line with their training requirements.13. Provide training, education and information through presentations and workshops to other disciplines and agencies formally and informally, in clinical settings, team meetings, conferences and other academic forums.14. Practice according to best available evidence and professional consensus in Arts Psychotherapy of your modality.15. Keep abreast of developments and research findings in Arts Psychotherapy of your modality in order to plan and implement own CPD as required for professional registration and attend external training and conferences as required.16. Contribute to the body of knowledge within the profession (focus meeting, publishing).17. Initiate and carry out audit for Arts Psychotherapeutic practice on the LD-A ward (and across the Service, in conjunction with other Forensic Arts Psychotherapy colleagues
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. Ensure own ethical practice by working within the Code of Professional Ethics and Discipline (for your specific modality) and abiding by the regulations and policies of the Health Professions Council.2. Adapting your modality of arts psychotherapy to best engage service users with a learning disability, with or without autism, mental health problems, a history of offending or otherwise challenging behaviour.3. To provide arts psychotherapy assessment, formulation and interventions according to the best available evidence for this specific population.4. Provide consultation and clinical supervision for trainee arts psychotherapists (of your modality) and to hold clinical responsibility for their work with service-users on the LD-A ward.5. Overseeing feedback on arts psychotherapy engagement by service-users on the LD-A ward (i.e. own or trainees individual or group work) in ward round and CPA meetings and other meetings such as CTRs.6. To contribute to the assessment of risk in collaboration with the ward MDT to ensure safety of staff, visitors and service-users (including the use of standardised measures such as the HCR-20).7. Provide specialist advice via analysis and interpretation of patients non-verbal presentation, including the provision of a arts psychotherapeutic perspective.8. Undertake ongoing evaluation of patients progress, including risk management, and the management of therapy endings and follow up.9. To recommend alternative therapeutic approaches as appropriate.10. Take the delegated lead in the planning and development of Arts Psychotherapy (of your modality) for the LD-A ward.11. Make active contribution to the planning and development of the LD-A ward policies and systems, via formal meetings and written recommendations.12. Manage Arts Psychotherapy Trainees on Clinical Placement and evaluate their learning outcomes in line with their training requirements.13. Provide training, education and information through presentations and workshops to other disciplines and agencies formally and informally, in clinical settings, team meetings, conferences and other academic forums.14. Practice according to best available evidence and professional consensus in Arts Psychotherapy of your modality.15. Keep abreast of developments and research findings in Arts Psychotherapy of your modality in order to plan and implement own CPD as required for professional registration and attend external training and conferences as required.16. Contribute to the body of knowledge within the profession (focus meeting, publishing).17. Initiate and carry out audit for Arts Psychotherapeutic practice on the LD-A ward (and across the Service, in conjunction with other Forensic Arts Psychotherapy colleagues
Person Specification
Training & Qualification
Essential
- Honours degree in Art, Music, Dance, Drama
- MA/MSc Post-graduate training in Arts Psychotherapy (Art, Dance-Movement, Music or Drama)
- Appropriate registration with the Health Professions Council.
Desirable
- Further academic post-graduate/ professional training beyond initial MA/MSc training in e.g. Doctorate in Arts Psychotherapy of chosen modality,, research or training in specialist area
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of one year supervised practice in Arts Psychotherapy of chosen modality with a range of mental health patients/clients.
- Experience of working with people with intellectual impairments and or neurodiverse conditions, including working with people with disturbed and challenging behaviour.
- Experience of working with multi-disciplinary teams.
- Experience of personal therapy.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a forensic setting.
- Experience of working in N.H.S. / large health care organisation.
- Experience/understanding of Care Co-ordination.
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Ability to plan, organize and prioritise own workload
- Knowledge & Skills in conducting assessments of suitability for Arts Psychotherapy.
- Knowledge & Skills in assessing and managing risk factors and challenging behaviour
- Knowledge of other treatment interventions (medical, psychoanalytic, systemic, cognitive and behavioural etc) sufficiently to engage with colleagues and make appropriate referrals
- Skills to work as an independent clinician, involving analysis and interpretation of complex therapeutic situations.
- Knowledge of Clinical Governance including Evidence Based Practice audit, basic research tools.
- High level of communication skills including - the analysis and interpretation of complex and sensitive verbal/ non-verbal client material - clear and authoritative verbal and written communication with colleages, including presentation skills.
Person Specification
Training & Qualification
Essential
- Honours degree in Art, Music, Dance, Drama
- MA/MSc Post-graduate training in Arts Psychotherapy (Art, Dance-Movement, Music or Drama)
- Appropriate registration with the Health Professions Council.
Desirable
- Further academic post-graduate/ professional training beyond initial MA/MSc training in e.g. Doctorate in Arts Psychotherapy of chosen modality,, research or training in specialist area
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of one year supervised practice in Arts Psychotherapy of chosen modality with a range of mental health patients/clients.
- Experience of working with people with intellectual impairments and or neurodiverse conditions, including working with people with disturbed and challenging behaviour.
- Experience of working with multi-disciplinary teams.
- Experience of personal therapy.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a forensic setting.
- Experience of working in N.H.S. / large health care organisation.
- Experience/understanding of Care Co-ordination.
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Ability to plan, organize and prioritise own workload
- Knowledge & Skills in conducting assessments of suitability for Arts Psychotherapy.
- Knowledge & Skills in assessing and managing risk factors and challenging behaviour
- Knowledge of other treatment interventions (medical, psychoanalytic, systemic, cognitive and behavioural etc) sufficiently to engage with colleagues and make appropriate referrals
- Skills to work as an independent clinician, involving analysis and interpretation of complex therapeutic situations.
- Knowledge of Clinical Governance including Evidence Based Practice audit, basic research tools.
- High level of communication skills including - the analysis and interpretation of complex and sensitive verbal/ non-verbal client material - clear and authoritative verbal and written communication with colleages, including presentation skills.
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.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
