Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Art Therapist to cover a fixed term, (12 month) post in the West London Forensic Service (WLFS). The post will be 2 days per week (0.4 wte) for 1 year, beginning in October/November 2025.
West London Forensic Service provides secure care and forensic community teams for male and female service-users, who have complex needs related to serious mental illness, personality disorder and offending behaviour, and we are committed to providing high quality, evidence based interventions within a recovery framework.
The role will be based in a small but dedicated arts therapies team. You will be provided with regular support and supervision as well as the opportunity to have contact with a wider network of arts therapists, psychotherapists and psychologists working across the West London Specialist Forensic Services to share learning and ideas. In addition, you will be part of the weekly arts therapies department meeting which involves peer supervision and peer directed training. There are also many opportunities to work jointly with Psychology, Psychotherapy, Family Therapists and the Drug and Alcohol Support Service.
Main duties of the job
As the post holder you will one of two qualified art therapists in the forensic service, you will provide art therapy to service users in the inpatient service, both male and female, including a specialist ward for women with intellectual disabilities, autism and complex communication needs. You will deliver group and individual art therapy and assessments as required, as well as contributing to consultation work with service users in the inpatient service and the community.
The post will also include liaising with multidisciplinary staff and contributing to the electronic case records for service users.
The work here is challenging and rewarding and often includes tailoring our interventions to meet the complex needs of our service-users.
You will have the opportunity to utilise skills in research, service evaluation, and audit within the service.
About us
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.
Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.
The Trust is rated as 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.
The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Art Therapy MA/MSC or equivalent
- Registration with HCPC
- Meet conditions of full membership to BAAT
Desirable
- Evidence of further post qualification training in psychological therapy techniques
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working as an art therapist for a minimum of one year in a clinical setting or equivalent
- Experience of working with people with disturbed and challenging behaviour
- Experience of setting up and managing own clinical caseload including individual and group clinical work.
Desirable
- Experience of setting up and managing own clinical caseload including individual and group clinical work.
- Experience of working in an arts therapies team.
Knowledge/skills
Essential
- Specialist professional knowledge acquired through MA/MSC or equivalent level, plus specialist short courses, CPD, clinical supervision
- High level of communication skills verbal and written
- Ability to think strategically
- Able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or highly contentious information, where there are significant barriers to acceptance which need to be overcome using the highest level of interpersonal and communication skills, such as would be required when communicating in a hostile, antagonistic or highly emotive atmosphere.
Desirable
- Knowledge of legislation and its implications for clinical practice in relation to the client group and forensic setting
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Art Therapy MA/MSC or equivalent
- Registration with HCPC
- Meet conditions of full membership to BAAT
Desirable
- Evidence of further post qualification training in psychological therapy techniques
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working as an art therapist for a minimum of one year in a clinical setting or equivalent
- Experience of working with people with disturbed and challenging behaviour
- Experience of setting up and managing own clinical caseload including individual and group clinical work.
Desirable
- Experience of setting up and managing own clinical caseload including individual and group clinical work.
- Experience of working in an arts therapies team.
Knowledge/skills
Essential
- Specialist professional knowledge acquired through MA/MSC or equivalent level, plus specialist short courses, CPD, clinical supervision
- High level of communication skills verbal and written
- Ability to think strategically
- Able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or highly contentious information, where there are significant barriers to acceptance which need to be overcome using the highest level of interpersonal and communication skills, such as would be required when communicating in a hostile, antagonistic or highly emotive atmosphere.
Desirable
- Knowledge of legislation and its implications for clinical practice in relation to the client group and forensic setting
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).
