Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic, highly motivated and dynamic Music Therapist to join the Therapeutic and Specialised Play Department at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).
This post will involve working with children and families across many areas and specialities within the hospital including;
- Haematology and Oncology;
- Bone Marrow Transplant;
- Immunology;
- Respiratory and Transitional Care;
- Cardiology;
- Gastroenterology;
- Intensive and High Dependency Care;
- Neurodisability and Neurosurgery;
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health;
- Outpatient Dept- specifically for children with Neurodivergence who need input to support their appointments.
Main duties of the job
At GOSH, the goal of a music therapy session might be an immediate one: helping a child or young person to stay calm before/during a medical procedure, for example. Or it might be part of a longer-term process, like helping babies and toddlers reach the developmental milestones threatened by a long hospital stay or supporting a child or young person to cope with their anxiety surrounding diagnosis and medical treatment.
The Music Therapist will use a range of exercises and activities targeted towards each patient's goals and objectives. A typical session might include the use of familiar songs, improvised music making, sensory play, music technology, song writing, and music listening. Every activity is tailored specifically to the individual child/young person, maintaining focus on what they can do, rather than any limitations they may experience. The music therapist also aims to follow the patient's lead as much as possible, offering them autonomy and a sense of control.
About us
GOSH is committed to recruiting the best person for the job, based solely on their ability and individual merit as measured against the criteria for the role; through a process that is fair, open, consistent and free from bias and discrimination.
We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture where all staff are valued, respected and acknowledged. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, disability status or length of time spent unemployed.
We particularly welcome applications from BAME communities, people with disabilities and/or long-term health conditions and LGBT+ community members.
We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants and employees are treated fairly and consistently. We are proud to be accredited as a Disability Confident Employer, a member of Business Disability Forum and a Stonewall Diversity Champion.
We have active and Executive supported BAME, LGBT+ and Allies, Disability and Long-Term Health Conditions and Women's staff networks. Staff networks are employee-led groups formed around interests, issues and a common bond or background. Staff network members create a positive and inclusive work environment at Great Ormond Street Hospital by actively contributing to the Trust's mission, values and efforts specific to inclusion. All of our staff networks are open to any employee.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents please view the attachment/s below.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents please view the attachment/s below.
Person Specification
Our always values
Essential
Academic/Professional qualification/Training
Essential
- MA/MSc/MMT or equivalent in Music Therapy
- Current Registration as Arts Therapist with Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Desirable
- Evidence of relevant further training and Continuing Professional Development as required by the Association of Professional Music Therapists and HCPC
- Membership of Professional Association (BAMT (British Association of Music Therapists))
- Evidence of post-graduate NICU training
Experience/Knowledge
Essential
- Assessed experience of working as a qualified Music Therapist
- Experience working with children and young people with SEND, Autism, PMLD, and complex psycho-social profiles
- Experience of individual and group clinical work
- Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team
- Knowledge of relevant legislation and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to the client group
- Experience of presenting clinical case studies to other professionals
- Experience of conducting assessments, writing assessment reports, and making appropriate recommendations for input
Desirable
- Specialist clinical experience of working with children and young people (babies, early years, school age children and young people)
- Experience of music therapy work which actively involves family members in the sessions
- Experience of joint working using variety of flexible approaches related to music therapy and collaboration with other professionals
- Experience supervising Music Therapy students on placement
- Experience of research and audit
- Experience of working within a multi-cultural environment
Skills/Abilities
Essential
- Ability to undertake research according to needs of the service
- Ability to independently establish working relationships with patients and their families, and intentionally support the patient's transition into active music making
- Ability to thoughtfully engage patients in initial dialogue and create an enjoyable conversation based on learning about the patient's music history, experiences, and preferences
- Ability to assess the patient's focus and interest, and support the patient to assess their own level of interest in music therapy
- Ability to form an instant interest for the patient which captures their attention and engages their investment in music exploration
- Ability to create genuine rapport with patients and their families whereby they feel supported/encouraged to express themselves and to choose to engage in a music relationship
- Ability to observe, listen, and provide a supportive, empathetic presence
- Ability to interact with others directly and confidently
- Ability to demonstrate self- and social awareness when expressing thoughts, feelings and understanding, and doing so in a consistently constructive manner
- Ability to understand potential differences of opinion and thoughtfully manage any errors in judgment
- Ability to maintain personal/professional boundaries
- Willingness to take responsibility for communicating directly and in-person with your line manager regarding any Ability to form excellent working relationships across multidisciplinary teams challenges, conflicts, misunderstandings, or miscommunications
- Ability to work with complex, emotionally charged situations and manage emotional impact through clinical supervision, team support and self-advocacy
- Ability to take responsibility for clinical work from referral through to discharge
- Willingness to be flexible and work responsively in a busy, fast-paced environment
- Ability to assess complex client needs in a clinical setting and identify suitable interventions, considering diagnostic and risk factors
- Understanding of how Music Therapy interventions may be adapted to meet a wide range of service user needs and institutional settings
- Ability to cope with, and maintain a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing situations
- Effective communication skills, both written and oral; the ability to impart complex, highly technical, and clinically sensitive information to patients, families and carers and a wide range health care professionals within and outside the NHS
- Excellent presentation skills, including the ability to develop and use multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic settings
- Ability to translate and integrate evidence-based research/guidelines into the development of a pathway of care
- A commitment to the evaluation of services, enthusiasm for multi-professional collaboration, and a wish to continue to develop own expertise
- Specialist knowledge of child and adolescent development (i.e., motor, cognitive, language, emotional, social)
Desirable
- Experience of using Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices to support children and young people who have difficulties communicating using speech, or are unable to speak e.g., switches, choice cards, symbol boards
- Experience of using Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices to support children and young people who have difficulties communicating using speech, or are unable to speak e.g., switches, choice cards, symbol boards
Person Specification
Our always values
Essential
Academic/Professional qualification/Training
Essential
- MA/MSc/MMT or equivalent in Music Therapy
- Current Registration as Arts Therapist with Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Desirable
- Evidence of relevant further training and Continuing Professional Development as required by the Association of Professional Music Therapists and HCPC
- Membership of Professional Association (BAMT (British Association of Music Therapists))
- Evidence of post-graduate NICU training
Experience/Knowledge
Essential
- Assessed experience of working as a qualified Music Therapist
- Experience working with children and young people with SEND, Autism, PMLD, and complex psycho-social profiles
- Experience of individual and group clinical work
- Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team
- Knowledge of relevant legislation and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to the client group
- Experience of presenting clinical case studies to other professionals
- Experience of conducting assessments, writing assessment reports, and making appropriate recommendations for input
Desirable
- Specialist clinical experience of working with children and young people (babies, early years, school age children and young people)
- Experience of music therapy work which actively involves family members in the sessions
- Experience of joint working using variety of flexible approaches related to music therapy and collaboration with other professionals
- Experience supervising Music Therapy students on placement
- Experience of research and audit
- Experience of working within a multi-cultural environment
Skills/Abilities
Essential
- Ability to undertake research according to needs of the service
- Ability to independently establish working relationships with patients and their families, and intentionally support the patient's transition into active music making
- Ability to thoughtfully engage patients in initial dialogue and create an enjoyable conversation based on learning about the patient's music history, experiences, and preferences
- Ability to assess the patient's focus and interest, and support the patient to assess their own level of interest in music therapy
- Ability to form an instant interest for the patient which captures their attention and engages their investment in music exploration
- Ability to create genuine rapport with patients and their families whereby they feel supported/encouraged to express themselves and to choose to engage in a music relationship
- Ability to observe, listen, and provide a supportive, empathetic presence
- Ability to interact with others directly and confidently
- Ability to demonstrate self- and social awareness when expressing thoughts, feelings and understanding, and doing so in a consistently constructive manner
- Ability to understand potential differences of opinion and thoughtfully manage any errors in judgment
- Ability to maintain personal/professional boundaries
- Willingness to take responsibility for communicating directly and in-person with your line manager regarding any Ability to form excellent working relationships across multidisciplinary teams challenges, conflicts, misunderstandings, or miscommunications
- Ability to work with complex, emotionally charged situations and manage emotional impact through clinical supervision, team support and self-advocacy
- Ability to take responsibility for clinical work from referral through to discharge
- Willingness to be flexible and work responsively in a busy, fast-paced environment
- Ability to assess complex client needs in a clinical setting and identify suitable interventions, considering diagnostic and risk factors
- Understanding of how Music Therapy interventions may be adapted to meet a wide range of service user needs and institutional settings
- Ability to cope with, and maintain a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing situations
- Effective communication skills, both written and oral; the ability to impart complex, highly technical, and clinically sensitive information to patients, families and carers and a wide range health care professionals within and outside the NHS
- Excellent presentation skills, including the ability to develop and use multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic settings
- Ability to translate and integrate evidence-based research/guidelines into the development of a pathway of care
- A commitment to the evaluation of services, enthusiasm for multi-professional collaboration, and a wish to continue to develop own expertise
- Specialist knowledge of child and adolescent development (i.e., motor, cognitive, language, emotional, social)
Desirable
- Experience of using Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices to support children and young people who have difficulties communicating using speech, or are unable to speak e.g., switches, choice cards, symbol boards
- Experience of using Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices to support children and young people who have difficulties communicating using speech, or are unable to speak e.g., switches, choice cards, symbol boards
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).
Employer details
Employer name
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children
Great Ormond Street
London
WC1N 3JH
Employer's website
https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
