South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Specialist Art Psychotherapist

The closing date is 15 February 2026

Job summary

We are seeking an Art Psychotherapist to join the well established Arts Therapies Department at Lambeth Hospital, SLaM.

Tues/Wed/Thurs preferred due to inpatient service needs.

Main duties of the job

This post is for 22.5hrs (0.60 wte) per week covering Arts Therapies provision across adult inpatient acute wards at Lambeth Hospital with an expected move to The Maudsley Hospital in 2026.

Regular Line Management and Clinical Supervision will be provided within the service.

To provide a specialist Art Psychotherapy open group service on adult acute inpatient wards within Lambeth Hospital which may include the Challenging Behaviour Unit including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.

To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment.

To develop the profile of Arts Therapies through the informal supervision of arts therapy trainees.

To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate to role.

To undertake service evaluation, audit and research.

To work as an autonomous professional within professional and registration body (Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) and codes of conduct, guided by the policies and procedures of the service, taking responsibility for own work including treatment and discharge decisions with support of clinical supervisor.

About us

The post will initially be based at Lambeth Hospital and will be relocated to the Maudsley

Our Trust headquarters is located at Denmark Hill less than 5 minutes from the train station (zone 2). We also provide services and operate across other locations, such as London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark; and substance misuse services for residents of Bexley, Lambeth, Greenwich and Wandsworth.

Details

Date posted

28 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£56,276 to £63,176 a year per annum inclusive of HCAs pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

334-CLI-7662977

Job locations

Lambeth Hospital

108 Landor Road

London

SW9 9NX


Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide Art Psychotherapy on inpatient acute Mental Health wards

To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment.

To develop the profile of Arts therapies

To undertake service evaluation, audit and research.

To work as an autonomous professional within professional and registration body (Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) guidelines and codes of conduct, and guided by the policies and procedures of the service.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide Art Psychotherapy on inpatient acute Mental Health wards

To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment.

To develop the profile of Arts therapies

To undertake service evaluation, audit and research.

To work as an autonomous professional within professional and registration body (Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) guidelines and codes of conduct, and guided by the policies and procedures of the service.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Masters (or equivalent) in Art Psychotherapy
  • Registered as an Arts Therapist with the HCPC
  • Evidence of CPD

Experience

Essential

  • Significant post qualification experience including experience of individual and group Art Psychotherapy with people with complex mental health needs.
  • Experience of working with issues of risk and safety both physical and relational.
  • Experience of multi-disciplinary working.
  • Experience working with arts and health practitioners including arts Therapies trainees (Art Therapy, Music Therapy, Dramatherapy or Dance Movement trainees)

Knowledge and skills

Essential

  • Understanding of arts process and practice and its therapeutic application.
  • Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues and child protection.
  • Knowledge of racial and other diversity issues and factors affecting access to mental health care.
  • Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles.
  • Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate.

Evaluations

Desirable

  • Knowledge and experience of data collection
  • Experience of evaluations
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Masters (or equivalent) in Art Psychotherapy
  • Registered as an Arts Therapist with the HCPC
  • Evidence of CPD

Experience

Essential

  • Significant post qualification experience including experience of individual and group Art Psychotherapy with people with complex mental health needs.
  • Experience of working with issues of risk and safety both physical and relational.
  • Experience of multi-disciplinary working.
  • Experience working with arts and health practitioners including arts Therapies trainees (Art Therapy, Music Therapy, Dramatherapy or Dance Movement trainees)

Knowledge and skills

Essential

  • Understanding of arts process and practice and its therapeutic application.
  • Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues and child protection.
  • Knowledge of racial and other diversity issues and factors affecting access to mental health care.
  • Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles.
  • Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate.

Evaluations

Desirable

  • Knowledge and experience of data collection
  • Experience of evaluations

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Lambeth Hospital

108 Landor Road

London

SW9 9NX


Employer's website

https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Lambeth Hospital

108 Landor Road

London

SW9 9NX


Employer's website

https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Head of Arts Therapies

Michelle Guinness

michelle.guinness@slam.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

28 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£56,276 to £63,176 a year per annum inclusive of HCAs pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

334-CLI-7662977

Job locations

Lambeth Hospital

108 Landor Road

London

SW9 9NX


Supporting documents

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