Arts Therapist (Music, Art, Drama)

Job description

Job responsibilities

• Develop and provide Arts Therapies to service users with a range of mental/health needs in a range of settings as required
• Plan and develop specialist Arts Therapies in liaison with the Head Arts Therapist and Multi-disciplinary colleagues
• Assess referred service users, plan and deliver Arts Therapies interventions including in-patient service user/out-patient service user follow-up as required, taking into account risk factors, and complexity of presentation, service users need, and service priorities
• Use own clinical skills to contribute to the overall treatment and personal recovery goals for the service user during and beyond Arts Therapies input
• Where required by the Multi-disciplinary team, facilitate reflective practice input, joint assessments and joint working
• Contribute own specialist knowledge from assessment and treatment to the overall care plan for each service user through contribution to clinical meetings e.g. ward rounds, tribunals, via written reports, as well as verbal feedback to teams
• Refer on other appropriate services after assessment or on discharge
• Work as an integrated and collaborative team member, respecting others ways of working and holding in mind other assessment, treatment and support which may be being provided alongside Arts Therapies input
• Adapt as required clinical practice to suit particular challenges of the environment including the setting of aims and goals appropriate to service users needs and setting
• Assess risk and adopt appropriate measures to maintain a safe and therapeutically sensitive environment for all
• Maintain a high degree of professionalism at all times and maintain appropriate boundaries
• Undertake ongoing evaluation of service users progress to manage time limited therapy effectively including therapy endings and follow up
• Seek out help of senior staff or more experienced Arts therapists in this field to enhance own clinical practice, including sources from within and outside the Trust, and share this knowledge through the Arts Therapies networks within the Trust
• Facilitate placements for trainee Arts Therapists, along with provision of their placement management and clinical supervision
• Responsible for clinical input into Trusts Arts Therapies Research and Quality Improvement as identified
• Work autonomously, referring when necessary to clinical and managerial supervision support
• Facilitate communication between therapist and service user through the use of any adaptive communication techniques, devices or approaches

• Ensure own ethical practice by working with your professional bodys of Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Clinical Practice and abiding by the Health and Care Professions Council requirements for ongoing Registration and Trusts Confidentiality policies
• Make clinical judgements with regard to confidentiality
• Contribute to the development of promotional information that is accessible to service users and staff informing them of the nature of Arts Therapies and how and when they can access the service
• Manage a client caseload in response to users needs and the remit of the service with senior support
• Exercise specialised professional and clinical judgement in complex clinical cases and refer to senior staff when necessary
• Make decisions in terms of day-to-day management of own time, in collaboration with the MDT and Head of Arts Therapies/designated Manager
• Follow correct Trust procedures and seek advice regarding incidents and complaints
• Have a working knowledge of, and adhere to, current legislation applicable to clinical area, including the Mental Health Act, the care act, Health and safety, governance and data protection and recovery focused practice
• Balance service demand with own case load, ensuring that Arts Therapies referrals are managed efficiently and that there is sufficient throughput

• Maintain accurate service users records including clinical note keeping, report writing, in accordance with relevant national and Trust policies.
• Collect statistics relating to service reporting requirements

• Take a lead on designated projects with senior support
• Provide regular line management supervision including annual appraisals for those for whom you have line management responsibility
• Understand and implement policies and requirements of the relevant Service line
• Provide regular professional and clinical supervision for junior and less experienced staff as required
• Ensure the safekeeping and confidentiality of all records and to advise honorary and trainee staff on these requirements
• Ensure that Trust Policy is adhered to for those whom line management responsibility is held, taking appropriate action regarding complaints and untoward incidents
• Oversee delegated project management and required supervision of Arts Therapies and Arts in Health projects
• Take an active part in own line management supervision, including own appraisal
• Make use of established communication systems within the service line and related organisations
• Maintain knowledge and awareness of operational issues relating to clinical practice
• Play an active role in shaping the wider teams philosophy of care, service aims, mode of operation and policies, through attendance at team meetings, away days and other development forums
• Adhere to and act on Clinical Governance being particularly mindful where this pertains to the Arts Therapies and advise trainee, honorary staff on requirements
• Demonstrate good knowledge in own practice and be able to advise staff on matters related to diversity and equality in clinical and professional relationships as defined by the Equalities Act

• Educate other professionals through workshops, presentations and training
• Provide further trainee training opportunities as a trainee co-worker as required
• Provide clinical supervision to allocated trainees
• Allocate service users to Arts Therapies trainees holding responsible for these caseloads and for clinically supervising the input provided by trainees to service users
• Compile assessments and reports on Arts Therapies trainees progress, attend meetings organised by training institutions and contribute to good relations between training institutions and the Trust
• Be actively involved in recruitment processes, including development of job descriptions, person specs and advertising
• Sit on interview panels as required for the recruitment and selection of Arts therapists and/ or other team members where appropriate
• Make full and appropriate use of regular clinical supervision
• Assess own training and development needs and ensure they are met through negotiation designated line manager
• Undertake continuous professional development as required for professional registration
• Undertake Trust mandatory training as required
• Review regularly service delivery, proposing and making appropriate changes to develop the service, balancing the views and needs of service users, carers and MDT staff and Trust wide or local policy changes, in consultation with Head of Arts Therapies or designated line manager
• Promote and apply evidenced based practice to service delivery
• Take part in and promote Quality Improvement work in all aspects of your role
• Keep abreast of new developments and research in Arts Therapies
• To participate in Trust-wide Clinical Interest groups undertaking delegated tasks as appropriate
• Participate in planned Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and maintain a personal CPD portfolio that meets professional registration requirements
• Ensure own development through regular participation in clinical supervision/consultation process and participation in other training opportunities within the Trust

• Be responsible for the maintenance, physical storage and setting out of any Arts Therapies equipment including the moving of furniture within health and safety guidelines
• Ensure confidentiality of service users Arts Therapies work made/audio/video recorded as part of therapy and the safe and confidential storage of such service user material during therapy and post discharge
• Be responsible for and check the stock of Arts Therapies equipment on a regular basis, advising on orders and replacements
• Exert physical effort in moving equipment and furniture, e.g. when setting up a room for group work or transporting records of users clinical work to and from supervision
• Exert physical effort in the execution of your arts therapies work
• Undertake intense concentration for clinical interventions on both a one-to-one and group basis

Person Specification

Education/ Qualification/ Training

Essential

• Masters Degree in Arts Therapies (Art, Music, Drama, Dance Movement)
• Degree in relevant area
• Registration with HCPC / UKCP (for dance movement therapists)
• Membership of professional body (BAMT, BAAT, BADth...)
• For Dance Movement Psychotherapist: Evidence of working towards: UKCP Registered Dance Movement Psychotherapist

Desirable

• For Dance Movement Psychotherapist: UKCP Registered Dance Movement Psychotherapist
• Membership of Arts Therapies Professional Body
• Clinical Supervision Training
• Further training in an area of psychological practice relevant to the post's clinical area

Experience

Essential

• oPost qualification experience as an Arts Therapist working with the client group that this post is linked to in both individual and group work
• oExperience of working with Service Users with secondary care mental health needs including challenging behaviour
• oClinical supervision of a trainee Arts Therapist
• oExperience of assessing service users and making recommendations to a Multi-disciplinary team
• oExperience of providing teaching and training sessions regarding Arts Therapies to a variety of audiences

Desirable

• oExperience of working as an Arts therapist in a Multi-disciplinary team
• oExperience of providing Arts Therapies as part of research or clinical trial
• oExperience of providing Arts Therapies in both acute and community settings
• oExperience of project management and evaluation supporting service development
• oExperience of supervision and support of Arts in Health projects

Skills and abilities

Essential

• oHigh standard of verbal communication skills including the ability to provide concise, clear and relevant feedback to a ward round or MDT meeting
• oComputer literacy and a high standard of written communication skills including the ability to produce clear reports detailing progress of therapy, selecting relevant information from sessions and presenting this without bias
• oDeveloped interpersonal skills enabling therapeutic alliances to be developed and maintained with clients
• oAbility to treat Service Users with respect and dignity at all times, adopting a culturally sensitive approach which considers the whole person
• oAbility to apply specialist skills in individual and group based Arts Therapies assessments and interventions
• oAbility to work both independently and a part of a MDT team
• oAbility to assess and manage frequent distressing clinical interactions with clients who have complex mental health problems
• oAbility to assess and manage exposure to potential hazards including frequent verbal aggression and risk of physical aggression in hospital setting whilst ensuring safety of self, client and members of the public
• oGood organisational and time management skills
• oLine management of more junior staff
• oAdapts and uses a range of Arts Therapies clinical techniques
• oAbility to work with trauma and contain emotional impact through clinical supervision and team support systems
• oAbility to assess risk and be able to work face to face with acutely unwell service users

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

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Tower Hamlets Centre for Mental Health, Mile End Hospital,

Bancroft Road

London

E1 4DG

Employer's website

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