Art Psychotherapist | Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust; Poole; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Poole is seeking an Art Psychotherapist to join their Inpatient Psychology Team. This role involves providing specialist art psychotherapy to patients within psychiatric inpatient wards. Candidates should have a relevant psychological qualification and a passion for engaging individuals and staff. The position requires effective collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and may entail working in challenging environments. This is a fixed-term role with opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Supportive team environment

Opportunities for professional development

Qualifications

• Must have an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
• Experience in inpatient settings preferred.
• Ability to provide individual and group therapy.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist psychological assessment and therapy.
• Deliver art psychotherapy within inpatient wards.
• Liaise with psychology teams and community services.

Skills

Passion for Art Psychotherapy

Ability to engage individuals and staff

Experience in providing supervision

Ability to work in challenging environments

Education

Relevant psychological qualification

Job description

We are excited to advertise for an Art Psychotherapist to join the Inpatient Psychology Team, to support our vision to offer a range of psychological therapies to clients who are receiving care within the psychiatric inpatient wards in Dorset, at St Ann's in Poole. We welcome applications from those with a passion for engaging individuals and staff teams in the unique benefits that Art Psychotherapy can provide, in individual and group formats, and particularly to those clients that may find it difficult to access standard talking therapy approaches.

The Acute Inpatient Psychology Team consists of Clinical/Counselling Psychologists and Assistant Psychologists, with the regular addition where opportunities rise of trainee practitioners such as trainee psychologists and psychotherapists. We pride ourselves in working closely with the multi-disciplinary teams to bring a psychological understanding to patient need across the wards, working alongside our colleagues, to inform care. We routinely offer indirect support to wards in the form of team formulation, consultation and individual/group supervision, according to need. We work hard to support each other at work, and endeavour build good working relationships with the teams we liaise and work with.

This is a fixed term role and for those with current NHS service, the role will be offered on a secondment basis only. Please obtain permission to be released on a secondment before submitting an application.

• Provide specialist psychological assessment and therapy, advising and consulting on clients’ psychological care to non-psychologist colleagues and others involved in a person's care.
• Deliver the specialist art psychotherapy offer within the psychiatric inpatient wards.
• Liaise with the inpatient psychology team, wards MDTS and community services when required.
• Provide and receive supervision as per professional development needs; support other team members and participate in professional development events and training.
• Work in challenging environments across a variety of wards, responding to need and capacity, under the support of the well‑established inpatient psychology team.

Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of. Applicants who subscribe to the DBS update service are able to present a valid DBS certificate instead of requiring a new check.

Applications from candidates that require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are unfortunately ineligible to apply for this position.

At Dorset HealthCare we’re on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined‑up healthcare services. We’re a dynamic, forward‑looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here – it’s one of the reasons the CQC rated us ‘outstanding’ in 2019. It’s also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you’re looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do, and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities, and we celebrate diversity. We’re an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you’ll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don’t know. And you’ll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion, and expertise in all we do.

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare is working in partnership with The Prince’s Trust to support people getting into work, as part of this partnership, we are offering an employability service to support individuals between 16‑30 years old with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support please do [e-mail]

This advert closes on Wednesday 3 Dec 2025