Art Therapist

Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust; Stafford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in the UK is looking for a passionate Art Therapist to join their Community Learning Disability Team. You will provide art psychotherapy for individuals with learning disabilities and guide a multidisciplinary team. Ideal candidates have strong communication skills, a Master's degree in Art Psychotherapy, and experience working with complex health needs. This role offers ongoing career development and a supportive environment where diversity is valued.

Benefits

Great career development

Ongoing training and support

Supportive work environment

Qualifications

• Therapeutic experience with learning disability users.
• Experience working as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Knowledge of evidence-based practice.

Responsibilities

• Provide assessment and art psychotherapy interventions.
• Advise the multidisciplinary team on art therapy methods.
• Participate in intake assessment meetings.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Understanding of complex behavioral needs

Ability to engage hostile clients

Well-developed risk assessment skills

Education

MA in Art Psychotherapy

BA Honours in Fine Art or related subject

Full registration with HCPC

Full registration with BAAT/ACP

Job description

Job Overview

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. If you require sponsorship you may withdraw your application.

We are seeking a highly motivated, person‑centred individual with excellent communication skills to join our well‑established Community Learning Disability Team.

Our mission is to provide high‑quality, community‑based, integrated services for adults with learning disabilities. The incumbent will be a specialist Art Therapist passionate about enhancing learning disability services.

The successful candidate will have therapeutic experience with learning disability users, complex mental or physical health needs, autism, and complex behavioural needs. You will thrive in multidisciplinary, multi‑agency settings, working creatively to secure positive outcomes and embracing new ways of working. An active interest in academic research is highly desirable.

The team is clinically supportive, pro‑psychology, and offers frequent opportunities for creative and collaborative joint working. MDT colleagues include nurses, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and psychiatrists. You will be an important member of the MDT.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide assessment and art psychotherapy interventions for people with learning disability (individual and group therapy). You may encounter clients who are “hard to treat” or difficult to engage.
• Advise and guide the multidisciplinary team on art therapy and creative assessment and treatment methods.
• Occasionally assess and advise service users expressing thoughts of self‑harm or experiencing high levels of emotional distress.
• Participate in the shared clinical coordinator role – processing referrals and taking duty calls.
• Offer consultation, specialised advice, case support, clinical supervision, and training – important ongoing elements of this post.
• Participate in intake assessment meetings when required.
• Prepare reports, summaries, and letters to relevant parties within the limits of professional confidentiality.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Training – Essential Criteria

• MA in Art Psychotherapy.
• BA Honours in Fine Art or related subject with demonstrated commitment to an established practice of art.
• Full registration with BAAT/ACP.
• Full registration with HCPC.
• Evidenced post‑qualifying continuing professional development relevant to one or more additional specialised areas of psychotherapeutic practice or psychological treatment (e.g., Psychodynamic Counselling).

Experience – Essential Criteria

• Experience working therapeutically with service users with learning disability and autistic continuum; including those presenting with behavioural challenges.
• Experience working as part of a multidisciplinary team with service users presenting a wide variety of mental health and behavioural needs in diverse settings.
• Experience collaborating with other professionals and agencies related to mental health and wellbeing.
• Experience working with carers and families.
• Adherence to appropriate best practice and professional guidance as a qualified clinician.

Experience – Desirable Criteria

• Experience providing student placements.
• Research and development.
• Quality and service improvement and evaluation.

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities – Essential Criteria

• Up to date knowledge of relevant practice, guidelines and developments.
• Understanding of complex behavioural needs, individuals on the autistic continuum, and people with complex mental health difficulties including complex trauma.
• Ability to develop and communicate well‑reasoned clinical formulations, assessments and care‑plans.
• Awareness of local and national developments, protocols and policies relevant to learning disabilities and autism, including DSR processes, CTR/CETR & LAEPs, the MHA and MCA.
• Experience and knowledge relating to evidence‑based practice.
• Well‑developed communication skills – orally and in writing, highly technical and clinically sensitive information to service users, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS, including Child Protection and Adult Safeguarding.
• Well‑developed risk assessment and risk management skills – including skills to prevent, de‑escalate and manage verbal and physical aggression from service users on a day‑to‑day basis.
• Ability to engage hostile and reluctant clients.
• Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non‑professional groups.

Working for Our Organisation

Come and work with us at our award‑winning NHS Trust, leading the way for trying new and better ways of working to help improve life for our local communities.

We have around 9,000 staff who provide physical and mental healthcare, support for people with learning disabilities, and adult social care across Staffordshire, Stoke‑on‑Trent, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin. We also run regional and national services, including help for new parents (perinatal care), eating disorders, forensic services, sexual health, and support for people in prison with mental health, drug, or alcohol problems.

We offer great career development for both clinical and non‑clinical roles, with ongoing training and support to help you learn and grow.

We are “United in our Uniqueness” and committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome and can be themselves, no matter their background or identity. We want our staff to feel supported and valued, and we aim to build a team that reflects the communities we serve. Together, we can make sure every voice is heard, and every difference is respected.

Legal Statement

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, veteran, or protected disability status.