Arts Psychotherapist (Music) Band 6 - GH

NHS National Services Scotland; Scotland; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare organization in Scotland seeks a part-time Arts Psychotherapist (Music) to deliver vital services to older adults in inpatient psychiatric settings. Candidates must have HCPC registration and a strong background in Arts Psychotherapy. The role requires creativity and the ability to work collaboratively, ensuring comprehensive patient care. Training opportunities will be provided, and travel between sites is required.

Qualifications

• Healthcare professionals must be highly motivated and creative.
• Experience in Arts Psychotherapy with older adults is essential.
• Independent working and strong teamwork skills are mandatory.

Responsibilities

• Deliver Arts Psychotherapy services to inpatient wards and a care home.
• Contribute to systemic care planning for patients.
• Collaborate closely with health professionals and families.

Skills

Experience with older adults

Creativity in communication

Ability to work independently

Education

HCPC registration

Job description

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

Please note: we anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once a sufficient amount of applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.

We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long‑term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigration Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this, as well as what your responsibilities include, can be found in the further information for this vacancy.

This post requires the post holder to have a PVG Scheme membership/record. If the post holder is not a current PVG member for the required regulatory group (i.e. child and/or adult) then an application will need to be made to Disclosure Scotland and deemed satisfactory before they can begin in post.

Due to legislative changes from 1 April 2025, this post may require a different level of criminal records check than is currently the case. If the post is assessed as a "regulated role", your appointment will be subject to joining the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. If there is any change to what is currently required, this will be confirmed by either the Hiring Manager or the Recruitment Team. For more details on these changes please visit: Disclosure Scotland Changes.

Please note: As this post is part‑time, the salary will be pro‑rata.

Arts Psychotherapist (Music) – 0.6 WTE, Band 6 (22.2 hours per week) – Fixed Term for 6 months

Care of the Elderly – East Lothian Community Hospital (1 ward) + Care Home

An exciting opportunity to join the NHS Lothian Arts Psychotherapies Service – a team comprising of over 40 Arts Psychotherapists working across all age groups and all localities served by NHS Lothian.

What staff say about our team:

• ‘It’s been a wonderful rich experience I’ll always greatly value’
• ‘My time working within the NHS Lothian Arts Therapies team has been incredibly rich and I have learnt so much.’
• ‘I would like to thank you … for the incredible opportunities you have provided me within the NHS, I have learnt so much during my time as a student and as an employee and feel very lucky to have worked alongside such an inspiring team.’

The Arts Psychotherapies Service provides Art, Music, Drama Psychotherapy services to children, young people, adults and older adults with complex needs across all of NHS Lothian and specific additional partners (i.e. local authority social care and third sector organisations). Arts Psychotherapies may be offered within NHS venues or other community facilities.

For this role, Arts Psychotherapy is provided to the Inpatient Psychiatric Services – "Ward is a recently built 20‑beded mixed ward in East Lothian Community Hospital, providing care for older adults with functional mental illness, as well as those with dementia who require in‑patient assessment or continuing HBCCC (hospital based complex clinical care)", Mental Welfare Commission and a local Care Home.

The successful applicant will be part of the Arts Psychotherapy team delivering care to three inpatient wards & a local care home. They will be expected to respond to the identified needs of patients and contribute to systemic care planning. The post‑holder may also have opportunities to do other roles within the Arts Psychotherapy team as they arise.

This post may be of specific interest to clinicians with experience of working with older adults with complex and enduring mental health needs. Training and development opportunities and regular clinical supervision and line management will be provided by the Arts Psychotherapy Team. Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration is essential. We are looking for someone who is highly motivated and creative in their approach and has had previous experience of working with older adults using a range of verbal and non‑verbal communication. The post holder will be expected to work independently using own initiative and as a team member, linking closely with other health professionals, visiting specialists, and families as appropriate.

Travel is required between sites so driving licence is a priority.

Contact

Jenni Johnston – [e-mail]

Gail Lemasurier – [e-mail]

Website: Arts Therapies – NHS Lothian | Our Services

For further information on what is included in the role and what skills/experience are being looked for, click on the links at the bottom of the screen to the job description and person specification. If after reading this information you have any questions, please contact above.