Band 7, Arts Psychotherapist, Bristol

Integrated Care System; Bristol; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mental health organization in Bristol seeks an exceptional Art, Drama, or Music Psychotherapist to deliver a specialist arts psychotherapy service. Responsibilities include assessment and treatment within an inpatient environment. Candidates should possess a postgraduate qualification in Arts Psychotherapy and have experience with complex mental health issues. The role also involves supervision and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, ensuring compassionate care for service users.

Qualifications

• Experience working with individuals with serious and complex mental health issues.
• Registered with HCPC, UKCP, or equivalent.
• Ability to manage a caseload autonomously.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist arts psychotherapy service including assessment and treatment.
• Manage own caseload and communicate effectively with service users.
• Engage in reflective practice and supervise arts psychotherapy staff.

Skills

Assessment and treatment skills

Strong communication

Team collaboration

Empathy and sensitivity

Education

Postgraduate qualification in Arts Psychotherapy (MA/MSc)

Job description

Do you understand the clinical needs of people with a Learning Disability and Autistic People? Do you bring passion and commitment to delivering high quality care?

We are looking for an exceptional Art, Drama or Music Psychotherapist to join our new specialist acute inpatient service for people with learning disabilities and autistic people.

This role will provide a rare and exciting career opportunity to be instrumental in contributing to the design, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of Arts Psychotherapy within a highly specialist inpatient setting. You will need excellent team working and groupwork skills, and the ability to deliver individual and group interventions within an inpatient environment.

In addition to shaping and delivering assessment, formulation, and intervention, you will contribute to wider service development and pathways, including training, consultation, reflective practice, and staff wellbeing.

You will be expected to contribute to service improvement, audit, and research, working with colleagues and linking with relevant partner organizations such as academic institutions, to help us realize our vision of being a centre of excellence.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will deliver high-quality, evidence-based assessment, formulation, and intervention within the inpatient service. This includes specialist individual, group, and systemic interventions, as well as providing consultation, interventions, and training for carers and staff.

They will provide supervision to other team members as appropriate.

Contributions to service design, audit, and research are expected. The service maintains close collaborations with local universities.

Individualized support will be provided to develop your knowledge and skills, as part of expanding expertise in learning disabilities and neurodiversity within AWP.

If you would like further information, we would be pleased to have a conversation with you in person or virtually before you submit your application. Please contact: Dr. Cathy Randle-Phillips, Consultant Clinical Psychologist: [e-mail]

About us

We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust): a diverse organization with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.

We serve approximately 1.8 million people across Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, Wiltshire, and parts of Dorset.

Our outstanding team promotes mental health and wellbeing. We are committed to a person-centered approach for service users and employees, recognizing that happy, fulfilled staff provide better care.

AWP supports and fosters a positive, evidence-based environment and culture, benefiting everyone involved with the organization and the care provided.

We actively encourage applications from all backgrounds, especially from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. We value the diverse perspectives and experiences everyone brings, as diversity makes us stronger.

Job responsibilities

To provide a specialist arts psychotherapy service, including assessment and treatment, using advanced skills for individual and group therapy, both short and long-term, and to advise teams on service users' complex needs and interventions available.

To conduct assessments and consultations to gather comprehensive information, establish diagnoses, and support service users with complex mental health difficulties.

To review and evaluate therapy progress regularly, including risk assessments as part of the CPA process.

To communicate with empathy and sensitivity with service users and carers, understanding their complex issues.

To manage your own specialist caseload within Trust policies, protocols, and guidelines.

To record progress in RIO patient records, prepare reports, and input statistical data.

To engage in reflective practice and clinical supervision, offer supervision to arts psychotherapy staff and colleagues, and attend professional and team supervision as needed.

Please see attached detailed job description and key local information regarding this post.

Person Specification

Shortlisting

• Postgraduate qualification in Arts Psychotherapy (MA/MSc level or equivalent).
• Registered with HCPC, UKCP, or equivalent, and compliant with their code of practice.
• Experience working with individuals with serious and complex mental health issues.
• Ability to work autonomously managing your own caseload within a team setting.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills for assessments and therapy sessions.
• Ability to interpret non-verbal communication within your therapy modality.
• Capacity to work in emotionally demanding environments with service users experiencing psychosis, distress, or hostility, with empathy and understanding.
• Experience supervising qualified and unqualified staff, trainees, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Additional postgraduate training and NHS experience are desirable.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. A disclosure check will be required to ensure suitability for the role.