Consultant Art Therapist, Head of Art Therapy

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust; England; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust seeks a skilled Art Therapist to join their dedicated team. The ideal candidate will hold a MA in Art Psychotherapy, demonstrate substantial experience, and be adept in managing diverse client needs across various care settings. This role promises a fulfilling career contributing to mental health through professional leadership and direct therapeutic interventions.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience as a qualified Art Therapist.
• Experience of teaching, training, and supervision.
• Additional qualifications in therapy and evidence of continued professional development.

Responsibilities

• Manage and support psychological practitioners and services.
• Provide therapeutic interventions and assessments.
• Lead research, audit, and service evaluation projects.

Skills

Advanced knowledge of Art psychotherapy

Knowledge of lifespan developmental psychology

Skills in professional supervision

Ability to work with diverse client groups

Education

MA in Art Psychotherapy

HCPC registration

Post-graduate qualification in leadership/management

Job description

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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Further detailed information relating to the role and responsibilities can be found in the attached supporting documentation

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• MA in Art Psychotherapy and has studied degree standard in Art/Design
• HCPC registration
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Additional qualification in therapy

Desirable criteria

• Post-graduate qualification in leadership/management.

Experience

Essential criteria

• substantial experience as a qualified Art Therapist
• experience of Teaching/ training/ supervision
• Experience of carrying out post-qualification research, audit, or service evaluation projects.
• Experience of undertaking leadership roles.
• Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity and complexity across the full range of care settings including outpatient, community, primary care, in-patient and residential care settings.
• Experience of professional and operational management of a team of qualified psychological practitioners
• Experience of working in a specialised art form.
• Experience of working with, and addressing issues of, diversity, including experience of working within a multicultural framework.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of having worked specialist services for Anxiety, Depression, Affective Disorders, Personality Disorder or Trauma.
• Experience of working with older people with mental health issues
• Experience of working in Forensic and / or prison settings.
• Experience in teaching clinical supervision

knowledge and skills

Essential criteria

• Advanced level knowledge of Art psychotherapy including highly developed knowledge of lifespan developmental psychology, models of psychopathology and evidence-based models of Art psychotherapy
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of management and leadership.
• Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post.
• Knowledge and skills gained in managing qualified and unqualified psychological practitioners, including recruitment and retention, appraisal and performance review and personal development procedures, sickness absence, maternity leave/paternity leave, annual leave, and disciplinary procedures.
• use of complex methods of specialist psychological assessment, intervention and management
• High level knowledge of the issues presented by client with complex needs and with personality disorders Advanced theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatments
• owledge of a range of therapeutic ideas/ approaches/ models in assessment and treatment relevant to discipline.
• Knowledge of legislation and strategic frameworks and their implications for both clinical practice and professional management
• Knowledge of and ability to work with protected characteristics and diversity and factors affecting access to mental health care in a wide variety of contexts'
• Knowledge of scientific research methodology, analysis, and interpretation of data consistent with Art psychotherapy
• Advanced skills in professional supervision; including skills for offering live supervision of both psychotherapists and multi-disciplinary colleagues.

Desirable criteria

• management of budgets and resources

Effort and environment

Essential criteria

• Emotional stamina and ability to respond constructively in highly stressful situations where individuals hold very different perspectives, and there is a high level of distress, ambiguity and conflict.
• Ability to organise and coordinate areas of work that are complex and demanding

other

Essential criteria

• Ability to identify provide and promote appropriate means of support to staff
• A commitment to the continuous improvement of services using feedback from individual clients, families, user surveys, and clinical research
• Ability to articulate and interpret clearly the role of the profession of Art psychotherapy based on a good understanding of the framework of government and national professional policy.

Desirable criteria

• Record of having published in either peer reviewed or academic or professional journals and/or books.
• A demonstrated interest in supporting the development of the field through participation in professional bodies and activities

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that welcomes and supports individuals of all abilities. Remember, if you meet the minimum criteria for this role and you have a disability, you can be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme - Please ensure you select this on your application form. We would encourage you to be open about your needs so we can work with you to design a comfortable and accessible interview experience. Any information you provide regarding a disability or a need for adjustments will be treated in confidence and will only be shared with colleagues who are supporting this request.

If you require any adjustments to participate fully in the interview process, please let us know by adding the relevant details when scheduling your preferred interview date and time. Please feel free to contact the appointing manager to discuss your needs.

We encourage applicants to contact the hiring manager before their interview, if they have any questions about the role or the process. This is a great way to get clarity and prepare effectively for the interview.

Please note that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is prohibited during the interview process. We also discourage overuse of AI during the application process because this can negatively impact the quality of your application and may hinder your chances of being shortlisted. Thank you.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

• Job description (PDF, 792.3KB)
• Join our Team of Psychological Therapists in Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust (PDF, 619.6KB)
• Important Additional Information For Candidates (please read carefully) (PDF, 160.6KB)
• Privacy Notice for Staff (PDF, 268.6KB)
• Staff Benefits (PDF, 2.5MB)