creative and experienced arts psychotherapist (Music )

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust; Watford; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mental health trust in Watford is seeking a qualified Music Therapist to provide exceptional care to individuals with learning disabilities and mental health issues. The ideal candidate will have relevant qualifications and experience, including the ability to deliver evidence-based therapy. Opportunities for professional development and support are provided within an outstanding rated team.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Supportive supervision

Qualifications

• Experience working as a therapist with service users with mental health problems.
• Substantial experience in personal therapy.
• Experience supervising arts therapies students.

Responsibilities

• Develop strong alliances with adults with learning disabilities.
• Provide evidence-based therapy programs in various community settings.
• Offer supervision and support to other therapists.

Skills

Compassionate alliance with service users

Evidence-based individual and group therapy

Communication skills

Knowledge of mental health problems

Experience with complex learning disabilities

Education

Good Honours degree in relevant subject

M.A. in Arts Psychotherapies

HCPC Registration

Job description

Job Summary

As part of our team in Hertfordshire, you'll have the chance to work alongside other talented arts therapists, helping to provide exceptional care and support to our service users. We are committed to your professional development, offering ample opportunities for CPD and ongoing support through a range of supervisions—operational, professional, and clinical.

Responsibilities

• Develop a strong and compassionate alliance with adults who have a learning disability and mental health difficulties, understanding the important role of families and paid carers.
• Provide innovative, evidence‑based individual and group music therapy assessment and treatment programs within various community settings across West Herts.
• Communicate effectively as part of a team dedicated to achieving the best outcomes for service users, and offer clinical supervision and support to other arts therapists and students when required.

Qualifications

• Good Honours degree in a relevant subject with relevant work experience.
• M.A. in Arts Psychotherapies (Art, Drama, or Music).
• Significant post‑qualifying professional experience with a demonstrable knowledge and commitment to best practice and evidence‑based practice.
• Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Experience working as a therapist with service users who have a range of mental health problems, including psychotic symptoms.
• Experience working with service users who have complex learning disabilities, including those with autism and personality disorders.
• Experience supporting service users with profound and severe learning disabilities and limited communication skills, managing challenging behaviours.
• Experience working with carers and families as a therapist.
• Substantial experience in personal therapy.
• Experience in keyworking and care coordination of clients.
• Evidence of continued professional development.
• Experience supervising arts therapies students/trainees and liaising with university courses.
• Must have appropriate UK professional registration; candidates requiring a Skilled Worker visa should assess eligibility using the UK government guidance.

Desirable Criteria

• Consistent work within multidisciplinary teams in community and patient settings.
• Ability to provide individual and group therapeutic interventions, including assessment, treatment, and discharge planning.
• Experience working in inpatient, outpatient, and community settings with complex cases.
• Knowledge of learning improvement through work‑based, evidence‑based approaches.
• Skill in adapting therapeutic approaches for people with complex learning disabilities, challenging behaviour, autism, or mental health problems such as personality disorder and psychosis.
• Organisational and self‑management skills, including complex system and personnel management.
• Proficiency in various types of supervision and demonstrating how it benefits professional practice.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, including presentations.
• Computer competency, including electronic care records, email, word processing, and audit tools.
• Advanced competence in assessing clients and applying psychodynamic formulations and theory for individuals and groups.
• Ability to describe the clinical process clearly to other professionals, service users, and carers.

About HPFT

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is one of only five mental health trusts to receive an overall “Outstanding” rating from the Care Quality Commission. With over 4,000 staff, we deliver mental health and specialist learning disability services to more than 400,000 people across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Norfolk, working in both community and inpatient settings. Our values—welcoming, kind, positive, respectful, and professional—guide everything we do.