Head Art Therapist

West London NHS Trust; Southall; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking organization as an Arts Therapist, leading a dedicated team in a dynamic forensic mental health environment. This full-time role offers the chance to make a significant impact while promoting a healthy work-life balance. Enjoy excellent benefits, including generous annual leave and affordable gym membership. You will oversee high-quality arts therapies services, engage in clinical practice, and support professional development. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a well-respected department that values diversity and inclusivity in its workforce.

Benefits

27 days annual leave

Gym membership for £10/month

Ongoing training and professional development

Qualifications

• Experience in overseeing arts therapies services in a forensic setting.
• Strong background in clinical supervision and team leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead the arts therapies team and oversee service provision.
• Conduct individual and group therapy sessions.

Skills

Arts Therapy

Clinical Supervision

Risk Assessment

EMDR

Schema Therapy

Education

Master's Degree in Arts Therapy

Relevant Clinical Experience

Job description

We are seeking a passionate Arts therapist to join the inpatient service at West London Forensic Service (WLFS). This full time, 8b post is a rare opportunity to lead a well-respected and established Arts therapies team.

We provide a comprehensive induction and ongoing training and development throughout individuals’ careers, with opportunities to develop specialist skills and receive specialist supervision (e.g. EMDR and schema therapy), in addition to an individual’s regular supervision. This is a full-time post (1.0wte) but part-time or flexible working may also be considered and we promote a healthy work-life balance. There are excellent staff benefits including 27 days annual leave, rising to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years. There is a gym on site and membership is just £10 per month.

You will be responsible for overseeing the provision of a high quality arts therapies service across the forensic site which includes, men’s low and medium secure, women’s low and medium secure, community services and LD service.

As the lead of the arts therapies service, you will have a key role in defining and building the profile of the department and assessing arts therapies interventions and programmes, liaising with other departments and leads.

The post also includes some clinical time to include both individual work and contribution to group therapy programmes. You will also advise on risk assessment and risk management, and support arts therapies practice within the team through consultation, supervision, and training.

You will have the opportunity to utilise skills in research, service evaluation, and audit within the service. You will provide line management and supervision to qualified and student arts therapists as required by the needs of the department.

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse providers of mental health, community and social care in the UK. It provides a broad range of forensic mental health care in adult male and female services, across high, medium and low security settings, as well as in a community and court diversion setting. The post is based to cover the whole site of WLFS. West London Forensic Service has been rated as outstanding by the CQC.

The Arts therapies department, which is small in itself, but it is well-established and supportive with high standards of clinical supervision and excellent opportunities for continuing professional development.

We are keen to ensure that our workforce reflects the community it serves, particularly in terms of ethnicity, gender, disability, LGBTQ+ and experience of mental illness.

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Emma Foster Job title: Consultant Clinical Psychologist Email address: [e-mail]