Lead Art Psychotherapist in Paediatrics

NHS; City Of London; On-site; GBP 64,000 - 72,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in London is seeking a Paediatric Art Psychotherapist to develop art therapies for children within a multidisciplinary team. The role involves delivering assessments and interventions focused on the mental health needs of young patients with physical health conditions. Ideal candidates will hold a relevant postgraduate qualification and have experience working with children and families. This is a permanent, part-time position with a salary ranging between £64,156 to £71,148 per annum.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience working with children and families.
• Experience in a physical health setting is mandatory.
• Experience in teaching and clinical supervision.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of art therapies for children and young people.
• Provide assessments and interventions tailored to patients' needs.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team for holistic care.

Skills

Experience in multidisciplinary teams

Ability to provide clinical responsibility

Communication skills

Interest in Art Psychotherapy

Resource management

Education

Post graduate MA in Art Psychotherapy

Current HCPC registration

Membership of the British Association of Art Therapists

Job description

Job summary

We currently have an exciting opportunity for a new post of Paediatric Art Psychotherapist working with the Paediatric Liaison Team at the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel. The Paediatric Liaison Team is a multidisciplinary team supporting the mental health needs of young people with physical health conditions under the care of the Royal London Hospital.

The successful candidate will lead on developing an offer of art therapies for children and young people referred to the paediatric liaison team. They will provide specialist assessment and intervention to children and their families who are under the care of a wide range of paediatric teams, particularly to children who may have difficulties accessing talking therapies. The post holder will offer specialist advice and consultation on art-based intervention to PLT and paediatric colleagues and contribute to psychologically informed care as part of the MDT. The post will also include liaison with external agencies and offering input to families who are both inpatient and in the community. There will be opportunities for service development and working closely with the MDT to offer new interventions, such as groups and workshops for children and their families.

Main duties of the job

The Paediatric Liaison Team is a multidisciplinary team, including clinical and counselling psychologists, psychiatry and mental health nursing, which provides assessment, intervention and consultation for young people experiencing mental health difficulties or emotional distress associated with a physical health conditions who are under the care of the Royal London Hospital.

This post has been piloted and has proven successful in demonstrating benefits of delivering art psychotherapy/art therapy within the paediatric liaison team to CYP and their families with physical health needs. The post holder will work closely with the clinical leads of the team to identify areas of need and suitability for art psychotherapy and to evaluate the outcomes of these interventions.

They will be responsible for personally providing an expert level clinical service with a focus on Art Psychotherapy assessment and intervention for children and young people with physical health needs. The post holder will be responsible for coordinating Art Psychotherapy interventions within the multidisciplinary approach, both with the wider paediatric liaison team and with medical teams and play specialists and contribute to holistic care within the MDT.

About us

Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain\'s leading healthcare providers.

The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.

Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.

We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.

Details

Date posted: 30 October 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 8a

Salary: £64,156 to £71,148 a year per annum inc (pro rata)

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number: 259-7584289RLH

Job locations: Royal London Hospital, London, E1 1FR

Job responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.

Person Specification

Experience — Essential

• Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients\' psychological care and treatment, both as a professionally qualified care co-ordinator and also within the context of a multi-disciplinary care plan
• Extensive experience of working in a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience of working in a physical health setting
• Experience of working with children and families.
• Experience of teaching, training and/or professional and clinical supervision of other psychological practitioners including Art Therapists, Art Therapist trainees and other MDT staff
• Experience of HR/ line management responsibilities e.g. recruitment, supervision, appraisal, annual leave, etc.
• Experience of resource management
• Experience of working in a multi-cultural setting

Desirable

• Experience of working in a paediatric setting with children and young people with physical health conditions.
• Experience of delivering group interventions for children and young people.

Skills — Essential

• Highly specialised experience and skills in providing consultation and training to other professional and non-professional group in a range of agencies.
• Ability to recognize own and individuals\' work related stress and pressures.
• Ability to lead on service developments including supporting professional development needs of more junior psychological therapy colleagues.
• Interest and ability to promote the value of Art Psychotherapy and adapted psychological interventions within the Trust and in wider health and social care agencies.
• A high level ability to communicate effectively (both a written and orally) complex, highly technical and clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and a wide range of lay and professional persons within and outside the NHS.

Knowledge — Essential

• Advanced knowledge of a range of appropriate assessment and Art Psychotherapy interventions relevant to cancer and palliative care.
• Advanced ability to compare and select from a range of theoretical models and intervention approaches, based on highly specialised assessment and formulation of client need
• Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the HPC.

Desirable

• Knowledge of specific art therapy models or approaches used in paediatric settings

Qualifications — Essential

• Post graduate MA in Art Psychotherapy/ Art Therapy HCPC registration - current license to practice as a qualified Art Therapist.
• Member of the British Association of Art Therapists

Desirable

• Post registration training in management/supervision/relevant clinical areas of Art Psychotherapy in medical settings or working with children and families

Other statements

Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship: Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Barts Health NHS Trust

Royal London Hospital

London, E1 1FR

Employer's website: https://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk