Older Adult Lead Arts Therapist

NHS; Pontypool; On-site; GBP 56,000 - 64,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading NHS organization in Pontypool seeks a Lead Arts Therapist to oversee their Older Adult service. The ideal candidate will manage a team of Arts Therapists, providing compassionate leadership while ensuring quality care. With a focus on evidence-based interventions, this role is pivotal in enhancing the lives of older adults. Candidates should have a relevant degree, extensive clinical experience, and strong leadership skills. Part-time, permanent position with a salary of £56,514 to £63,623 per year.

Benefits

Flexible working

Extensive training and development opportunities

Paid mandatory training

Healthy work-life balance support

Qualifications

• Substantial clinical experience within older adult mental health and dementia services.
• Management or leadership experience is required.
• Experience supervising Arts Therapists and presenting in specialism.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage Arts Therapists, Trainees, and Assistants.
• Focus on delivering evidence-based interventions.
• Develop and improve services through research and audits.

Skills

Leadership and direction

Warm and empathetic communication

Assessment and intervention skills

Initiating service developments

Education

Honours Degree in relevant subject

MA in a relevant Arts Therapy, accredited by the HCPC

Training in Clinical Supervision

Job description

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our Older Adult service as a Lead Arts Therapist. The postholder will lead our fantastic Arts Therapies colleagues within the team, providing them with a supportive and compassionate environment in which they can work at their best. We strive to create and maintain high standards of care, and you would bring your passion, creative thinking and strong clinical governance skills and experience to ensure this. You will work closely with the Head of Service for Psychology and all members of the team to develop and showcase the value of Arts Therapists and their work with older adults.

Main duties

You would be responsible for the leadership and management of Arts Therapists, Trainees and Assistants within the team. Through service development, research and audit you will continue to develop and improve the services we provide. You will provide compassionate leadership that ensures the wellbeing of our colleagues, and creates a culture of flexibility, teamwork and innovation.

About us

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board is a multi-award-winning NHS organisation with a passion for caring. The Health Board provides an exceptional workplace where you can feel trusted and valued. Whatever your specialty or stage in your career, we have opportunities for everyone to start, grow and build your career. The health board provides integrated acute, primary and community care serving a population of 650,000 and employing over 16,000 staff.

We offer a fantastic benefits package and extensive training and development opportunities with paid mandatory training, excellent in-house programmes, opportunities to complete recognised qualifications and professional career pathways including a range of management development programmes. We offer flexible working and promote a healthy work life balance, provide occupational health support and an ambitious plan for a Wellbeing Centre of Excellence to support you at work.

Our Clinical Futures strategy continues to enhance and promote care closer to home as well as high quality hospital care when needed. Join us on our journey to pioneer new ways of working and deliver a world-class healthcare service fit for the future.

Details

Date posted: 23 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£56,514 to £63,623 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

040-AHP160-1025

Job locations

Ty Siriol, Coed Y Gric Road, Pontypool, NP4 5YA

Job responsibilities

Working closely with your colleagues and the Head of Service in Older Adult Psychology, you will be the key representative for Arts Therapies in the Service, focusing on delivering evidence based and value based interventions which improve the lives of our clients.

Full details of duties are in the attached Job Description and Person Specification.

Person

Qualifications and Knowledge (Essential)

• Honours Degree in relevant subject
• Training in Clinical Supervision
• MA in a relevant Arts Therapy, accredited by the HCPC

Qualifications and Knowledge (Desirable)

• Further academic qualifications / postgraduate study
• Management or leadership training

Experience (Essential)

• Substantial clinical experience and expertise within older adult mental health and dementia services
• Management or leadership experience
• Experience of supervising Arts Therapists and other professionals
• Experience of teaching, training or presenting in specialism

Experience (Desirable)

• Contributing to Arts Therapy in a wider arena e.g. WAT, HCPC, WTAC
• Research and statistical experience

Skills and attributes (Essential)

• Ability to provide leadership and direction to develop the service
• Ability to communicate warmly and with empathy
• Ability to assess, interpret, formulate and intervene appropriately in complex clinical situations
• Ability to consider and initiate service developments

Skills and attributes (Desirable)

• Passion, motivation and energetic

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. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

UK Registration

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

Employer details

Employer name: Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

Address: Ty Siriol, Coed Y Gric Road, Pontypool, NP4 5YA

Employer's website: https://abuhb.nhs.wales/