Art Psychotherapist

Job SummaryAre you looking for an Art Psychotherapy position in Adult Learning Disability that is as part of a supportive, innovative and engaged MDT that delivers excellent care and improves the lives of people with a learning disability?This post is an exciting opportunity for an Art Psychotherapist who wishes to further develop their specialist skills working with adults with learning disabilities including autism.As a result of service changes this is a new Band 7 post dedicated to Bexley Community Learning Disabilities Team, for 2 days a week currently, to maintain and further develop the art psychotherapy provision for adults with varying degrees of learning disability, some of whom have complex needs including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, mental health difficulties and/or challenging behaviour.You will work as part of the Bexley multi-disciplinary community learning disability team, within the psychological therapies sub-team.There is another Art Therapist co-located within the Bromley CLDT, and another in the Greenwich CLDT based at a different location. We also have a Music Therapist in all 3 boroughs so it is an exciting time within creative therapies in Oxleas ALD service.The Bexley CLDT is based at Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup.Main duties of the jobTo assess clients with complex and high risk needs for suitability for individual and group Art therapy. To facilitate a treatment program which is flexible and sensitive to the needs of the clients group and involve clients in 1:1 and Group work, using a variety of art materials in a therapeutic and creative way.To work as part of a multidisciplinary team in planning, implementing and evaluating treatment, providing assessment and treatment for clients referred to the service and evaluate care.To provide specialist advice and clinical supervision for other professionals, colleagues or trainees.The post holder will show proof of commitment to continuing professional development.About UsOxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. Our services include community health care such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies. Our multidisciplinary teams look after people of all ages and we work in close partnership with other parts of the NHS, local councils and the voluntary sector and through our new provider collaboratives. Our 4,300 members of staff work in many different settings including hospitals, clinics, prisons, secure hospitals, children's centres, schools and people's homes.We have over 125 sites in a variety of locations in the South of England. In London we operate within the Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley Greenwich and into Kent. We manage hospital sites including Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup and Memorial Hospital, Woolwich, as well as the Bracton Centre, our medium secure unit for people with mental health needs. We are the largest NHS provider of prison health services providing healthcare to prisons within Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, Kent and South London. We are proud of the care we provide and our people.Our Purpose Is To Improve Lives By Providing The Best Possible Care To Our Patients And Their Families. This Is Strengthened By Our New Values:We're KindWe're FairWe ListenWe CareDetailsDate posted20 October 2025Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 7Salary£53,751 to £60,651 a year pro rata pa incContractPermanentWorking patternPart-timeReference number277-7547090-ALDJob locationsQueen Mary's HospitalFrognal AvenueSidcupDA14 6LPJob DescriptionJob responsibilitiesTo work independently, designing and establishing a specialist clinical Art therapy service for clients.To liaise with other members of the multidisciplinary team around treatment outcomes, referrals and formulation to ensure the service meets client needs while working within professional boundaries and HPC ethics and code of conduct.To maintain own patient records, write reports for consultants and other professionals to make recommendations, and feedback on patients treatment.To be able to access and disseminate up to date research and information in support of clinical work.To have excellent written and oral communication skills, maintain electronic records, support data collection and be computer literate in line with trust standards.The post holder will be able to work closely, in a sensitive and thoughtful way with disturbing and traumatic emotional material on a continuing daily basis with clients with learning disabilities and mental health issues. The work may involve working therapeutically with people with challenging behaviours displaying verbal and physical aggression and clients who may be resistive to change.Job DescriptionJob responsibilitiesTo work independently, designing and establishing a specialist clinical Art therapy service for clients.To liaise with other members of the multidisciplinary team around treatment outcomes, referrals and formulation to ensure the service meets client needs while working within professional boundaries and HPC ethics and code of conduct.To maintain own patient records, write reports for consultants and other professionals to make recommendations, and feedback on patients treatment.To be able to access and disseminate up to date research and information in support of clinical work.To have excellent written and oral communication skills, maintain electronic records, support data collection and be computer literate in line with trust standards.The post holder will be able to work closely, in a sensitive and thoughtful way with disturbing and traumatic emotional material on a continuing daily basis with clients with learning disabilities and mental health issues. The work may involve working therapeutically with people with challenging behaviours displaying verbal and physical aggression and clients who may be resistive to change.Person SpecificationEducation/QualificationsEssentialStudy to degree standard in Art/DesignMA in Art PsychotherapyRegistration with the British Association of Art TherapistsExperienceEssentialExperience of working with a variety of client groups presenting with a range of clinical diversity including acute wards and community.Experience of working autonomously and organising own client case load and timetable.Experience of teaching and holding workshops with colleagues in other professions to further understanding and scope of Art PsychotherapyExperience of at least 3 years personal psychodynamic psychotherapy.Skills/Abilities/KnowledgeEssentialTo have excellent interpersonal, observational skills and communicate complex information to clients, relatives and other professionals involved in client care.To work effectively and in a meaningful way with clients with learning difficulties, behavioural and mental health problems and liaise with carers.To be computer literate in line with trust standards. To be able/willing to learn power point for presentationsTo have required skills for assessing clinical/non clinical risks and suitability of clients for Art therapy treatment program and other therapies. To arrange discharge and follow up treatment as required.Person SpecificationEssentialTo have excellent interpersonal, observational skills and communicate complex information to clients, relatives and other professionals involved in client care.To work effectively and in a meaningful way with clients with learning difficulties, behavioural and mental health problems and liaise with carers.To be computer literate in line with trust standards. To be able/willing to learn power point for presentationsTo have required skills for assessing clinical/non clinical risks and suitability of clients for Art therapy treatment program and other therapies. To arrange discharge and follow up treatment as required.Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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 SponsorshipApplications 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 (Opens in a new tab).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 (Opens in a new tab).UK RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).Additional informationDisclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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 SponsorshipApplications 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 (Opens in a new tab).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 (Opens in a new tab).UK RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).Employer detailsEmployer nameOxleas NHS Foundation TrustAddressQueen Mary's HospitalFrognal AvenueSidcupDA14 6LPEmployer's websitehttp://oxleas.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)Employer detailsEmployer nameOxleas NHS Foundation TrustAddressQueen Mary's HospitalFrognal AvenueSidcupDA14 6LPEmployer's websitehttp://oxleas.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)