Job overview
We have an exciting opportunity for a part-time (0.5 WTE) art psychotherapist to join our Psychological Service for adults who receive treatment at the Barts Heart and Thorax Centre (BHTC) at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, part of Barts Health NHS Trust.
This is a 12-month fixed-term contract to cover maternity leave.
About the service
The BHTC Psychological Service works with adult patients and their families who are living with acute or chronic cardiac and respiratory conditions, including those requiring critical care admission (predominantly cardiothoracic and cancer-related). The service also provides a range of support structures for staff caring for these patients.
Patients are under the care of specialist multidisciplinary teams within BHTC, including:
Adult Congenital Heart Service (GUCH)
Heart Attack Centre (HAC)Adult Critical Care Unit (ACCU)Heart Failure
Electrophysiology
Inherited Cardiovascular Conditions
Cystic Fibrosis*
Difficult Asthma*
*The postholder will not be working with patients from these teams
Main duties of the job
This post will cover areas of the BHTC related to cardiac conditions and critical care. The post holder will work with adults who have life-limiting and life-threatening conditions.
The post holder will receive referrals from cardiac and critical care teams across BHTC and will work closely with the psychological services lead clinical psychologists, offering a good balance of autonomy and support. This is a varied role providing art therapy assessment and intervention to both inpatients and outpatients. The BHTC teams are very welcoming, value psychological input for patients and staff, and will appreciate the post holder maintaining the range of therapies available.
Supervision and line managementThe service is managed by a consultant clinical psychologist, who leads and develops the psychological provision for BHTC patients and coordinates support for staff. The service also includes senior clinical psychologists, each coordinating psychological provision for their area of BHTC
Line management will be provided by the principal clinical psychologist for the service. Clinical supervision will be provided by a senior art psychotherapist based at the St Bartholomew’s Hospital site.
Working for our organisation
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.
Detailed job description and main 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
Service background
The BHTC psychological services began as a 12-month project for congenital heart patients in 2017 and has since been extended and developed into an established service, with structures in place for appropriate supervision, line management and leadership.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Post graduate MA in Art Psychotherapy/ Art Therapy
2. HCPC registration – current license to practice as a qualified Art Therapist
3. Member of the British Association of Art Therapists.
Desirable criteria
4. Post registration training in management/supervision/relevant clinical areas of Art Psychotherapy in medical settings
Experience
Essential criteria
5. Post qualification experience in physical health
6. Sustained clinical experience at a good level of practice using a range of Art Therapy models and techniques.
7. Clinical experience in carrying out a range of clinical activities that are appropriate and adapted to the needs of in-patients and out-patients, including assessments and interventions with individuals, couples, family members and staff groups, group work, consultation and training.
8. Experience of working in multidisciplinary teams.
9. Experience carrying out clinical risk management, safeguarding, and safe practice.
10. Experience of working in a multi-cultural setting
Desirable criteria
11. Experience of taking part in project work, evaluation of outcomes and audit in relation to Art Therapy and psychological therapies working in a physical health setting.
12. Experience giving advice and support to professional colleagues (including psychologists and trainees).
Knowledge & Skills
Essential criteria
13. Advanced knowledge of a range of appropriate assessment and Art Psychotherapy interventions relevant to a physical health setting.
14. 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
15. 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
16. Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the HCPC.
**Visa Sponsorship Information**
Recent changes to UK immigration policy on the Health and Care Visa and Skilled Worker Visa could mean that this role is not eligible for sponsorship or that you may not meet the eligibility criteria.
Sponsorship can only be offered if this post and any individual offered employment meet all the Home Office’s requirements under the UK Skilled Worker visa scheme.
If you are applying from outside the UK or will require sponsorship, please mention this clearly in your application.
To be eligible for sponsorship, the following conditions must be met:
17. Eligible role: The position must be on the UK Skilled Worker visa list. You can check your eligibility here: -.
18. Salary threshold: The role must meet the minimum salary set by the Home Office. Please note that for roles employed under Agenda for Change Terms and Conditions, the High-Cost Area Supplement (HCAS) is not included when calculating the basic salary for the purposes of sponsorship.
19. Skill level: The role must meet the minimum skill requirement of RQF Level 6 or above (graduate level).
20. English language: Applicants must demonstrate English proficiency at CEFR level B1 or higher.
21. Other criteria: Applicants must meet all other criteria as set out by the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)