Art Psychotherapist- HMP High Down/HMP Coldingley
Join to apply for the Art Psychotherapist- HMP High Down/HMP Coldingley role at Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust.
Overview
The Health and Justice Services Directorate of Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust provides physical and mental healthcare to women and men resident in Surrey prisons. Our motto is “Caring NOT Judging” and we are committed to working with staff to improve health outcomes and social inclusion for this vulnerable group.
Main duties
Offer specialist Art Psychotherapy provision for prisons in Surrey and may be required to travel across the services. Work as part of the Arts Psychotherapies team and integrate within wider healthcare services, contributing to care plans, clinical meetings, and governance. Receive supervision and support from the Lead Art Psychotherapist. Deliver individual and group Art Psychotherapy interventions with a trauma-informed approach. This post involves a seven-day-a-week trauma-informed service with potential evenings and weekend work.
Working for our organisation
CNWL’s Health & Justice Services are led by a motivated team with experience in healthcare within secure environments. The Arts Psychotherapies team collaborates with psychologists for professional development; high-quality supervision and CPD are integral. Staff have access to training, research opportunities, and skill-sharing within CNWL’s large Arts Psychotherapies network. All sites in Surrey offer free onsite leisure facilities and free staff parking. Vaccination is encouraged to protect staff and service users where applicable.
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
Please see the accompanying job description and personal specification for the full list of responsibilities. The post will provide a comprehensive, highly specialist therapeutic service to people detained in prison, including psychological assessment and therapy, and advice and consultation on patients’ psychological care to core healthcare teams, prison staff, and partner agencies. The post holder will work flexibly within professional guidelines and oversee governance of Art Psychotherapy within the service and team. They will contribute specialist knowledge to care plans and participate in clinical meetings, liaising with prison-based and community services, and help develop the Arts Psychotherapies service.
Person specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential criteria
* Good honours degree in art or relevant subject, or equivalent experience
* MA/MSc or equivalent in art psychotherapy
* HCPC registration as an art psychotherapist
Desirable criteria
* Other related academic qualifications
* Clinical supervision training
* Advanced keyboard skills
* Training in breakaway/de-escalation techniques
* Culture awareness training
Previous Experience
Essential criteria
* Post-qualification autonomous work with a relevant client group (group and individual)
* Experience with disturbed and challenging behaviour
* Substantial experience of personal psychotherapy
* Experience of assessing patients for arts psychotherapy and making recommendations to a MDT
Desirable criteria
* Being sole Arts Therapist in a MDT
* Negotiating space and therapeutic boundaries in difficult contexts
* Participation in research
* Experience supervising arts psychotherapists
* Trauma-informed practice experience
* Lived experience of mental health issues
* Experience in secure settings
* Experience in multicultural settings
Skills & Knowledge
Essential criteria
* High standard of art making and maintaining skills
* Planning, organizing, prioritising workload; ability to work with minimal supervision
* Evidence-based practice, clinical governance, and audit knowledge
* Knowledge of relevant legislation and its clinical management implications
* Understanding of current forensic arts psychotherapies research and theories
* CPD as required by HCPC
* Ability to apply art therapy theories to individuals, groups, and organisations
* Ability to work with clients with complex needs (e.g., aggression, risk, suicide risk, personality disorders)
* Ability to work with non-verbal clients or those with language barriers
* Strong verbal communication and concise reporting skills
* Computer literacy and clear written documentation
* Respectful, culturally sensitive practice
* Ability to build constructive, empathetic relationships
Desirable criteria
* Experience working with multidisciplinary teams
* Commitment to CPD
* Experience using SystmOne
* Experience with P-NOMIS
Attitudes, aptitudes and personal characteristics
Essential criteria
* Ability to assess risk and work with acutely unwell patients in person
* Self-awareness, supervision, and trauma containment capability
* Ability to work with trauma and manage emotional impact via supervision and team support
* Ability to work with victim/perpetrators without colluding or over-identifying
* Ability to manage organisational stress and support others
* Adaptability to variable therapy environments and setting up rooms as needed
Desirable criteria
* Fluency in another language
* Ability to learn from experience
* Willingness to provide services in varied environments
* Post-qualification personal psychotherapy
Other
Essential criteria
* Ability to work to professional guidelines
* Autonomy with traumatised and distressed individuals for prolonged periods
* Ability to travel between sites
* Understanding and implementing equal opportunities policy
* Promoting anti-discriminatory practices
* Willingness to support a 7-day service model
Desirable criteria
* Publications in peer-reviewed journals or books
* Involvement in professional bodies and activities
Seniority level
* Mid-Senior level
Employment type
* Full-time
Job function
* Health Care Provider
Industries
* Hospitals and Health Care
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