Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Art Therapist
The closing date is 15 March 2026
We are looking for a Band 7 Senior Art Therapist to join our team at Forest House Adolescent Unit on a part time basis for 22.5 hours per week.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will provide specialist arts psychotherapy assessment and treatment to young people in Forest House Adolescent Unit and the wider Enhanced Specialist Pathway, who are presenting with complex psychological and psychiatric presentations.
The post holder will work as an autonomous practitioner and be responsible for their own specialist caseload, whilst being a member of the psychological therapies and wider multi-disciplinary team (MDT).
The post holder will work closely with the multi‑disciplinary inpatient unit team as well as a range of other arts therapy colleagues within the wider service setting.
The post holder will promote understanding and education of art therapy, through formal and informal training where required, and provide art therapy advice when needed.
The post holder will provide consultation to parents, carers and professionals from other agencies with regard to the provision and delivery of specialist arts psychotherapy provided in Forest House Adolescent Unit and within the wider Enhanced Specialist Pathway.
The post holder will support and engage in research and audits for service improvement.
About us
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission.
Our family of over 4,500 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:
Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.
Job responsibilities
Job Responsibilities:
1. To provide specialist arts therapy assessments, and where appropriate offered arts psychotherapy interventions, using advanced levels of skill, to young people at FHAU and the wider Enhanced Specialist Pathway, both individually and in an arts psychotherapy group setting.
2. To provide a generic initial assessment and formulation of young people in Forest House Adolescent Unit as required by members of the Forest House Therapy Team.
3. To negotiate and set up a suitable environment for specialised treatment sessions.
4. To hold a responsibility for a caseload of young people undergoing art therapy assessment and treatment, which includes individual and group work.
5. To adapt therapy according to any special needs (e.g. physical limitations). Also to utilise specialist approaches and level of art therapy intervention required (e.g. psychodynamic, analytic or supportive).
6. To creatively engage with adolescents with severe and complex mental health issues, presenting as high risk to themselves or others and who are difficult to engage in services.
7. To provide written and verbal reports of assessments and treatment.
8. To provide consultation to parents, carers and professionals from other agencies.
9. To maintain accurate and up to date records of clinical input within the multidisciplinary file.
10. To attend clinical meetings including Community meetings, Ward Rounds, CPA meetings, case conferences/professionals meetings and offer consultation to other agencies, both statutory and non‑statutory.
11. To assess levels of risk as part of initial assessment procedure and as part of the on‑going care process.
12. To participate (with MDT) in the evaluation of programmes of care and setting standards of care to meet individual client needs.
13. To support and contribute to the thinking / care planning and provision within the team.
14. To be fully conversant with the Children Act 1989 and Mental Health Act (1983), which applies to children and young people.
15. Apply lifting and handling techniques when handling equipment and materials required in preparation for therapy session.
16. To be responsible for the ordering and stocktaking of materials and equipment required for therapy sessions. To also maintain equipment and work areas used in therapy.
17. To promote understanding and education of art therapy, through formal and informal training where required, and provide art therapy advice when needed.
18. To be aware of issues and risk as a breakaway worker in the Enhanced Specialist Setting.
19. Plan specialised work‑load, including co‑ordination with other disciplines.
Management & Supervisory Responsibilities:
1. To take part in clinical and managerial supervision, managing own caseload, and case management, within agreed parameters and levels.
2. To ensure supervision of own casework by clinical supervisor.
3. To seek appropriate advice from professional lead / art therapy peers with regards to professional issues in CAMHS and also trust wide.
4. To act as a positive role model at work for colleagues in relation to personal and professional conduct and practice.
5. To attend and participate in all team meetings, including reflective practice, teaching, practice governance and business meetings.
6. To attend and participate in any staff support meeting.
7. To provide supervision and line management to Art Therapy Trainees on placement within the service.
8. To work in partnership with parents/carers.
9. To liaise with other professionals in the NHS and other agencies on matters of mutual concern regarding individual adolescents in outpatient specialist CAMHS and other agencies.
10. To liaise with other art therapists for peer support, and planning of referrals and hand‑over of care from one art therapy service to another, where required.
Practice Governance Responsibilities:
1. To maintain accurate and up‑to‑date case notes on clients and submit up‑to‑date reports and CPA reports of clients to multidisciplinary team.
2. To comply with professional Code of Conduct relevant legislation procedures and policies of own professional bodies i.e. BAAT and HCPC.
3. To be conversant with and adhere to Trust Policies and Procedures.
4. To keep abreast of current knowledge/legislation with regard to child, adolescent and family mental health and professional issues.
5. To contribute and participate in different activities within Forest House Adolescent Unit and the wider Enhanced Specialist Pathway, e.g. clinical meetings / audit and clinical governance / research projects, etc.
6. To contribute to reading and clinical seminars, support the training / education of both team members, Art Therapy trainees, and students from other disciplines.
7. To contribute to the planning and delivering of training programmes of other agencies / training establishments.
8. To be responsible for identifying ones own needs for professional development and discussing and planning this with the professional supervisor and Therapy Lead, in conjunction with developing Continued Professional Developmental file.
9. To take an active part in annual staff appraisal or individual performance reviews.
10. To consult and liaise with the Team Manager and Therapy Team Lead and Unit.
11. To participate in mandatory training as required by the Trust.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Good Honours Degree and, MA PGDip in Arts Therapy or equivalent.
* Evidence of further professional development.
* Registration with HCPC (where qualification included) and relevant professional body.
* Minimum of two years post qualification within a mental health setting.
* Continued personal studio practice in own arts based discipline.
Experience
* Experience of working within a multi‑disciplinary setting.
* Experience of providing clinical supervision.
* Experience of working within a CAMHS setting.
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.
Address
£50,008 to £56,908 a yearper annum pro rata (Inclusive of 5% HCAS)
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Reference number
367-CYP-10105
Job locations
#J-18808-Ljbffr