Art Psychotherapist- HMP High Down/HMP Coldingley

Job summary

The Health and Justice Services Directorate of Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust provide physical and mental healthcare to women and men resident in Surrey prisons. Our motto is "Caring NOT Judging" so we are passionate about working with committed staff to provide an excellent service to this vulnerable and often poorly served group of people to improve their health status and to encourage social inclusion.

In our quest to deliver patient-focused quality care, we are looking to recruit a highly motivated, innovative and enthusiastic Art Psychotherapist to work as part of the service across our cluster of Surrey prisons. We are keen to recruit an Art Psychotherapist with a passion for working with adults in custody who have experienced trauma, adversity and offending. By joining our team, you will not only look after the healthcare needs of the prisoners, but also have the opportunity to work collaboratively with other staff and contribute to the Health and Justice Arts Psychotherapies service.

Applications are welcomed from experienced Art Psychotherapists who have an interest in working with adults in the Criminal Justice System.

PLEASE NOTE ANY CANDIDATE WISHING TO APPLY FOR THESE ROLES WILL BE SUBJECT TO VETTING CLEARANCE. THIS REQUIRES YOU TO HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT IN THE UK FOR A MINIMUM OF 3 YEARS.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will offer specialist Art Psychotherapy provision for prisons in Surrey and may be required to travel across the services.

As well as being part of an innovative prisons Arts Psychotherapies team, we are also keen to ensure this post will be integrated fully within our wider healthcare services, bringing a diversity of thinking into the wider multi-disciplinary team and prison staff, and respecting and integrating a range of opinions and approaches to provide the best outcomes.

The post holder will receive support and art psychotherapy supervision from the Lead Art Psychotherapist to support the development and delivery of this specialist integrated service.

We are keen to offer this opportunity to a confident and compassionate Art Psychotherapist with expertise in delivering individual and group Art Psychotherapy interventions and who has an interest in working with forensic populations using trauma informed approaches.

The post holder will be working into a seven day a week trauma informed service and there may be potential for work into evening and weekends.

About us

CNWL's Health & Justice Services are led by a highly motivated team with vast experience in healthcare within secure environments.

The Arts Psychotherapies team comes together regularly with psychologists for professional & clinical development.High quality supervision and continuing professional development are integral to our approach and to our intent to support and retain an excellent team. Focused training which contributes to your own development and to our service development will be supported.

CNWL has a large and vibrant Arts Psychotherapies network, offering excellent training, CPD, research and skill-sharing opportunities.

As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.

All of our sites in Surrey offer free use of the onsite leisure facilities and free parking for staff.

Details

Date posted

30 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£53,751 to £60,651 a year pa inc. HCAS pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Job share, Compressed hours

Reference number

333-D-HJ-1872

Job locations

HMP High Down/Coldingley

Highdown Lane

Sutton, Surrey

SM2 5PJ

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see job description and personal specification for full list of responsibilities:

The Art Psychotherapy post will provide a comprehensive, highly specialist therapeutic service to people detained in prison including psychological assessment and therapy as well as advice and consultation on patients psychological care to other members of the core healthcare team and the wider establishment (prison) staff and other partner agencies.

The post holder will be expected to work flexibly and autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of Art Psychotherapy practice within the service/team.

The post holder will contribute specialist knowledge from Art Psychotherapy assessment and treatment to the overall care plan for each service user through contribution to clinical meetings and documented summaries, considering complexity of presentation, client need, risk factors and service priorities and in liaison with prison- based services and community services.

The post holder will contribute to developing the service provided by the Arts Psychotherapists team within Health and Justice.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see job description and personal specification for full list of responsibilities:

The Art Psychotherapy post will provide a comprehensive, highly specialist therapeutic service to people detained in prison including psychological assessment and therapy as well as advice and consultation on patients psychological care to other members of the core healthcare team and the wider establishment (prison) staff and other partner agencies.

The post holder will be expected to work flexibly and autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of Art Psychotherapy practice within the service/team.

The post holder will contribute specialist knowledge from Art Psychotherapy assessment and treatment to the overall care plan for each service user through contribution to clinical meetings and documented summaries, considering complexity of presentation, client need, risk factors and service priorities and in liaison with prison- based services and community services.

The post holder will contribute to developing the service provided by the Arts Psychotherapists team within Health and Justice.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• ooGood honours degree in art or relevant subject, equivalent performing/work experience
• oMA/MSc or equivalent in art psychotherapy
• oRegistered with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) as an art psychotherapist

Desirable

• oOther related academic qualifications
• oClinical supervision training
• oAdvanced keyboard skills
• oTraining in breakaway/de-escalation techniques
• oCulture awareness training

Previous Experience

Essential

• oPost-qualification experience of autonomous working with a relevant client group both in groups and individually
• oExperience of working with people with disturbed and challenging behaviour.
• oSubstantial experience of personal psychotherapy.
• oExperience of assessing patients for an arts psychotherapy and making recommendations to a MDT.

Desirable

• oBeing Sole Arts Therapist in a MDT
• oExperience of negotiating space/therapeutic boundaries in a difficult context
• oEvidence of participation in research
• oExperience of supervising arts psychotherapists (trainee or qualified).
• oExperience of using a trauma informed approach.
• oLived experience of mental health Issues.
• oExperience of working in secure settings, either prison or secure hospitals.
• oExperience of working within a multicultural framework.

Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• oHigh standard of art making and commitment to maintaining skills.
• oSkills in planning, organising and prioritising own workload and in working without the involvement of the team in a particular case Knowledge of and skills in assessing patients for arts psychotherapy balancing risk with client needs and service priorities.
• oKnowledge of evidence based practice, clinical governance and related knowledge for research and audit.
• oKnowledge of legislation and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to relevant field/s and the full range of client groups
• oKnowledge of current forensic arts psychotherapies research and theories and skills in applying arts psychotherapy theories to work with individuals, groups and organisation
• oEvidence of continuing professional development as required by HCPC.
• oSkills in applying art therapy theories to work with individuals, groups and organisation
• oAbility to work with people with complex needs e.g. aggressive / unstable / suicidal patients, including those with personality disorder or a mixed diagnosis.
• oAbility to work with non-verbal patients or patients for whom using English is a major difficulty which could be for cultural reasons, or due to their mental state.
• oHigh standard of verbal communication skills including the ability to provide concise, clear and relevant feedback to a ward round/team meeting
• oComputer literacy and high standard of documented communication skills including the ability to produce clear typed reports detailing progress of therapy, selecting relevant information from sessions and expressing analytical detail without bias.
• oAbility to treat service users with respect and dignity at all times, adopting a culturally sensitive approach, which considers the needs of the whole person.
• oAbility to build constructive relationships with warmth and empathy, using good communication skills

Desirable

• oExperience of working with multi-disciplinary teams
• oCommitment to and enthusiasm for further training opportunities and CPD
• oTrained to use SystmOne
• oExperienced user of P-NOMIS

Attitudes, aptitudes personal characteristics

Essential

• oAbility to assess risk and be able to work face to face with acutely unwell patients without other staff nearby.
• oHigh degree of self awareness, Arts Therapy training and post-qualifying supervision
• oAbility to work with trauma and contain emotional impact through clinical supervision and team support systems.
• oAbility to work with victim/perpetrators who may have distressing personal histories without colluding or over-identifying.
• oAbility to contain and work with organisational stress and ability to 'hold' the stress of others
• oAbility to adapt to physical environment when dedicated therapy rooms are not available e.g. transporting art materials / equipment / art instruments etc and willingness to manipulate furniture to set up room (within Health and Safety parameters)

Desirable

• oFluent in an additional language
• oAbility to learn from experience
• oAble to provide services in a variety of environments as meets the needs of clients
• oPost qualification personal psychotherapy

Other

Essential

• oAbility to work to professional guidelines.
• oMust be capable of working autonomously with traumatised, severely disturbed, aggressive and/or distressed people for prolonged periods individually and in groups.
• oAbility to travel between sites
• oThe post holder must have the ability to understand and implement the equal opportunities policy at a level appropriate to the job.
• oAbility to promote anti-discriminatory and anti-racist practices.
• oAbility to promote and work in line with the working model of a 7 day a week service

Desirable

• Record of having published in either peer reviewed or academic professional journals and/or books.
• Must demonstrate ability to support the development of the profession through participation in professional bodies and activities.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• ooGood honours degree in art or relevant subject, equivalent performing/work experience
• oMA/MSc or equivalent in art psychotherapy
• oRegistered with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) as an art psychotherapist

Desirable

• oOther related academic qualifications
• oClinical supervision training
• oAdvanced keyboard skills
• oTraining in breakaway/de-escalation techniques
• oCulture awareness training

Previous Experience

Essential

• oPost-qualification experience of autonomous working with a relevant client group both in groups and individually
• oExperience of working with people with disturbed and challenging behaviour.
• oSubstantial experience of personal psychotherapy.
• oExperience of assessing patients for an arts psychotherapy and making recommendations to a MDT.

Desirable

• oBeing Sole Arts Therapist in a MDT
• oExperience of negotiating space/therapeutic boundaries in a difficult context
• oEvidence of participation in research
• oExperience of supervising arts psychotherapists (trainee or qualified).
• oExperience of using a trauma informed approach.
• oLived experience of mental health Issues.
• oExperience of working in secure settings, either prison or secure hospitals.
• oExperience of working within a multicultural framework.

Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• oHigh standard of art making and commitment to maintaining skills.
• oSkills in planning, organising and prioritising own workload and in working without the involvement of the team in a particular case Knowledge of and skills in assessing patients for arts psychotherapy balancing risk with client needs and service priorities.
• oKnowledge of evidence based practice, clinical governance and related knowledge for research and audit.
• oKnowledge of legislation and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to relevant field/s and the full range of client groups
• oKnowledge of current forensic arts psychotherapies research and theories and skills in applying arts psychotherapy theories to work with individuals, groups and organisation
• oEvidence of continuing professional development as required by HCPC.
• oSkills in applying art therapy theories to work with individuals, groups and organisation
• oAbility to work with people with complex needs e.g. aggressive / unstable / suicidal patients, including those with personality disorder or a mixed diagnosis.
• oAbility to work with non-verbal patients or patients for whom using English is a major difficulty which could be for cultural reasons, or due to their mental state.
• oHigh standard of verbal communication skills including the ability to provide concise, clear and relevant feedback to a ward round/team meeting
• oComputer literacy and high standard of documented communication skills including the ability to produce clear typed reports detailing progress of therapy, selecting relevant information from sessions and expressing analytical detail without bias.
• oAbility to treat service users with respect and dignity at all times, adopting a culturally sensitive approach, which considers the needs of the whole person.
• oAbility to build constructive relationships with warmth and empathy, using good communication skills

Desirable

• oExperience of working with multi-disciplinary teams
• oCommitment to and enthusiasm for further training opportunities and CPD
• oTrained to use SystmOne
• oExperienced user of P-NOMIS

Attitudes, aptitudes personal characteristics

Essential

• oAbility to assess risk and be able to work face to face with acutely unwell patients without other staff nearby.
• oHigh degree of self awareness, Arts Therapy training and post-qualifying supervision
• oAbility to work with trauma and contain emotional impact through clinical supervision and team support systems.
• oAbility to work with victim/perpetrators who may have distressing personal histories without colluding or over-identifying.
• oAbility to contain and work with organisational stress and ability to 'hold' the stress of others
• oAbility to adapt to physical environment when dedicated therapy rooms are not available e.g. transporting art materials / equipment / art instruments etc and willingness to manipulate furniture to set up room (within Health and Safety parameters)

Desirable

• oFluent in an additional language
• oAbility to learn from experience
• oAble to provide services in a variety of environments as meets the needs of clients
• oPost qualification personal psychotherapy

Other

Essential

• oAbility to work to professional guidelines.
• oMust be capable of working autonomously with traumatised, severely disturbed, aggressive and/or distressed people for prolonged periods individually and in groups.
• oAbility to travel between sites
• oThe post holder must have the ability to understand and implement the equal opportunities policy at a level appropriate to the job.
• oAbility to promote anti-discriminatory and anti-racist practices.
• oAbility to promote and work in line with the working model of a 7 day a week service

Desirable

• Record of having published in either peer reviewed or academic professional journals and/or books.
• Must demonstrate ability to support the development of the profession through participation in professional bodies and activities.

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 (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 Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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 (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 Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

HMP High Down/Coldingley

Highdown Lane

Sutton, Surrey

SM2 5PJ

Employer's website

https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/work (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

HMP High Down/Coldingley

Highdown Lane

Sutton, Surrey

SM2 5PJ

Employer's website

https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/work (Opens in a new tab)