Arts Therapist (Art,Music, Drama, Dance Movement)
Job summary
As an HCPC registered Allied Health professional, reporting to the Lead Arts therapist in your directorate, you will develop and provide specialist Arts Therapy to one patient/one ward using your own arts therapy modality (Art, Music, Drama or Dance Movement) within the Forensic Learning Disabilities and Autism (LDA) service.
As part of the ELFT Trust wide Arts Therapies you will work as an integrated and collaborative team member upholding the Trust values, 'We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive' and maintaining a holistic approach to promote effective functioning of the team and patient-centered care of service users.
As part of improving population health, improving access to therapies, preventative engagement and meeting service user needs, this post will be embedded on one of our Specialist Autism Medium Secure Service wards. You will not only deliver trauma informed specialist arts therapy but also support Psychology, OT and the wider MDT with co- produced and collaborative work. Experience of working with forensic and learning disabilities and autism is essential.
Main duties of the job
- To plan, provide and develop specialist patient-centered Arts Therapies including assessment, treatment and evaluation of individual and group work using own Arts Therapies modality.
- Evaluate work on an ongoing basis with an emphasis on using appropriate service user reported experience and outcome measures to measure and demonstrate effectiveness.
- Manage and supervise allocated staff, including trainees
- Regularly undertake Quality Improvement, Research and Audit
- Provide a range of teaching and training to multi-professional staff, service users and carers as required
- Take a designated role in local service leadership and development
- Maintain registration with HCPC and relevant professional bodies (eg BAAT,Badth)
- Maintain own self-care and ability to practice.
About us
East London Foundation Trust is one of the largest employers nationally of Art, Music Drama and Dance Movement Psychotherapists covering City and Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets , Bedford and Luton and Forensic Directorates both inpatient and wider community services. We are one of the largest providers of arts therapies placements with a commitment to provide bespoke CPD opportunities and training for our arts therapists, opportunities for research and development and partnerships with community arts, the voluntary sector and other NHS Trusts
Details
Date posted
19 December 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 7
Salary
£51,488 to £57,802 a year per annum pro rata Inc HCA
Contract
Fixed term
Duration
6 months
Working pattern
Part-time
Reference number
363-FOR7657093
Job locations
John Howard Centre
12 Kenworthy road
Homerton London
E9 5TD
Job description
Job responsibilities
For further information relating to this vacancy please see attached job description and person specification.
Job descriptionJob responsibilities
For further information relating to this vacancy please see attached job description and person specification.
Person Specification
Education/ Qualification/ Training
Essential
- Degree in relevant area
- MA ( or equivalent) in post title Arts Therapies modality
- For Art Therapist/Psychotherapist, Music Therapist and Dramatherapist : registration with HCPC
Desirable
- For Dance Movement Psychotherapists registration with UKCP
- Membership of Arts Therapies professional Body
- Clinical Supervision Training
- Further training in an area of psychological practice relevant to the post's clinical area
Experience
Essential
- Post qualification experience as an Arts Therapist working with this client group in both group and individual work.
- Working with service users with challenging and/or unpredictable behavior.
- Clinical supervision of a trainee Arts Therapist
- Assessing Service Users and making recommendations to a Multi-disciplinary team
Desirable
- Providing Arts Therapy teaching/training to a variety of audiences.
- Working as an Arts Therapist in a Multi-Disciplinary team
- Providing Arts therapies as part of research or clinical trial
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Developed interpersonal skills enabling therapeutic alliances to be developed and maintained.
- Ability to adapt and use a range of specialist skills in skills in individual and group based arts therapies assessments and interventions
Education/ Qualification/ Training
Essential
- Degree in relevant area
- MA ( or equivalent) in post title Arts Therapies modality
- For Art Therapist/Psychotherapist, Music Therapist and Dramatherapist : registration with HCPC
Desirable
- For Dance Movement Psychotherapists registration with UKCP
- Membership of Arts Therapies professional Body
- Clinical Supervision Training
- Further training in an area of psychological practice relevant to the post's clinical area
Experience
Essential
- Post qualification experience as an Arts Therapist working with this client group in both group and individual work.
- Working with service users with challenging and/or unpredictable behavior.
- Clinical supervision of a trainee Arts Therapist
- Assessing Service Users and making recommendations to a Multi-disciplinary team
Desirable
- Providing Arts Therapy teaching/training to a variety of audiences.
- Working as an Arts Therapist in a Multi-Disciplinary team
- Providing Arts therapies as part of research or clinical trial
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Developed interpersonal skills enabling therapeutic alliances to be developed and maintained.
- Ability to adapt and use a range of specialist skills in skills in individual and group based arts therapies assessments and interventions
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional informationDisclosure 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.
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
East London NHS Foundation Trust
Address
John Howard Centre
12 Kenworthy road
Homerton London
E9 5TD
Employer's website
https://www.elft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
Employer details
Employer name
East London NHS Foundation Trust
Address
John Howard Centre
12 Kenworthy road
Homerton London
E9 5TD
Employer's website
Salary range
- £51,488 - £57,802 per year