We are looking for an enthusiastic and energetic Art Psychotherapist to work in our acute mental health wards. You will be working in a dynamic environment delivering assessments and case formulations for complex clients. You will have an interest in providing brief, focused individual and group therapy interventions and supporting ward teams with psychologically informed practice ranging from positive behaviour support plans to reflective practice groups. The ward teams value the therapy work, case consultation and staff support role provided by ward therapists.

We will support you though regular clinical and managerial supervision as well as training to develop both professionally and personally within the role.

Masters in Art Psychotherapy. You must have current registration with the HCPC. We are ideally looking for a full time candidate but candidates wishing to work part time (minimum of 3 days per week, 0.6 wte) will also be considered.

Main duties of the job

To be responsible for the systematic provision of specialist psychotherapy services, including psychodynamically oriented art psychotherapy, to adults with complex and longstanding mental health difficulties on the acute inpatient wards.

To undertake high quality direct (assessment and therapeutic) and indirect (consultative, advisory and evaluative) specialist psychotherapy interventions in these services making autonomous clinical decisions about own professional practice. To facilitate art therapy groups and psychodynamic therapy groups as part of a treatment program which is flexible and sensitive to the needs of the clients group, using a variety of art materials in a therapeutic and creative way.

To ensure the clinical effectiveness of own practice and of service functioning by participating in audit, research and development activities relevant to the service area.

About us

Working for your organisation

Come and work with us in the Garden of England where we combine exceptional professional development opportunities with a tremendous quality of life.

We are Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT), providing mental health, learning disability and specialist services, serving 1.8 million people across the county.

The Trust (rated Good overall by the CQC and Outstanding for care) has 3,283 staff working in 66 buildings across 33 locations, covering an area of 1,450 square miles.

You will be joining friendly, passionate colleagues, rich in their diversity, who are committed to providing excellent care to our service users and their loved ones.

The nature of our work attracts kindness and compassion as standard and everyone from our cleaners and porters to the chief executive and chairman are recognised as playing a vital role in providing an exemplary service.

Job description Job responsibilities

To provide specialist psychotherapy assessment of adults with complex personality disorder, psychosis, Bipolar, depression, anxiety as well as other mental health presentations utilising information from a broad range of structured psychometric and semi-structured clinical methodologies and integrating it into a psychological formulation of the client and the psycho-social environment, drawing on a range of psychological/psychotherapeutic theoretical perspectives.

To formulate and implement plans of specialist art psychotherapy treatment and management of clients mental health problems based on a multi-factorial psychological understanding and current evidence based practice.

To work within the Acute Care Group our acute inpatient wards providing effective group therapy interventions on the personality disorder pathway. These include art therapy groups and psychodynamic therapy groups.

To undertake psychologically based clinical risk assessment and risk management.

To liaise with other members of the multidisciplinary team around treatment outcomes, referrals and formulation to ensure the service meets client needs.

To understand and work with complex psychodynamic processes which occur in sessions and to be aware of verbal and non-verbal communication and symbolic meaning in client artwork.

To be highly empathic and containing while working with clients in states of extreme emotional disturbance with complex histories and provide effective, flexible treatment plans and interventions.

To maintain effective communication with key professionals and others involved in service users care, including CPA care coordinators and GPs.

To maintain clinical records, write reports and make recommendations.

To have excellent written and oral communication skills, maintain electronic records, support data collection and be computer literate in line with Trust and Service Line standards.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• HCPC registered

Desirable

• working with complex cases

skills and experience Essential

• experience running groups

Desirable

• working in acute

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

380-AC0293