Senior Art Therapist

Posted 2 hours 25 minutes ago by St. Patrick's Mental Health Services

Permanent

Part Time

University and College Jobs

Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

Job Description

Applications are now invited for the following positions:

Senior Art Therapist - 0.2 WTE Fixed Term Contract (7 hours per week on a Tuesday). Salary range: €65,200 - €76,770 pro rata.

About the Organisation St Patrick's Mental Health Services (SPMHS) is Ireland's largest independent, not for profit mental health service. We employ over 700 staff across our services and are committed to ensuring the ongoing development of our staff.

Core Values

Human Rights - supporting dignity, choice and voice
Quality Care - excellence in service delivery and collaboration

Benefits

25 days annual leave pro rata
Pension scheme
Ongoing training
Paid study leave and funding for further education
Support for career advancement and professional development
Subsidised canteen and onsite gym
Central locations
Bike to Work and TaxSaver Commuter Ticket schemes

Location St Patrick's Mental Health Services (SPMHS), incorporating St Patrick's University Hospital, James's Street, Dublin 8; St Patrick's Hospital, Lucan; Willow Grove Adolescent Unit, James's Street, Dublin 8; and the Dean Clinics.

Responsibilities

To assess service users referred to art therapy with respect to developing an appropriate treatment plan considering risk factors, complexity of presentation, service user needs, and service priorities.
To deliver art therapy (group and individual) interventions for service users using evidence based approaches both face to face and virtually.
To develop a high level of specialist clinical skill relevant to the range of diagnoses presenting to SPMHS.
To contribute specialist knowledge of Art Therapy to the overall treatment of service users through contribution at multidisciplinary team meetings when appropriate.
To contribute to the development of the arts therapies research by facilitating placements for arts therapy students.
To provide group and/or individual art therapy to service users, planning and reviewing treatment in conjunction with the service user and the multidisciplinary team in the context of their full treatment plan.
To offer specialist treatment for those who would benefit from psychological therapy but find primarily verbal psychotherapy difficult.
To work intensively and flexibly to sustain involvement with those who are at high risk of disengaging from treatment.
To assess each service user's suitability for individual or group art therapy and to ascertain from the ongoing review process a service user's emotional stability, use of the therapy and ability to work with others towards the agreed aims of treatment.
To refer on to other appropriate services after assessment or on discharge.
To assess risk and adopt appropriate measures to maintain a safe and therapeutically sensitive environment for all when faced with challenging behaviour.
To work with the service user to understand the content and context of their communication using the art making as a focus.
To use sound judgement and interpretative skills to respond to art making and service user interaction as a means of developing self awareness and greater understanding of self in relation to other.
To work and think responsibly and constructively with the relevant multidisciplinary teams and any carers/supporters involved.
To manage time limited therapy with due consideration to the ending in the context of the overall treatment programme.
To work constructively and flexibly with people from different cultural, social and religious backgrounds.
To integrate students into appropriate clinical situations whilst giving a level of support to ensure the safety of and benefit to both students and service users.
To write reports and contribute to the writing of reports as required.
To plan, develop and deliver art activities in conjunction with other activity department personnel when required.

Managerial and Administrative Responsibilities

To report any incidents, following correct procedure, having sought advice from the line manager.
To have a working knowledge of, and adhere to, current legislation including SPMHS clinical governance policies, Mental Health Act, Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act, Child and Vulnerable Adults, Data Protection etc.
To ensure own ethical practice by working within the Irish Association of Creative Arts Therapists of Ethics and Guidelines for Clinical Practice and abiding by SPMHS policies and procedures.
To be competent in the use of Microsoft office suite including Outlook, Word, MS Teams, and an electronic health record.
To maintain accurate service user records including clinical documentation, report writing, data collection and statistics in accordance with SPMHS policies.
To take an active part in own line management supervision including own appraisal.

Training and Development

To educate other professionals about art therapy (through workshops /presentations etc) and contribute to the training of students from other disciplines.
To provide student training and clinical supervision to students.
To make full and appropriate use of regular art therapy professional supervision.
To identify training and development needs through the professional and managerial supervision and performance development process and ensure they are linked to service objectives.
To undertake Continuous Professional Development as required.
To maintain skills and proficiencies as required to practise.
To undertake SPMHS mandatory training as required.

Policy

To understand and implement policies and procedures of SPMHS.
To maintain knowledge and awareness of operational issues relating to clinical practice.
To ensure the safekeeping and confidentiality of all records.
Avoid dual role in SPMHS i.e., Arts in Health vs Art Therapy.

Service Development

To attend creative arts therapies service meetings and actively contribute to the development of the department in SPMHS.
To review the art therapy provision in conjunction with the Line Manager and colleagues, proposing and making appropriate changes.
When making changes to consider the views and needs of service users as well as the organization strategic plan.
To ensure good lines of communication in adapting to organisational changes.

Management of Resources - Financial/Physical

To be responsible for the physical storage and setting out of art therapy equipment.
To be responsible for and check the stock of art materials on a regular basis, advising what needs replenishing and ordering new stock working within the department budget.

Research and Development

To be aware of developments in good practice and adopt new practices where appropriate.
To participate in evidence based practice initiatives and department, directorate, and clinical service audits.
To disseminate research information as appropriate with arts therapists and other clinicians so that clinical practice is appropriately informed by current developments in this field.

Person Specification Essential Requirements

Accredited master's degree (or equivalent) in Art Therapy.
ICAT Registration.
Minimum of three years' clinical experience.
Knowledge and experience of working with persons with complex mental health needs.
Proven ability to facilitate art psychotherapy groups in a mental health context both face to face and virtually.
Experience supporting service users with psychiatric illness across various ages and stages of recovery.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including MS Teams and Outlook.
Must be capable of working across both day patient and inpatient services within two designated approved centres.

Desirable Experience

Delivery of art therapy in an inpatient mental healthcare setting is highly desirable.
Experience delivering group and individual interventions virtually.

Competencies / Skills

Post qualification experience including experience of individual and group Art Therapy with individuals with complex mental health needs.
Experience of undertaking Art Therapy assessments and the formulation of treatment plans for people with complex mental health needs.
Experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Communication of complex written and verbal information to service users, multidisciplinary team members and outside organisations.
Awareness of budgetary issues.
Planning/delivering educational forums on Art Therapy.
Ability to design and deliver a variety of art psychotherapy interventions.
Strong planning and organisational skills.
Strong attention to detail.
Excellent communication skills.
Ability to be flexible.
Ability to work on own initiative.
Self motivated and accustomed to assuming responsibility.
Therapeutic Awareness - Empathy, Active Listening.
Ability to work as a member of the activity department team and multidisciplinary teams.
Ability to contribute to the development of the department budget.
Administrative skills to include record keeping, budget control, Excel and Microsoft competent.

Terms and Conditions of Employment

Tenure: 0.2 WTE Part time, Fixed Term Contract.
Working Week: 7 hours per week . click apply for full job details