Creative Arts Therapist (Art/ Drama/ Music)

Job overview

We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity for a Band 7 Creative Arts Therapist to join EMERGE Leeds: Complex Emotional Needs Service.

The post holder will contribute to a service that supports adults aged 18+ with complex emotional needs or difficulties consistent with a diagnosis of ‘personality disorder’. EMERGE Leeds has a particular emphasis on working with young adults, supporting transitions, and taking an early intervention approach. Our service works closely with community and third‑sector partners across Leeds to offer compassionate, trauma‑informed care to people who, often in the context of trauma, adversity, and the misuse of power, have developed ways of coping that lead to distress or harm. We offer an innovative, progressive service that emphasises the importance of understanding people in their social and cultural context.

We would particularly value a therapist who can draw from across the creative arts modalities in their approach.

We are looking for someone who is dynamic, resourceful and able to engage effectively with the challenging interpersonal nature of the work. The role will involve contributing to the creative therapy provision, as well as the wider psychologically focussed work of the EMERGE Leeds service.

EMERGE Leeds is part of the Leeds Personality Disorder Services, which actively maintains a reflective, supportive learning culture. You will be provided with training, supervision and development opportunities.

Main duties of the job

• To be responsible for providing and carrying out arts therapy assessments, drawing upon specialist knowledge of a range of therapeutic interventions in order to determine the appropriateness of therapeutic approaches, and to formulate ongoing intervention plans based upon an appropriate conceptual framework,
• To work with individuals with complex needs from across the service on an individual or group basis as determined by the clinical model and their individual formulation.  Further to refine and adapt the arts therapy approach in order to fit with the specific needs of the population.
• To contribute and make recommendations to the clinical team regarding suitability for arts therapy and/or other therapeutic approaches, on-going care planning, current and future risks posed by and towards the client, and discharge planning arrangements. To attend MDT clinical reviews and team meetings and ensure feedback is given in other areas of the service as appropriate.  Further to develop and participate in new MDT initiatives.

The office base is situated at Poplar House, St. Mary’s Hospital, and we currently operate a hybrid model, working both face‑to‑face and remotely. Regular travel across Leeds by car is required.

Applicants must be a registered Creative Arts Therapist (i.e. an art, drama or music therapist) with relevant therapeutic qualifications and experience (as per person specification).

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

We recruit people based on their values and qualifications (where required) and believe that their lived experience is an advantage, this means that together we are as diverse as the communities we care for. Simply put, when we employ caring people who act with integrity and have the right skills, we can give those with mental health challenges, learning disabilities and neurodiversity high-quality care and support to live fulfilling lives, and make our staff feel purposeful, happy and valued.

All our information is available in accessible formats. Please contact the Recruitment team [email protected]

Attached to this advert is our candidates guide to values-based recruitment and supporting guidance on how to make a successful application.

If you require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Recruitment Team or see the attached candidate guide to reasonable adjustments.

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need, look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading.

So that you’re even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, you’ll need to take time to read the Candidate Guide to Values Based Recruitment. This document provides you with information to help you apply.