Senior Drama Therapist

Job overview

To provide specialist drama therapy interventions to service users, using creative and evidence-based approaches to support recovery, emotional wellbeing, and engagement in meaningful therapeutic activity. To assess, plan, facilitate, and evaluate individual and group drama therapy programmes as part of the multidisciplinary team

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide evidence-based, client-centred Dramatherapy interventions for clients with complex needs, including assessment, treatment planning, implementation and evaluation of therapeutic interventions. They will contribute to the development and evaluation of Creative Arts services through involvement in projects, regularly supervise Dramatherapy students on placement, and participate in multidisciplinary team (MDT) activities. The role also includes providing administrative and clinical support within the Occupational Therapy Department as required.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

• Clinical

To provide a specialist Dramatherapy service and additional creative groups to clients in the OT Department.

To work as part of the MDT within CPA and mental health Act frameworks

To plan and implement individual and/or group interventions, in collaboration with the client to achieve therapeutic goals.

To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment for clients with multiple needs in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention.

To undertake risk assessments and risk management plans as appropriate.

• Communication

To apply a comprehensive range of communication skills with clients, carers, team members, OT colleagues and external agencies.

To effectively work as a member of the multi-disciplinary team and implement core decisions with regard to clients care programmes.

To actively support and educate clients and teams regarding aspects of Dramatherapy provision.

• Documentation

Maintain appropriate, up-to-date, written and electronic records and activity data in accordance with Professional and Trust standards.

Participate in departmental and corporate administration through collection and completion of statistics.

Provide specialist Dramatherapy and other reports as required.

• Leadership, Supervision and Appraisal

To take a leadership role in influencing any proposed changes or developments in Dramatherapy provision.

To review, reflect and change own practice through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal.

To provide qualified and effective supervision and appraisal of junior staff as delegated by a senior member of staff.

To apply clinical leadership skills through the management of dedicated projects.

• Training Staff and Students

To undertake the planning and implementation of the induction, training and education of students.

To be responsible for the supervision and written assessment of Dramatherapy students on practice placement within the Trust.

To participate in inter-professional training within the Trust.

To offer explanation and experience of Dramatherapy on external courses as required.

• Professional Ethics and Development

To comply with the HPC code of ethics and Professional Conduct and national and local procedures and guidelines.

To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of clients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to those needs.

To demonstrate the ability to reflect on complex ethical issues and to provide guidance to junior staff as necessary.

Demonstrate an ability to apply increasingly complex skills and knowledge commensurate with maintaining an advanced level of professional practice.

Demonstrate ongoing personal development through participation in internal and external development opportunities, recording learning outcomes through maintaining and developing a professional portfolio for CPD.

• Service Development and Delivery

To actively participate in and be responsible for relevant planning, evaluation and audit of practice, clinical pathways and protocols within service area as required.

To actively participate in the delivery and review processes of local service delivery.

To develop and review local Creative Arts Therapy service provision in conjunction with senior staff.

To participate in the operational planning and implementation of policy and service development.

• Clinical Governance and Quality Standards

Participate in Clinical Governance and quality improvement projects within service area as appropriate.

To apply an understanding and application of national guidance and legislation relating to health and social care in Mental Health service provision.

• Line Management, Staff and Budgets

To exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance.

Be responsible for maintaining stock and advising on resource allocation.

Co-ordinate day-to-day activities of students and volunteer staff where applicable.

• Research and Evidence Based Practice

Demonstrate the ability to evaluate current research, apply it to practise and disseminate findings at a local level.

To broaden research and development skills through participation in local audit and research projects.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.