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Please note: we anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once a sufficient amount of applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.
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This post requires the post holder to have a PVG Scheme membership/record. If the post holder is not a current PVG member for the required regulatory group (i.e. child and/or adult) then an application will need to be made to Disclosure Scotland and deemed satisfactory before they can begin in post.
Due to legislative changes from 1 April 2025, this post may require a different level of criminal records check done than is currently the case. If the post is assessed as a "regulated role", your appointment will be subject to joining the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. If there is any change to what is currently required, this will be confirmed by either the Hiring Manager or the Recruitment Team. For more details on these changes please visit: Disclosure Scotland Changes.
As from 1/4/26, the Agenda for Change full-time working week will be reducing from 37 to 36 hours per week. Part time hours will be reduced pro-rata. Please note that the pay scale in this advert will not be changing as a result.
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Arts Psychotherapist - 0.3 WTE Band 6 | 1.5 days per week Fixed Term
Forensic Assessment, Support & Treatment (FAST) team, Royal Edinburgh Hospital
An exciting opportunity to join the NHS Lothian Arts Psychotherapies Service – a team comprising of nearly 40 Arts Psychotherapists working across all age groups and all localities served by NHS Lothian.
What staff say about our team:-
- ‘It’s been a wonderful rich experience I’ll always greatly value’
- ‘My time working within the NHS Lothian Arts Therapies team has been incredibly rich and I have learnt so much.’
- ‘I would like to thank you .. for the incredible opportunities you have provided me within the NHS, I have learnt so much during my time as a student and as an employee and feel very lucky to have worked alongside such an inspiring team.’
The Arts Psychotherapies Service provides Art, Music, Drama Psychotherapy services to children, young people, adults and older adults with complex needs across all of NHS Lothian and specific additional partners (i.e. local authority social care and third sector organisations).
For this role, Arts Psychotherapy is provided to the FAST team. The primary function of the FAST Team is the management of complex and/or high risk violent and sexual offenders with a learning/intellectual disability in the community, including case management, direct support and joint working, as required, with clinical colleagues and partner agencies. We will seek to reduce and manage risk of harm through defensible multi-disciplinary and multi-agency decision making and through the use of evidence-based and generally accepted best practice.
The successful applicant will be part of the Arts Psychotherapy Community team and responsible for delivering open group & I:I sessions. They will be expected to respond to the identified needs of patients and contribute to systemic care planning. The post-holder may also have opportunities to do other roles within the Arts Psychotherapy team as they arise.
This post may be of specific interest to clinicians with experience of working with adults with complex mental health and learning disabilities needs and who have had experience of working in forensic settings. Training and development opportunities and regular clinical supervision and line management will be provided by the Arts Psychotherapy Team. HCPC registration is essential. We are looking for someone who is highly motivated and creative in their approach and has had previous experience of working adults using a range of verbal and non-verbal communication and of managing risk. The post holder will be expected to work independently using own initiative and as a team member, linking closely with other health professionals, visiting specialists, and families as appropriate.
Please note: As this post is part-time, the salary will be pro-rata.
If you would like an informal discussion, please contact:
Emma MacLean – emma.maclean@nhs.scot (Mon, Wed & Fri) Arts Psychotherapies Community Lead
W: Arts Therapies – NHS Lothian | Our Services
Jamie Kirkland jamie.kirkland@nhs.scot – FAST manager
Please note we may cap application numbers so early submission is recommended
