Dramatherapist | East London NHS Foundation Trust


Company:	East London NHS Foundation Trust
Salary:	£39,959 - £48,117 Pro Rata, Per Annum
Hours:	Part-time
Location:	BEDFORD, MK41 6AT
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	7 Aug 2026
Closing date:	6 Sept 2026

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Summary

At East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) we are committed to supporting the development of arts therapies to increase the choice and access service users have to evidence-based psychological therapies. Over 50 arts therapists work across the trust in a wide range of services and each year we provide 30 arts therapies trainees with clinical placements through a centralised programme.

ELFT provides mental health services across Bedfordshire and Luton (B&L). This post offers an excellent opportunity to join a skilled arts therapies team. The team is based in the community adult learning disability service, and we also branch out into inpatient, and recovery college settings in adult mental health with a variety of treatment interventions and co-produced courses. Due to our current team provision, we are recruiting for a Dramatherapist.

The team is based at Twinwoods Clinical Resource Centre, Bedford, MK41 6AT. The successful post holder will have excellent on-going support including regular managerial, clinical, and professional supervision along with CPD to support career development. Being a car driver is essential.

To provide a specialist Arts Therapies assessment and treatment service to service users within the communityAdult Learning Disabilities service in Bedford and Luton, and to work in conjunction with all members of the multi-disciplinary teams.

1. To develop and provide Arts Therapies assessment and treatment

2. To participate in and to represent arts therapies in MDT clinical and business meetings where appropriate

3. To upkeep data, reporting, outcome measures and feedback from service users

4. To maintain continuing professional development

5. To manage and prioritise a client caseload

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive – so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

The adult learning disabilities service is a fantastic team to work in. Staff support and motivate each other. It is a great place to work and there are many opportunities for MDT-working and collaboration cross-disciplines.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Patient Care

• To plan andprioritisea client caseload as defined by the service under supervision from a senior Arts Therapist.

• To develop skills to undertakespecialisedArts Therapy assessments referring on to where appropriate.

• To be responsible for maintaining, on service users’ behalf, an appropriate, contained, creative therapeutic environment

• To deal with conflict and resolve difficulties arising for service users in clinical interventions

• To plan and deliver recovery focused interventions in conjunction with the MDT ensuring regular evaluation of service user care plans

• To assess client’s mental state and identify any significant risk factors, and to collaboratively undertake risk assessments with other professionals

• To promote and apply equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory interventions that respect the service users’ customs, values and spiritual beliefs at all times

• To ensure that any service user complaints or incidents are reported accurately and investigated appropriately, making clinical team members aware.

• To take a lead on designated projects with senior support

Clinical

• To attend clinical meetings/ CPA meetings, contribute clinical information on clients’ progress andarrange clinical review meetings when necessary

• To develop skills in managing difficult and demanding clinical situations including exploring complex, sensitive and disturbing personal issues in both group and one to one contexts with service users with acute needs

• To apply clinical knowledge and skills in one to one and group interventions with clients with complex needs, including brief, medium and long-term work

• To ensure that all interventions are documented in the service user’s clinical record

• To attend clinical group supervision/consultation

• To produce clinical reports on a regular basis and disseminate to other involved professionals, agencies and the service user as appropriate

• To evaluate effectiveness of interventions, in conjunction with clients/carers, other professionals

• To apply evidence based practice

• To manage a client caseload in response to clients’needs and the remit of the service with senior support

• To exercise professional and clinical judgement in complex clinical cases and refer to senior staff when necessary

• To make decisions in terms of day-to-day management of own time, in collaboration withthe MDT and line manager support

Administration

• To collect statistics submitting them as per service requirements

• To carry out administrative tasks as required for the smooth running of the service

• To ensure that accurate and current service information is available to users and carers,and to provide as necessary to allocated caseload

• To ensure that client’s clinical material e.g. audio/video is securely stored and safely managed

• To use video and audio equipment

Human Resources

• To contribute to the training and development of Arts Therapists in own and other modalities and use expertise to provide advice and information to health professionals in other disciplines

• To ensure own continued personal and professional development is met through training and educational opportunities, with support from Head Arts Psychotherapist and Strategic Lead for Arts Therapies

• Participate in yearly appraisals

• To engage in management supervision

Performance and Quality

• Adhere to Trust procedures and policies

• To develop and maintain links with relevant statutory and non-statutory agencies throughout Bedford and Luton including Psychological Therapies services, day care services, user-led initiatives, voluntary bodies and work, training and education services

• To follow Trust and Arts Therapies Service policies and procedures and HCPC/UKCP professional standards

• To contribute to an area of service development in line with local service policy and in consultation with relevant managers

• To offer professional advice to other professionals and care groups within the Bedford and Luton service

• To ensure the service provided to clients is culturally sensitive and responsive to the ethnic diversity within the locality

• To actively encourage service user involvement in recovery focused service development

• To participate in and contribute to service level discussions/plans on maintaining the treatment environment and services for clients.

• To actively participate in audits and quality improvement in relation to service evaluation and review

• To attend relevant professional and service development meetings, e.g arts therapies meetings, clinical meetings, handovers, Trust-wide Arts Therapies meetings.

• To maintain registration with the HCPC and be aware of and comply with policy and requirements of registration and professional bodies

• To promote and apply evidence based practice to service delivery

• To keep abreast of new developments and research in Arts Therapy and mental health

• To participate in activities related to clinical effectiveness via audit, quality improvement research and evidence based practice

• To participate in regular Trust-wide Clinical Interest groups undertaking delegated tasks as appropriate

• To participate in planned Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and maintain a personal CPD portfolio

• To ensure own development through regular participation in supervision/consultation process and participation in other training opportunities within the Trust

Financial and Physical Resources

• To monitor the levels of stock and equipment for the delivery of arts therapies

• To implement policies and procedures for the safe use & secure storage of stock and equipment in line with health and safety requirements

• To be responsible for accurately completing petty cash vouchers related to purchases made for individual client service provision

• To exert physical effort in moving equipment and furniture, e.g. when setting up a room for group work

• To undertake intense concentration for clinical interventions on both a one-to-one and group basis.

This advert closes on Sunday 30 Aug 2026

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