Music Therapist job description

Providing clinical supervision to Arts Psychotherapies Trainees and other team members as delegated by Head of Arts Psychotherapies.

The post holder will be involved in the development of research and audit to
increase the evidence base for the Arts Psychotherapies and to contribute to
maintaining Best Practice in the specialist clinical area.

7. The post holder will take a leadership role regarding special projects to further the
development of the Arts Psychotherapies service as discussed with the Head of
Arts Psychotherapies.

Music Therapist job description

He/she will take a delegated leadership role to represent the Arts Psychotherapies Service at meetings within the wider service when delegated by Head.

Clinical Responsibilities:-Music Therapist job description
1. To work autonomously in assessing and treating an agreed caseload of highly complex service users with severe to mild Learning disabilities and /or Mental health problems and /or challenging behaviours. To bring highly specialist knowledge in their modality to the assessment and treatment of service users attending the Learning Disability Service; to identify the optimum form of treatment for an individual with reference to a range of treatment options within their modality.

2. Responsible for the effective planning and delivery of their modality within the Arts Psychotherapies Service, in consultation with the Head of Arts Psychotherapies (i) with reference to the philosophy and aims of the team, (ii) in relation to the outcome of assessment, (iii) in line with the service user’s CPA needs and (iv) with attention to ongoing risk assessment.

3. Plans and organises a caseload of service users with very complex needs; clients will have will have high levels of emotional and psychological disturbance and will present with serious difficulties including autism/aspergers syndrome, or symptoms of psychotic, anxiety and depressive illnesses, personality or mood disorders suicidal and/or self-harming behaviour. They are highly likely to have experienced a history of sexual abuse or trauma through profound loss and may also present with a history of aggression or violence towards others alongside their learning and physical/sensory disabilities.

4. Able to analyse and consider a variety of complex risk issues and to adapt the treatment to service user’s level of functioning and needs, considering the individuals overall care-plan, and service aims.

5. Manages agreed caseload and timetable in response to the changing needs of service users in consultation with the head and team to balance priorities within the team, and within the constraints of their role boundaries assessing issues of risk.

6. Able to consider and provide a variety of types of work appropriate to service users who may have experiences of trauma and abuse and are at risk to themselves and others. This includes exploratory, reflective, supportive or developmental approaches, individual and group and to modify the work in relation to the service user’s capacities and functioning.

7. Uses specialist therapy techniques and advanced knowledge of and skills in own modality within restricted physical environments to work with service users who can be poorly motivated and difficult to engage.
Music Therapist job description

8. Maintains intense concentration in assessment and therapy sessions, whilst receiving and understanding service user’s direct and indirect, chaotic, unconscious and sometimes aggressive, forms of communication.

9. Responsible for maintaining awareness of ongoing risk when communicating highly sensitive information in the face of acute disturbance, emotional situations and possible hostility.
10. Completes training in breakaway techniques and techniques for managing anger and aggression and updates regularly.

11. Able to respond appropriately when the environment becomes noisy and hostile and when aggression and disinhibition, including physical and verbal aggression, may be unavoidable.

12. Monitors and evaluates ongoing clinical work in own modality feeding back to the team progress and is able to adapt and discharge in consultation as appropriate to individual service user’s needs and risk assessment.

13. Attends case conferences, handovers and other clinical meetings, when possible, taking responsibility for communicating with professionals within Arts Psychotherapies team and the wider ACS/ MDT and service users’ families and carers, within the boundaries of confidentiality. This communication includes specialist advice regarding highly sensitive and extremely complicated clinical issues relating to current modality within the Arts Psychotherapy treatment, future treatment, mental state and other aspects of service user care.

14. Communicates verbally and in writing to other professionals at point of referral and discharge detailing care plan and future planning.
15. Ensures that service users are consulted and involved in informed decisionmaking about their care.
16. Respects the individuality and values and the cultural and religious diversity of service users. To provide a service that is sensitive to these needs and maintains awareness of own anti-discriminatory practice.

17. Maintains confidentiality in dealing with service users, their therapy and care, analysing and making decisions about when, within the framework of the unit, that confidentiality needs to be breached.

18. Responsible for assessing the suitability of all referrals for own modality within Arts Psychotherapy, considering all aspects of care and treatment in addition to own specialism and discussing findings with the Arts Psychotherapies team/multidisciplinary team.

19. To work autonomously in isolated settings and contexts often as sole practitioner with local responsibility for planning and delivery of own caseload.
Music Therapist job description

20. Meets with the managers and staff of acute in-patient unit to discuss service user based clinical issues and participates appropriately in their administrative systems.

21. Interprets and complies with the Code of Practice and Ethics of BAAT or BADth or APMT and The Health Professions Council (HPC) and reflects on ethical issues.
22. Keeps up-to-date clinical records of work carried out and writes reports on assessment and treatment progress regularly and as required for CPA. Reports will be both verbal and written and will be accessible to therapists, professionals of other backgrounds and non-professionals as appropriate.

23. Provides written information on aims and objectives of the work, contributing to designs and produces information leaflets in consultation with Head/professional Lead for service users and carers.
24. Moves heavy and awkward furniture and materials safely. This could include clay and art materials or large musical instruments or tables and chairs or other large furniture requiring moderate physical effort, to ensure that the multi-use room is suitably prepared for group or individual Arts Psychotherapy sessions.

25. Is responsible for the maintenance of the Art Therapy room as a safe and secure therapeutic environment within clinical sessions. Complies with Infection Control policies and is responsible for ensuring that the venue meets Health and Safety standards and reports to appropriate authority any problems.

26. Practices good personal time-management, consistency and reliability.
27. Is familiar with the security systems and procedures in relation to the service user group and the unit and supports these at all times

TRAINING & QUALIFICATIONS

Good Honours Degree in Art/Music/Drama/Theatre, or
equivalent Art/Music/Drama Practice or work experience.

Masters level, or equivalent, in art/music/drama therapy.

Current State Registration with HPC

Current registration with the relevant professional body

Evidence of continuing professional development as required
by professional body and HPC.

EXPERIENCE
At least 2/3 years post qualifying experience as an Arts
Psychotherapist working within Specialist Learning Disability, with at least 1 of these years in an NHS out-patient /Community setting.

Experience of working as a therapist with services users experiencing psychotic symptoms.

Experience of working with service users with a learning disability.

Experience of working with services users with challenging behaviour, who may present physical risks.

Experience of working with various multi-disciplinary teams especially in community settings.

Experience of working extensively with carers and families

Substantial experience of own personal therapy.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Good communication skills, capable of conveying and receiving very complex and sensitive information within stressful and sometimes hostile situations.

Ability to liaise with other professionals and carers regarding highly sensitive and complex issues relating to Mental Health,
dual diagnosis and therapeutic work.

A sound understanding of the theoretical issues connected to adults with mild to severe LD and mental health problems, and Arts Psychotherapies.

Knowledge and skills in assessing service users for own modality within arts psychotherapy and alongside other treatment interventions

Knowledge of and skills in risk assessment and contributing to diagnosis.

Ability to offer a range of art/drama/music therapy based interventions to meet the individual needs of acutely disturbed service users with very complex problems.

Ability to analyse and understand complex non-verbal communication and acting out behaviours.

Ability to give consideration to very complex issues regarding service user care/treatment and to weigh up treatment options with reference to these.

Ability to plan, organise and prioritise own workload autonomously.

Ability to write clinical reports maintain care records regularly

Knowledge of the importance of clinical data for statutory