Art therapist jobs

The Resident Engagement Manager will be the organisational lead in a new and exciting lottery funded project leading a small team and overseeing the design and delivery of the LEAP service at Homeless Oxfordshire and with wider partners.

Some of your responsibilities will include:

• Provide leadership across the organisation on resident engagement, learning and skills, co-production and activities.
• To promote the active involvement of the resident’s experience and voice in the delivery, development and monitoring of LEAP service.
• To provide support and line management supervision to the engagement team, ensuring they meet all aims, objectives and outcomes, according to the lottery bid.
• Lead on monitoring, data collection and impact measures for all resident engagement work.
• Lead on the design of the peer mentoring training and traineeship programmes.
• Develop and maintain key relationships with key stakeholders including education, employment and third sector partners.
• Develop and maintain strong internal working relationships to ensure managers and teams deliver high quality services that are reflective of Homeless Oxfordshire’s values and address local needs.
• Lead on the development of a mutual support network for staff with lived experience
• Comply with Homeless Oxfordshire’s policies and procedures
• Contribute to a positive working environment in which equality and diversity are valued and staff are enabled to do their best.
• Contribute to the work of the broader team.

About LEAP

LEAP is built on the foundation of strong, supportive relationships that empower residents to move towards stable, independent living. Through one-to-one key worker support, trauma-informed care, and community engagement, residents rebuild trust, form friendships, and gain confidence. Activities like gardening, arts and crafts, and creative writing foster connection and personal growth, while group involvement helps residents feel part of a wider community. LEAP also supports residents to take steps into peer mentoring, volunteering, and training, helping them build positive networks beyond their immediate circle and develop the skills and confidence to thrive independently.

At LEAP, community involvement is at the heart of their work. Empowering residents through co-production is a key organisational goal. LEAP offer a range of inclusive engagement methods—from informal gatherings like group breakfasts and creative activities, to structured sessions such as support needs mapping and Residents’ Forums. These forums provide regular opportunities for feedback and co-design, with input reaching senior management and trustees. They are enhancing resident engagement by developing a mutual support network for staff with lived experience of homelessness and/or addiction. This group will shape services and policies, and guide resident outreach. LEAP also collaborates with local partners like RAW, a social enterprise offering training and employment to those with lived experience, and strengthens ties with adult education providers such as Abingdon and Witney College. We also create pathways to volunteer with cultural institutions like the University of Oxford Museums.

LEAP empowers people with lived experience of homelessness and/or addiction, helping them build the confidence and skills needed to move towards independent living and employment. Over three years, the project aims to support 750 individuals. Through a wide range of engaging and meaningful activities, residents will experience positive outcomes such as increased confidence, self-esteem, and a sense of inclusion. They will build supportive networks, learn key life skills and access training, volunteering, and employment opportunities. Many will gain qualifications and secure long-term accommodation. The project strengthens peer support and enables residents to shape services through formalised Residents’ Forums, ensuring their voices influence senior decision-making. For Homeless Oxfordshire, LEAP enhances our capacity to deliver peer-led support, builds staff knowledge, and informs service improvement. Wider community benefits include reduced stigma around homelessness, stronger partnerships with employers and organisations, and improved understanding of the issues faced by our residents—ultimately contributing to a more inclusive and compassionate society.

We are recruiting a Chief Executive Officer!

If you are interested in learning more about the job and on how to apply, please join us for an online information session on Monday 16th June 12:00 – 1:00pm. Please visit our website for more information on how to join.
 

Hours of work: Full-time - 35 hours per week (part time may be negotiable). 

Type of contract: Permanent

Location: Predominantly working at the Borderlands office at The Assisi Centre, Lawfords Gate, Bristol – hybrid and flexible working considered

Salary: £40,000 - £50,000 per annum plus contributory pension scheme 

Annual leave: 33 holiday per annum (25+ 8 bank holidays)

Pension contribution: 5% employer’s contribution and 3% employee’s minimum contribution

Reporting to: Chair of Trustees 

Purpose of role: As Chief Executive Officer, you will provide clear leadership and strategic direction, ensuring the continued development and delivery of Borderlands' vision, mission and values. You will be confident in overseeing the finance and fundraising work of the charity. You will be an inspiring leader, able to work collaboratively within a small but growing team and across a diverse community. We are looking for someone who is confident working with people from a range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds and who brings a values-led, inclusive and reflective approach to leadership.

For more information about how to apply please view the attached supporting documents or visit our website.

​Closing date: Friday 27th June at 3:00pm

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Job Title: Arts and Learning Strategic Lead

Location: Based at our head office in Islington, London (10 minute walk from Highbury and Islington station) with cross working in various prisons across England, Community sites, and home working

Salary: £47,000 (Full time equivalent)

Shift Pattern: 22.5 hours per week Monday to Friday between 09:00 - 17:00 with some flexibility. You may be required to work outside these hours as per service requirements.

About the role

This is a brand new role, supporting the Head of Safe Ground with the strategic oversight and delivery of our programmes. Safe Ground has been at the forefront of designing and delivering innovative arts-based, therapeutically informed interventions within the criminal justice system and in communities across the UK. As we approach our 30th anniversary this year, we remain dedicated to challenging systematic injustice through the programmes we run and the partnerships we build. This role is a great opportunity to be part of our transformative goals, in being part of creating systematic change.

Using theatre arts, and culture, we design initiatives to support those impacted by the criminal justice system in gaining deeper insights into themselves, their relationships and their behaviours. We do this by equipping our participants with practical tools and building a community who are open to doing things differently. In this role, you will develop best practice around creative interventions, building powerful partnerships with commissioners, partners, and other key stakeholders, ensuring our programmes are being delivered to the highest standards. You will lead on the development of new and existing arts-based work, identifying gaps and opportunities for growth within the sector.

• Oversee the development of new creative ideas and programmes as well as programme adaptations and redesigns. Ideas could be linked to theatre productions in and out of custodial settings, short films, live events, symposiums, but may also include new art forms and working with new artists
• Development of a local / national facilitator network
• Create and deliver engaging high-quality programmes which support rehabilitation and reintegration for participants
• Design and deliver innovation arts-based high quality training and quality assurance support to management and delivery teams across the SIG network - focusing specifically on relationships, culture and communication, conflict resolution, storytelling, power-sharing and co-production
• Lead on the development of creative ideas for Safe Grounds 30th anniversary, including; relationship building and partnership development, advocacy and networking, idea development - radio / stage / film etc
• Provide high quality peer-mentoring spaces, leadership, and line management to staff, offering guidance, support, and advice to the team to support them to perform to the best of their abilities. Facilitate the team in identifying solutions to challenges presented in relation to all elements of service delivery
• Proactively embed a culture of learning, development, reflection, and evaluation in a psychologically informed environment

Please note that in addition to our usual DBS checks and onboarding process, this role may require further vetting including prison clearance. 

About you

We are looking for someone who is ambitious and passionate about supporting people who have experienced multiple disadvantages and social exclusion. You will have proven experience in arts development and strategic support, with an extensive understanding of the criminal justice system and the role in which arts-based interventions play. You will be creative, empowering, and be a dedicated lead in supporting our strategic growth. You will understand arts-based interventions and methodologies, and have experience in developing and delivering creative programmes and productions.

• Previous experience in working and engaging with people of complex backgrounds, ex-offenders, mental health, substance misuse, challenging behaviours
• Previous experience in developing, producing, and/or performing professional productions for example film, television, or theatre productions
• Proven experience in designing innovative arts-based programmes and extensive experience of facilitation of programmes and/or training for various groups
• A theoretical understanding of co-production models and practical application of building them and embedding them into best practice
• Previous experience and/or ability to people manage and develop a team
• Ability to create, develop, and deliver new programmes and/or creative content in various settings such as prisons, communities, and wider criminal justice settings
• Excellent interpersonal skills, both written and oral. Ability to form and build effective relationships and rapport with others
• Proactive in making decisions to deal with challenges and providing a solution focused approach using initiative
• Alignment with our values of Ambition, Empowerment, Inclusivity, and Transparency

Please refer to the JDPS attached for more details on the vacancy and our requirements/key criteria.

What we offer

• 25 days (Full time equivalent) annual leave, increasing with the length of service
• Training and Development, including access to courses, upskilling, and progression plans
• Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling
• Reflective Practice regular sessions with a therapist provided by an external provider to support Mental Health and Wellbeing at work
• Eligibility to register with Blue Light Discount Card
• Life Assurance Scheme
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Annual Staff Awards
• EDI Ambassador programme
• Be part of an organisation which believes good care and support improves lives.
• Join an organisation with a mission to empower people who are marginalised by building powerful partnerships and creative solutions that bridge gaps in provision and aid recovery, reablement and resettlement.

We value and celebrate the unique backgrounds, perspectives and experiences of all of our employees. We have a team of staff ambassadors who volunteer to actively support us in fortifying our organisational value of Inclusivity. They embrace this unique opportunity to deliver awareness, events, and developments to our organisation to support us in ensuring our value of Inclusivity is embedded throughout the organisation. 

SIG actively encourages applications from individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds, particularly lived experience; Naturally, we approach any emerging issues with empathy and sensitivity. 

About Social Interest Group (SIG)

SIG is a not-for-profit organisation providing thousands of people with good-quality support and care in residential, drop-in centres, community floating support settings, probation settings, and hospitals. We do so across London, Brighton, Bedfordshire, Luton, Kent and Liverpool. Our goal is to transform lives through empowering change. 
Want to know how we work? Watch our short Theory of Change video to see how we support people towards a brighter future: Theory of Change Further details can be found on our website here: Theory of Change - Social Interest Group - Social Interest Group. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please note that this job advert may close early due to screening applications on an ongoing basis. We advise applying as soon as possible for your application to be taken into consideration at the early stages.

Please note that as part of our process, we complete an enhanced DBS check, some roles may require further vetting. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact us on the details below. 

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide sponsorship, please ensure you have full right to work in the UK prior to applying to our positions. 

Additional information on our company policies including Gender Pay, Equality and Diversity, Company Benefits and our Candidate Privacy Policy can be found on our website.

Ascension Community Trust (ACT) is a much-loved community-based charity in Custom House, Newham.  We deliver a range of projects including Newham District Foodbank (a Trussell Trust foodbank run by ACT and two community partners), welfare benefits advice, immigration advice, ESOL classes, work with adults with learning difficulties, as well as work with children, young people and their families.

This an exciting time for the programme with a SEND school being built next door to our centre, and with established relationships with several care homes – we expect that this programme will go from strength to strength.

The programme currently consists of:

• Inclusive Art Group
• Supported Volunteering
• Weekly Community Meal
• Gardening Project with children from a local SEND school.

You will have the leadership skills to support a small team of sessional staff. You will be at ease in relating to adults and children with learning difficulties as well as their parents and carers. You will be passionate about the well being and integration of people with learning difficulties with an understanding of their needs.

Christian belief is not a requirement of the role; however, it is essential that the successful candidate will be comfortable working in sympathy with our values.

If you share our values and want to make an impact within Newham, then we look forward to hearing from you!