Art therapy jobs

Reporting to: Service Manager

Contract Type: Permanent

Location: Baca office, Cambridge, England. The role may require regular travel to locations where Baca’s services are delivered.

Salary: £31,200 per annum for full time hours. Equivalent to £18,720 per annum for 22.5 hours. The role also comes with an allowance of £2,301 (pro rata) for Cambridge cost of living.

Working hours: 22.5 hours a week.

About Baca: Baca is dedicated to supporting young refugees aged 16 to 18. Our mission is to empower these young individuals to become positive, independent contributors to society. We are looking for a passionate and dedicated Creative Arts Therapist to join our team and lead the delivery of our arts therapy program.

Overall Purpose: To use creative therapy methods to help young people express their emotions, process their emotional wellbeing, and build inner resilience for a brighter future.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead therapeutic interventions using creative modalities (art, dance, drama, or music) to enhance young people's resilience and emotional wellbeing.
• Collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team and external partners to deliver comprehensive support.
• Support young people in achieving outcomes such as increased personal safety, improved physical and emotional wellbeing, and greater engagement in education, employment, and social activities.
• Assess emotional health needs and recommend improvements, while sensitively challenging young people to develop positive routines and habits.
• Deliver therapeutic sessions (both 1-to-1 and group) in a safe and secure environment.
• Contribute to team discussions and refer young people to other mental health professionals as needed.
• Enable young people to express themselves creatively and culturally, fostering confidence and resilience.
• Ensure all young people are safeguarded from harm and supported to self-protect.
• Maintain session notes, therapy spaces, and materials, and handle administrative tasks.
• Participate in meetings, training, and professional development opportunities.
• Embrace and practice Baca's Vision, Mission, and Values in daily activities.

Personal Specification:

• A qualified art therapist registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT) (or equivalent for your modality).
• Passionate about Baca's mission and values, and able to lead by example.
• Supportive, approachable, responsible, reliable, and personable.
• Organised, creative, practical, and able to manage a varied workload.
• Excellent team player with strong interpersonal skills.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills
• Ability to develop key external relationships and work well within a family-like organisational culture.
• Willingness to work flexible hours and travel across the UK as required.
• Enhanced DBS check required.
• Ability to drive/travel to all locations where Baca’s service is delivered .

Why Join Us?

• Make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable young people.
• Be part of a supportive and dynamic team.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.

How to Apply: If you are passionate about making a difference in the lives of young asylum seekers and meet the above criteria, we would love to hear from you. If suitably strong candidates are shortlisted before the deadline, in-person interviews will take place immediately after shortlisting.

Join us at Baca and help us support young people to rebuild their lives and achieve their dreams!

All applicants need to submit a CV and a covering letter on why you should be considered for this role. Applications will not be accepted if no covering letter is included. 

Please note that the closing date for this role is 9th May 2025 however, we may close early should sufficient applications be received, so early application is advised.

Please be advised that this role is part-time working 15 hours per week and fixed-term with an expected to end date of 31st March 2026. The annual salary is £47,000 pro rata.

We have a preference for hybrid working, however we'll consider the role being completely remote for the right candidate.

Job Description

You'll be an experienced qualified High Intensity Therapist with BABCP accreditation who likes working as part of a supportive team to help clients who struggle with common mental health problems such as anxiety and/or depression.

You will be responsible for the clinical supervision of Mind and Body Practitioners and CBT Therapists. Supervision will be provided on both an individual and group basis. You will be expected to support the clinical governance of the Mind and Body service.

Interviews are due to take place around 19th May 2025.

Essential Skills

• Have a Post Graduate Diploma in an NHS Talking Therapies Course or a recorded/registered qualification in one of the following - nursing, social work, occupational therapy, arts therapy or within a psychological therapy – plus further post-graduate qualification training in CBT along with significant experience working as a practitioner
• Have accreditation with BABCP 
• Have demonstrable experience working in mental health and young person services
• Have demonstrable experience with routine outcome monitoring
• Use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively
• Know child protection issues and other relevant legislation
• Be able to work within a team and foster good working relationships
• Have advanced communication skills

HIV Peer Support Worker

About Trade

Trade Sexual Health (Trade for short) is a small health and wellbeing charity based in Leicester. We currently have seven staff and more than 40 volunteers.

Trade began as a grassroots gay community response to HIV in Leicester in the late 1980s. Throughout the 1990s, Trade worked in creative ways to spread information about sexual health and HIV prevention to gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in the city (GBMSM).

Trade has been a registered charity since 2000. Over the last 25 years, the core of our work has been focused on improving the sexual health of gay and bisexual men across Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland. We have always taken a holistic approach to understanding and addressing the range of issues that might impact on gay and bisexual men’s capacity to look after their sexual health. As a result, we started a counselling service – Approach Counselling – to support community members to improve their mental wellbeing. We now draw on this experience to tackle wider health inequalities in relation to sexual health and HIV, and to provide peer support for anyone living with HIV in the areas where we work. For a small charity, Trade has always ‘punched above its weight’ and we have a national profile for the innovative sexual health work we do.

We currently hold contracts to deliver sexual health promotion and HIV prevention outreach in the City of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to LGBTQ+ people, asylum-seekers, and a range of racialised communities that experience significant inequalities in relation to their sexual health.

We have a history of providing peer support to people living with HIV and this is now becoming a growing strand of our work. In addition to the HIV Peer Support contract in Northamptonshire (which this post relates to), we expect to be delivering enhanced HIV peer support across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

The primary purpose of this role is to deliver first line peer support to people living with HIV, of all genders and backgrounds, in Northamptonshire. The postholder will spend most of their working week embedded within the HIV clinics in Northampton and Kettering. They will ensure that people who have been recently diagnosed, or are struggling with their diagnosis, and those re-engaging with their HIV care feel supported and have the information they need to live well and thrive with HIV.

The postholder will be responsible for:

· Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT), bringing their own knowledge and experience to that work.

· Work with a small group of volunteer peer mentors from the clinics to support people living with HIV

· Help recruit new volunteers and ensure that patients needing ongoing peer mentoring are matched to the most suitable volunteer.

· Help people living with HIV to develop self-management strategies, deal with stigma, reduce social isolation and improve their wellbeing.

· Develop a catalogue of services, groups and support in the area where people can be signposted to for further wellbeing support either in addition to or instead of peer mentoring.

· Help people to stay engaged with their HIV treatment and care, improving antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, and consequently ensuring ongoing viral suppression. 

Job Activities

The post-holder will:

· Normally spend at least one day a week in the HIV clinic at Kettering General Hospital and one day at Northampton General Hospital. Some travel to other sites may be required.

· Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) including nursing staff, doctors, clinical psychologists, and pharmacists within the HIV clinics, bringing their own knowledge and experience to that work.

· Triage new patients requiring peer support to understand what specific issues they are facing and the support they need.

· Work with a small group of volunteer peer mentors from the clinics to support people living with HIV. The volunteer peer mentors will be trained and managed by our partner organisation, Northamptonshire Carers, but the postholder will help recruit new volunteers in clinic, ensure that patients needing ongoing peer mentoring are matched to the most suitable volunteer, and help manage booking appointments between mentors and mentees.

· Help people living with HIV to develop self-management strategies, deal with stigma, reduce social isolation and improve their wellbeing.

· Help people to stay engaged with their HIV treatment and care, improving antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, and consequently ensuring ongoing viral suppression. 

· Refer/signpost people into specialist services such as mental health services, drug and alcohol services, and services offering advice on housing, benefits and immigration issues.

· Support the eight standards listed in the British HIV Association Standards of Care for people living with HIV.

· Follow the National Standards in HIV Peer Support guidance and its four standards.

· Contribute to the development of innovative ways of delivering HIV peer support appropriate to the local context.

· Keep accurate, confidential and secure records of all peer support referrals and interactions.

· Contribute to the compilation of quarterly monitoring reports about our performance for the Integrated Care Board commissioning team for Northamptonshire.

· Develop and maintain professional working relationships with partners

· Represent Trade in a professional manner at relevant forums and meetings

Accountability / Reports:

The post-holder will report to the Chief Executive Officer

Peer staff supervision for project specific needs.

All positions are monitored by the Trade Board of Trustees and will be responsible to this Committee.

Duties and responsibilities must always be undertaken with due regard to the values and service principles of the organisation and in accordance with Trade Policies and Procedures, as well as all other policies and procedures by which Trade is contractually bound.

General Working Skills, Competencies and Conditions. What follows in this section will be applicable to all staff as per the requirements of specific roles.

Competencies and Skills

· competent in using computer-based software for word processing, data management (e.g. Excel) and social media literacy

· ability to work in a variety of venues throughout Northamptonshire in line with service requirements

· hold a full driving license (preferred, but not necessary)

· effective, independent decision making is necessary to signpost clients to other services if query is outside the remit of the post or the services which Trade provides

· ensure professional boundaries are always maintained

· dealing with clients’ fears and distresses

Working Conditions

· work will take place within a hospital or clinic setting at an integrated HIV and sexual health clinic

The post-holder will:

· attend team meetings and staff training days

· attend key events (as part of working hours) during the year including: World AIDS Day, and National HIV testing week

· contribute to professional working relationships and engage effectively with other partners to promote Trade services

· ensure that all premises are safe and secure for staff, volunteers, and service users

· share in domestic tasks with other staff members and volunteers

· undertake any other duties which may be reasonably required by the Trade Board of Trustees

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) : Enhanced DBS disclosures will be requested on appointment.

Person Specification

This person specification serves as the selection criteria for the post. The more of the criteria that you demonstrate you can meet in your application, the greater the likelihood of you being invited to interview. In answering the questions on the application form, explain how you meet these criteria.

Experience:

Lived experience of HIV and an understanding of the impact of receiving a new diagnosis Essential: will be assessed through application form and or Interview

Experience of supporting people in vulnerable circumstances, or from marginalised communities, particularly people living with HIV or other long-term health conditions Desirable: will be assessed through application form and or Interview

Experience of working collaboratively with multiple teams or organisations (including NHS services, charities and other support organisations) Essential: will be assessed through application form and or Interview

Skills:

Ability to communicate effectively and appropriately with a wide range of people and organisations Essential: will be assessed through application form and or Interview

Ability to work independently, using your own initiative Essential: will be assessed through Interview

Strong mentorship skills to support and motivate individuals Desirable: will be assessed through application form and or Interview

Excellent organisational and time management skills to manage multiple priorities, including appointments, supporting people access the service, and reporting Essential: will be assessed through application form and or Interview

Ability to deliver and develop a comprehensive peer mentoring scheme, understanding the importance of person-centred care and support Essential: will be assessed through application form and or Interview

Knowledge and understanding:

Knowledge of HIV, its impact on individuals, and the specific support needs of people living with HIV Essential: will be assessed through application form and or Interview

Knowledge of the benefits of providing peer support to and with people with long-term health conditions Essential: will be assessed through application form and or Interview

Familiarity with safeguarding policies and practices, particularly in health and support services Desirable: will be assessed through application form

Understanding of the benefits and challenges of volunteering (as a peer mentor) Essential: will be assessed through application form and or Interview

Personal attributes and approach:

A commitment to improving your own knowledge and skills Essential: will be assessed through application form and or Interview

A commitment to Trade’s mission, vision, and values Essential: will be assessed through application form and or Interview

A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion when working with patients, volunteers, and the wider organisational/project team Essential: will be assessed through application form and or Interview

A commitment to providing development support to team members (including volunteers) and to ensuring that colleagues understand your priorities and work streams Essential: will be assessed through application form and or Interview

We plan to hold interviews on 13/14th May 2025

Transforming Lives for Good (TLG) are a national Christian charity working in partnership with local churches to bring struggling children hope and a future. Building on the huge success of TLG Early Intervention Coaching, TLG Therapeutic Support will be a new way for TLG, with partner churches, to provide support in school for the increasing number of pupils struggling to cope due to their emotional, relational, and mental health experiences. This programme addresses the underlying issues children are facing, whilst also providing the option of direct support to their parents/carers and the school staff team.

In this role we are looking for an individual that thrives working with children and young people in a school context and is passionate about supporting pupils and their families struggling with emotional, relational, and mental health challenges. The ideal candidate will be a qualified counsellor with an aptitude for creativity whether this is music and drama, sport and outdoor recreation or other fields of kinaesthetic development. The TLG Therapeutic Counsellor will be present each week in the school, providing specialist trauma aware care for these children, whilst supporting staff and parents/carers too, so we're looking for an individual who can build and foster strong relationships.

TLG is a Christian charity and, as a team, we want to bring our faith to the work we do; as such, we are recruiting an individual with a strong and vibrant Christian faith. We would welcome applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds to enable us to better reflect the needs of the communities we serve.

Hours: 2.5 days per week (18.75 hours, term-time only)

Closing Date: Rolling Applications

For further information check out the job description attached to this page. Applications will be reviewed on application prior to the closing date. We reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date if a suitable applicant applies. The date of interviews is to be confirmed.

Part-time post: pro-rata 2.5 days per week, parental leave cover until December 2025 with possible scope for extension

Spectra CIC delivers peer to peer counselling services across London. The post holder will coordinate Spectra’s LGBTQ+ Youth Counselling Service. This will include the delivery of counselling sessions, client allocations, service development and waiting list management. In addition to liaison with members of the counselling team.

You will have good understanding of the health and well-being needs of young LGBTQ+ people, and an understanding of access barriers in underserved groups within communities.

You will have a good working knowledge of Office programmes including Excel, Word and PowerPoint.

To better serve marginalised communities we currently particularly welcome applications from trans people, people of colour and/or those with key language skills.

The role offers a combination of working online and at Spectra’s office based in South London.

Please complete and return the application form, including the personal statement and diversity monitoring form from our website – we do not accept CVs or incomplete applications.