Dramatherapist: Sponsorship Available

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Job 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.

Main duties of the job

To provide a specialist Arts Therapies assessment and treatment service to service users within the community Adult 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

Person Specification

Shortlisting Criteria

Essential

  • Masters Degree in Arts Therapies (Art, Music, Drama, Dance Movement)
  • Degree in relevant area
  • Registration with HCPC
  • Membership of professional body (BAMT, BAAT, BADth…)

Desirable

  • Experience working with adults with learning disabilities
  • Experience of working as an Arts Therapist in the NHS
  • An understanding of relevant mental health legislation
  • Experience of providing individual and group arts therapy

Shortlisting

Essential

  • Masters Degree in Arts Therapies (Art, Music, Drama, Dance Movement)

Desirable

  • Experience working with adults with learning disabilities

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Closing Date: 30 August 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.