Arts Therapist

**JOB DESCRIPTION Job Title**: Arts Therapist Team: Family Support Service Salary range/pay band: £38,336 - £43,410 (including geographical allowance) Reports to: Lead Therapist Direct reports: Volunteer or student therapists Hours: Full Time 37.5 hours per week, 18 months fixed term Location: Across both hospice sites Introduction to Shooting Star Childrens Hospices Shooting Star Childrens Hospices Shooting Star Childrens Hospices are a leading childrens hospice charity caring for babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions, and their families. We support families across Surrey and Southwest London from diagnosis to end of life and throughout bereavement with a range of nursing, practical, emotional and medical care. At the heart of the hospice are our dedicated clinical staffs. Their exceptional commitment and professionalism is commented on by so many of the supported children and their families.

It costs £10.5 million a year to maintain our current level of care. Only 30% of that income comes from government funding via the NHS or local authorities, so we rely on our supporters generosity to keep the service running. We employ 175 staff, including 98 nursing and medical staff, providing hospice and community-based services to around 700 families. Predominantly we work with families living in the Northwest and Southwest of London and Surrey, although will accept children outside these geographical areas if they do not have access to specialist palliative care support locally.

We have a reputation for delivering high quality care. We have a CQC rating of Outstanding. Introduction to Team SSCH provide care to children and young people with life-limiting conditions, and family members known to the hospice. Depending on their need, hospice families access respite care, community nursing interventions and specialist palliative care.

All families can access SSCHs core psychosocial care from point of referral/diagnosis, at end of life and bereavement care provided to the family for 3 years and 3 months after the death of their child. This encompasses a holistic and flexible offer of family support, a pathway of care through bereavement and a substantial program of therapeutic support groups and events provided at both hospices, in order that families can benefit from building a network of support with others who have lived experience. Where required, each member of the family system can access specialist psychological care in the form of individual, couples and dyadic therapies and counselling, EMDR therapy and trauma-informed CBT, social work, transitional care, and closed therapy groups. Part 1: Job Profile a) Main purpose of job The post holder will provide high quality, evidence-based art, drama, play or music therapy to life-limited children and families, including the siblings and family members accessing SSCH Specialist Bereavement Service.

This therapy should be child and family focused, utilising the medium of art, drama, play or other creative techniques, addressing the psychological challenges associated with life-limiting conditions and issues of loss and grief. The post holder will have a diverse caseload, and provide assessment, individual and group therapy programs with designated children and/or family members, alongside providing advice, education, signposting, supervision and support to staff, families, schools and other professionals. b) Scope of job As part of our Family Support Service, childrens psychological therapy assessments are offered to life-limited children, young people, siblings (including adult siblings) and families. Assessments are also offered to bereaved siblings, parents and families.

Depending on the outcome of the assessment, where appropriate, series of sessions/support are put in place. Therapy sessions are predominantly provided individually with close collaboration with parents (while respecting the bounds of confidentiality); however, programs may also consist of joint parent and child sessions, family sessions, closed and open group sessions. Within the team, the post holder contributes to the continual multi-disciplinary assessment of families needs, as well as the provision of support, signposting, information sharing, developing resources and groups and events for children and families. The postholder is responsible for ensuring and enhancing the quality, safety and effectiveness of psychological support offered to SSCH children and families.

This involves seeking innovative, flexible and individualised approaches that meet the psychological needs of children, and continually developing professional knowledge and skills to respond to evolving needs within childrens palliative care. This care and support will predominantly be provided at Christophers in Guildford and Shooting Star House in Hampton. Risk assessments, consultations, assessments and sessions for children and families may take place virtually or in-person. Some travel to f