Band 7 Arts Psychotherapist - Bristol
At a glance
- Band
- Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Part-time
- Posted
- 25/08/2026
- Closes
- 08/09/2026
Sponsorship verdict
This contract type is not eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship.
NHS Trusts cannot issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for part-time, bank, locum, zero-hours, job-share or short fixed-term (under 12 months) contracts under current Home Office rules. This applies even when the wider Trust holds a Skilled Worker licence.
Role summary
This role seeks an exceptional Arts Psychotherapist to join a new specialist acute inpatient service for people with learning disabilities and autistic people. The post holder will deliver high-quality, evidence-based assessment, formulation, and intervention, including individual and group therapy. They will also contribute to service development, training, consultation, and research within a highly specialist inpatient setting. The role involves working autonomously with a specialist caseload and providing supervision to team members.
Essential criteria
- Post graduate qualification in an Arts Psychotherapy at MA/MSc level, or equivalent
- Registered with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC), the UK Council for Counselling Psychotherapy (UKCP) or equivalent Registered and working within the Code of Practice for their Professional body.
- Knowledge and experience of working with people with serious and complex Mental Health difficulties
- Able to work as an autonomous practitioner responsible for own specialist caseload within a team
- Able to engage with clients' non verbal communication using the modality integral to the therapy
- Able to work in an emotional demanding atmosphere with service users who are very emotionally distressed or angry, with empathy and understanding.
- Able to supervise qualified, unqualified staff trainees and staff from different disciplines.
Desirable criteria
- Further post graduate training
- Experience of working in the NHS
- Education/Experience/Skills
- Post graduate qualification in an Arts Psychotherapy at MA/MSc level, or equivalent
- Registered with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC), the UK Council for Counselling Psychotherapy (UKCP) or equivalent Registered and working within the Code of Practice for their Professional body.
- Knowledge and experience of working with people with serious and complex Mental Health difficulties
- Able to work as an autonomous practitioner responsible for own specialist caseload within a team
- Able to engage with clients' non verbal communication using the modality integral to the therapy
- Able to work in an emotional demanding atmosphere with service users who are very emotionally distressed or angry, with empathy and understanding.
- Able to supervise qualified, unqualified staff trainees and staff from different disciplines.
- Further post graduate training
- Experience of working in the NHS
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 7 at £46,148 – £52,809 a year, across England.
This advert: £49,387 – £56,515 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 13d ago · Closes in 2d
Applications close soon — apply now if this is a fit.
Full advert · preview
Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
Band 7 Arts Psychotherapist - Bristol
The closing date is 08 September 2026
Job summary
Do you understand the clinical needs of people with a Learning Disability and Autistic People? Do you bring passion and commitment to delivering high quality care?
We are looking for an exceptional Art, Music, Drama or Dance Psychotherapist to join our new specialist acute inpatient service for people with learning disabilities and autistic people.
This role will provide a rare and exciting career opportunity to be instrumental in contributing to the implementation and ongoing evaluation of Arts Psychotherapy within a highly specialist inpatient setting. You will be expected to have excellent team working and groupwork skills, and an ability to deliver individual and group interventions within an inpatient environment.
In addition to shaping and delivering direct assessment, formulation and intervention, you will contribute to wider service development and pathways, including training, consultation, reflective practice and staff wellbeing.
You will be expected to contribute to service improvement, audit and research as appropriate, working with colleagues and linking with relevant partner organisations such as academic institutions, to help us realise our vision of being a centre of excellence.
Main duties of the job
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