Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Art Therapist to cover a fixed term, (12 month) post in the West London Forensic Service (WLFS). The post will be 2 days per week (0.4 wte) for 1 year, beginning in October/November 2025.

West London Forensic Service provides secure care and forensic community teams for male and female service-users, who have complex needs related to serious mental illness, personality disorder and offending behaviour, and we are committed to providing high quality, evidence based interventions within a recovery framework.

The role will be based in a small but dedicated arts therapies team. You will be provided with regular support and supervision as well as the opportunity to have contact with a wider network of arts therapists, psychotherapists and psychologists working across the West London Specialist Forensic Services to share learning and ideas. In addition, you will be part of the weekly arts therapies department meeting which involves peer supervision and peer directed training. There are also many opportunities to work jointly with Psychology, Psychotherapy, Family Therapists and the Drug and Alcohol Support Service. 

Main duties of the job

As the post holder you will one of two qualified art therapists in the forensic service, you will provide art therapy to service users in the inpatient service, both male and female, including a specialist ward for women with intellectual disabilities, autism and complex communication needs. You will deliver group and individual art therapy and assessments as required, as well as contributing to consultation work with service users in the inpatient service and the community. 

The post will also include liaising with multidisciplinary staff and contributing to the electronic case records for service users. 

The work here is challenging and rewarding and often includes tailoring our interventions to meet the complex needs of our service-users.

You will have the opportunity to utilise skills in research, service evaluation, and audit within the service.

Working for our organisation

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and   Hammersmith & Fulham).  We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.

The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.