About this role
Job summary Originally commissioned since 2019 by Somerset Council and recommissioned in April 2026, Step Together is an innovative service that offers a psychological, adversity and trauma (PAT) informed approach to those rough sleeping/at risk of homelessness with multiple disadvantage and complex needs (mental health, forensic history, substance use). We also advocate for system change, creatively thinking with other agencies to develop innovative ways to overcome barriers to engagement, turning these into opportunities to steer positive trauma-informed system change.
Main duties of the job
An exciting short-term opportunity has arisen for a job-share to join our existing Art Psychotherapist to continue to develop our PAT informed model and impactful creative engagement opportunities in Somerset. This is a job-share role, supporting the existing Art Psychotherapist to develop and deliver creative engagement / art therapeutic opportunities for clients within Step Together and the Housing & Homelessness system in Somerset. Working with the team, system partners and our Involvement & Coproduction coordinator, the Art Psychotherapist will create opportunities for coproduced spaces, and meaningful feedback and evaluation/audit. The Art Psychotherapist will also support the psychological therapy pathway, including the potential to develop an offer of 1:1 art therapy to clients. The role may also contribute to Psychological, Adversity and Trauma (PAT) Informed staff support through various reflective contexts (supervision, team formulation, reflective practice). Development and delivery of training, workshops and resources to build capacity of staff to embed the Psychological, Adversity and Trauma (PAT) Informed approach that is integral to the service.
About us Second Step is a leading mental health charity in the South-West offering housing, support and hope to thousands of people with mental health and other needs. We promote wellbeing by supporting people and communities to build brighter futures. We value relationships and making sense of what has happened to those accessing our services, rather than labelling what is wrong with them.
Job description Job responsibilities Support staff to develop PAT informed understandings of service users with multiple and complex needs (drawing upon various frameworks in particular: power-threat-meaning, attachment and trauma informed theories and other frameworks as required including: CBT, Solution-Focused, Critical Time Interventions, Restorative Approaches and Strengths-Based practice)
Provide accessible reflective contexts (team formulation, reflective practice and 1-1 supervision spaces) to non-psychologist staff (termed recovery coaches) to embed PAT informed learning
Be involved in the continual evaluation and development of these reflective contexts to facilitate self-reflection of the impact of the work on staff with an aim to enhance staff wellbeing and our culture of collective care.
Be involved in and facilitate team formulation sessions as appropriate to develop formulations that consider individuals context and intersectionality, including reflecting on equality, diversity and inclusion, as part of everyday practice
Provide PAT informed guidance to staff around support planning, outcome star/goal setting, safety and inclusion planning
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Experience of working with people with severe and multiple disadvantage including a range of adult mental health problems and/or substance misuse, forensic histories and homelessness Experience of formulating different ways of adapting and surviving using trauma informed and attachment frameworks Experience of evaluation and audit
Desirable
Experience of working in NHS secondary care mental health services Experience of working in non-NHS settings Experience of relational approaches to therapy e.g. psychodynamic models. Experience of providing reflective practice Experience of influencing the networks of support around individuals and creating system change Experience of creating and delivering psychological and trauma informed training to different audiences
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.
Employer details Employer name Second Step
Address The Rollercoaster Building
Bridgwater
TA6 4RL
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.second-step.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)