About this role
Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen within Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust as part of the TC+ (Therapeutic Community) at HMP Gartree. This is a 12 bedded democratic therapeutic community providing specialist interventions for individuals with personality difficulties and Learning Disability and lower IQ. The service is part of the Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Pathway and is jointly delivered by NHS and Prison partners.
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust's Specialist Services Care Unit provides specialist treatment to individuals with personality related difficulties at HMP Whatton and HMP North Sea Camp, in addition to a Therapeutic Community at HMP Gartree (joint NHS/ HMPPS), and also offers OPD services within Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire (community provision). We are keen to work with people who are interested in working across the local OPD pathway provision.
Main duties of the job
We are committed to working in partnership with Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), both with Prison and Probation colleagues; this service is a joint enterprise so relies on collaborative working. The post holder will be based at HMP Gartree and work closely with NHS and prison colleagues to deliver a joint service, and may support other OPD pathway service provision locally. We also work in partnership with other healthcare providers and our criminal justice system partners to improve health, support justice and reduce re-offending behaviour. The OPD Pathway Team truly believes it can make a difference to the lives of individuals in the criminal justice system by offering consistent, equitable, high quality services to service users. If this sounds like a pathway you would like to join- we would like you to be part of our team. You should be enthusiastic, motivated, patient focused and enjoy a challenge and ideally have experience or knowledge of an OPD service or the OPD pathway.
The TC+ operates within the same framework and model of mainstream Democratic Therapeutic Communities (DTCs) in prison. Every part of the living-learning experience of the TC is part of the therapeutic intervention. Treatment consists of group therapy and structured community living.
The post holder will work as part of a team approach to the assessment and treatment of individuals referred to the service, delivering Art Therapy as part of the core creative therapy offer.
About us
#TeamNottsHC comprises over 11,000 dedicated colleagues who #MakeADifference every day. We deliver intellectual disability, mental health, community health, forensic, and offender healthcare services across Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and South Yorkshire. Our care is provided from over 200 sites, spanning community locations, acute settings, and secure environments, including prisons.
We are one of the largest mental health and community Trusts in the East Midlands and one of Nottinghamshire's biggest employers. We also host national and regional services, such as the National High Secure Deaf Service and the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health.
We offer a variety of employee-led staff networks, including Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) groups, the Green Champions network, the Freedom to Speak Up network, the Health and Wellbeing Champions network, and the Menopause Champions network. These networks play a vital role in supporting our diverse workforce and promoting a culture of inclusivity.
The health and wellbeing of colleagues is a top priority. We invest significantly in this through our in-house occupational health and staff counselling services, supported by a dedicated Health and Wellbeing team.
The Trust is committed to reducing its carbon emissions, with a specialised Energy and Environmental team working to ensure compliance with environmental legislation, enhance our environmental performance, and achieve our net-zero commitment.
Job description Job responsibilities
Community members have shared responsibility for the day-to-day running of the community, decision making and problem solving. Key features are:
Daily small groups and community meetings.
Use of community activities to promote skill development and generalisation.
Staff supporting the community in democratic decision making and providing pro-social role models.
Staff and prisoners challenging and giving feedback about behaviour that is anti-social or linked to offending behaviour patterns.
In addition to unstructured therapy groups, TC+ members attend semi- structured therapy sessions as part of themed modules. Each module aims to address treatment need in a particular risk area (e.g. Criminal thinking module). TC+ utilises a slower pace of learning, higher staffing levels, shorter groups with smaller numbers and creative learning methods. Learning and information is displayed in written or pictorial form around the unit.
Members engage in core creative therapies, such as art, drama and occupational therapy.
See job description and person specification for further details relating to the Arts Psychotherapy post.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.
You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.
Please note that this post does not meet the pay level required for a Skilled worker visa.
Successful applicants with no prior NHS experience would normally be placed at the bottom of the band in line with Agenda for Change. This salary is below the minimum salary required for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker / Health & Care visa. In these circumstances the Trust would not, therefore, be able to sponsor for a Skilled Worker / Health & Care visa.
Applicants requiring a Skilled Worker Visa can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship against the relevant criteria here https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Qualified Arts Therapist Registered with HCPC
Desirable
Evidence of post graduate training
Experience Essential
Experience of own personal psychotherapy to inform clinical practice and to provide further understanding of the impact of the psychotherapy process. Post Graduate Experience as an Arts Therapist or Psychotherapist, including working with adult mental health. Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team. Experience of working with adults with special needs i.e., learning disabilities, autism, mental health, personality disorder, or deaf service users. Experience of running groups
Desirable
Experience of running groups Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team.
Knowledge Essential
Up to date knowledge of Arts Therapy practice, guidelines and developments Understanding of wide range of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, OCD and serious bipolar disorder. Understanding of risk assessment principles and how to integrate into mental health assessment and therapeutic practice. Awareness of local and national developments, protocols and policies relevant to child and adolescent mental health and wellbeing. Experience and knowledge relating to evidence-based practice.
Desirable
Able to apply training, experience and skills to mental health work. Knowledge of the use of creative and therapeutic modern media for information, engagement and service development.
Skills Essential
Competence in assessing and responding to episodes of serious self-harm including overdose and related risks. Understanding of risk assessment principles and how to integrate into mental health assessment and therapeutic practice. Ability to develop and communicate well-reasoned clinical formulations, assessments and care-plans. Experience and knowledge relating to evidence-based practice. To be able to use a range of art and art-making materials and techniques competently and be able to help a service user to work with these. To be able to use a range of dramatic concepts, techniques and procedures including games, activities, styles and structures and to improvise drama spontaneously with service users in a variety of styles and idioms To be able to use a range of music and music-making techniques competently including improvisation, structured musical activities, listening approaches and creation and composition of material and music technology where appropriate and be able to help a Service user to work with these.
Desirable
Able to apply training, experience and skills to mental health work. Ability to make creative and therapeutic use of modern media for information, engagement and service development.
Values & Behaviours Essential
All colleagues are expected to demonstrate that they act in line with Nottinghamshire Healthcare Foundation Trust Values - Trust Honesty Respect Compassion Teamwork. All colleagues are expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) and how it applies to their role.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Address TC+ HMP Gartree
Market Harborough
LE16 7RP
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)