West London Arts Therapist

The post holder will provide high quality Music, Art or Dramatherapy to appropriate life-limited children and families accessing Shooting Star Childrens Hospices (SSCH), including the Specialist Bereavement Service.

This is a new, community-based Arts Therapy post for West London and has been created to enhance access, enabling those not previously able to utilise services to receive needed interventions.

Therapy work addresses the psychological challenges associated with life-limiting conditions issues of loss and grief, including the sudden and unexpected death of a child. 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, workshops, signposting, supervision and support to families, staff, schools and other professionals.

Main duties of the job

As part of our Family Support Service, psychological therapy assessments are offered to life-limited children, young people, siblings (including adult siblings), parents and grandparents. Assessments are often offered to bereaved siblings, parents and grandparents. Depending on the outcome of the assessment, where appropriate, series of sessions/support are put in place.

Therapy sessions are predominantly offered to children, provided both individually, in groups and workshops. Programs may consist of dyadic or family sessions. Parent consultations can be offered to provide psychoeducation to those not accessing therapy.

Risk assessments, consultations, assessments and sessions for children and families may take place virtually or in-person. The post-holder will travel to hubs, family homes and hospitals (predominantly in West London). This includes the boroughs of Brent, Ealing, Harrow, Hammersmith & Fulham, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Westminster, and theRoyal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Equipment will be provided to enhance the provision of therapy within the community.

The post holder will be working closely with the West London Family Support Worker(s), and West London Counsellors to seek ways to work in the heart of communities, build networks, understand need and help shape services appropriately.

Introduction to Shooting Star Childrens Hospices
Shooting Star Childrens Hospices

Shooting Star Childrens Hospices provides specialist care and support to families who have a baby, child or young person with a life-limiting condition, or who have been bereaved. Rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission, we support families across Surrey, north-west London and south-west London from diagnosis to end of life and throughout bereavement with a range of nursing, practical, emotional and medical care.

Our specialist care and support is free of charge to families and available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It includes specialist nursing in the community, symptom management and pain relief, overnight respite stays, end-of-life care, specialist bereavement care and a comprehensive range of therapies, groups and clinics for the whole family.

At the heart of what we do are our dedicated staff; their exceptional commitment and professionalism means every family has the opportunity to make every moment count.

It costs £13 million a year to run Shooting Star Childrens Hospices. Just 30% of our funding comes from the government, so we rely on our supporters generosity to keep the service running. We employ 175 members of staff, including 98 nursing and medical staff, and support around 700 families.