Creative Therapist

Creative Therapist

Guildford Full-Time 36000 - 60000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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Shooting Star Children’s Hospices

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Provide creative therapy to children and families facing life-limiting conditions and grief.
  • Company: Join Shooting Star Children's Hospices, an 'Outstanding' rated organisation supporting families in need.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, NHS pension, and free meals at work.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact while working with a passionate team in a supportive environment.
  • Qualifications: Experience as an Arts or Play therapist with children, especially those facing trauma or loss.
  • Other info: Commitment to safeguarding and diversity is essential; DBS check required.

The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.

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Location: Christopher’s or Shooting Star House

About Shooting Star Children’s Hospices

We have an exciting opportunity for an Art, Drama, Play or Creative Therapist to join our team at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices to help extend our care to more families.

Shooting Star Children’s Hospices provides specialist care and support to families who have a baby, child or young person with a life-limiting condition, or whose child dies suddenly or unexpectedly. 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.

staff; their exceptional commitment and professionalism means every family has the opportunity to make every moment count.

It’s a great time to join Shooting Star Children’s Hospices as we launched our Specialist Bereavement Service at the end of 2023 and we are now supporting more bereaved families than ever before, alongside our usual caseload of life-limited children and their siblings. Our team of arts therapists is expanding to ensure we can deliver care to those who need it.

About the role

The key purpose of this role is to provide high quality, evidence-based art, drama or play therapy to life-limited children and families and those experiencing the sudden death of a child. Our therapy services are child and family focused, utilising the medium of art, drama, play or other creative techniques, addressing the psychological challenges associated with life-limiting conditions and issues of loss and grief.

This is an opportunity to work holistically with a multi-disciplinary team of psychosocial professionals, with a diverse caseload, providing assessment, individual and group therapy programs with children and/or family members. The post holder will utilise skills, knowledge and expertise to provide advice, education, signposting, supervision and support to staff, families, schools and other professionals.

This role requires previous experience of working as an Arts or Play therapist in a health or social care environment, as part of a multi-disciplinary team. You should have significant experience of working with children and young people, including those with disabilities, those experiencing loss and grief, and chronic or acute trauma.

We are looking for a therapist skilled in working closely with parents/carers, providing clinical expertise and suggesting specific approaches/strategies, and advising other team members in MDT case discussions. We require a strong understanding of safeguarding.

Please see the attached job description for more information about this opportunity at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.

In return you will receive a competitive salary along with a range of benefits, which include:

  • NHS Pension Scheme (for eligible employees) or our stakeholder pension scheme, with up to 7% employer contributions

Annual leave

  • 27 days plus Bank Holidays rising with length of service

Contractual benefits

  • Enhanced maternity, adoption, and paternity leave pay
  • Flexible working arrangements
  • Reimbursed professional membership fees
  • Eye care

Health and wellbeing

  • Employee Assistance Programme
  • Occupational Health
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Mental Health First Aiders
  • Nutritionally balanced meals at Christopher’s (free for employees) and free fruit at our Hampton site

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff to share this commitment. Employment is subject to receipt of satisfactory references and a DBS check.

In addition, an enhanced/standard disclosure will be required for this role. Our recruitment checks, induction and ongoing support and supervision reflect our commitment to safeguarding the families we support.

Shooting Star Children’s Hospice is committed to inclusion and diversity in everything we do. We know that getting things right is critical for us to live our organisation’s values: Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diversity and Excellence.

We are always trying to improve our way of working to be more inclusive and equal. Our vision is for Shooting Star Children’s Hospice to be a place where people of all backgrounds, groups and communities feel welcomed to work and volunteer.

Please contact Marion Barton marion.barton if you have any questions about this role.

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Creative Therapist employer: Shooting Star Children’s Hospices

Shooting Star Children's Hospices is an outstanding employer dedicated to providing exceptional care and support to families facing life-limiting conditions. With a strong commitment to employee wellbeing, we offer competitive salaries, generous annual leave, flexible working arrangements, and a supportive work culture that prioritises professional growth and development. Join our passionate team at Christopher's or Shooting Star House, where you can make a meaningful impact in the lives of children and families while enjoying a range of unique benefits, including free meals and a focus on mental health.
Shooting Star Children’s Hospices

Contact Detail:

Shooting Star Children’s Hospices Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Creative Therapist

Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with the specific therapeutic approaches used at Shooting Star Children's Hospices. Understanding their methods and values will help you align your experience with their needs during any discussions.

Tip Number 2

Network with professionals in the field of creative therapy, especially those who have experience in paediatric care or bereavement support. This can provide you with insights and potentially valuable connections that could enhance your application.

Tip Number 3

Prepare to discuss your previous experiences in detail, particularly those involving multi-disciplinary teamwork and working with children facing trauma or loss. Highlighting these experiences will demonstrate your suitability for the role.

Tip Number 4

Showcase your understanding of safeguarding practices in your conversations. This is crucial for the role, and demonstrating your commitment to child welfare will set you apart from other candidates.

We think you need these skills to ace Creative Therapist

Art Therapy Techniques
Drama Therapy Techniques
Play Therapy Techniques
Child Development Knowledge
Grief and Loss Counselling
Multi-Disciplinary Team Collaboration
Safeguarding Awareness
Clinical Assessment Skills
Individual and Group Therapy Facilitation
Communication Skills
Empathy and Compassion
Creative Problem-Solving
Experience with Life-Limited Children
Support for Families in Crisis
Knowledge of Disabilities and Trauma

Some tips for your application 🫡

Understand the Role: Read the job description thoroughly to grasp the key responsibilities and requirements for the Creative Therapist position. Highlight your relevant experience in art, drama, or play therapy, especially in a health or social care environment.

Tailor Your CV: Customise your CV to reflect your skills and experiences that align with the role. Emphasise your work with children and families, particularly those dealing with loss and grief, and any multi-disciplinary team experience.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for the role and the organisation. Discuss how your therapeutic approach can benefit life-limited children and their families, and mention your commitment to safeguarding and inclusion.

Proofread Your Application: Before submitting, carefully proofread your application materials for any spelling or grammatical errors. A polished application reflects your professionalism and attention to detail, which is crucial in this sensitive field.

How to prepare for a job interview at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices

Showcase Your Experience

Be prepared to discuss your previous experience as an Arts or Play therapist. Highlight specific cases where you successfully supported children and families, especially those dealing with loss and grief.

Demonstrate Your Creative Skills

Since the role involves using creative techniques, think of ways to demonstrate your artistic approach during the interview. You might even consider bringing a portfolio of your work or examples of therapy activities you've conducted.

Understand the Organisation's Values

Familiarise yourself with Shooting Star Children's Hospices' values of Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diversity, and Excellence. Be ready to explain how your personal values align with theirs and how you can contribute to their mission.

Prepare for Scenario Questions

Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team. Think about how you would handle specific situations involving children and families facing life-limiting conditions.

Creative Therapist
Shooting Star Children’s Hospices
Location: Guildford
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