Senior Music Therapist

An excellent opportunity exists for an HCPC registered Music Therapist with substantial experience working with children presenting with complex developmental needs to develop their skills further. The post holder will work closely and in collaboration with families, the music therapy team and multidisciplinary colleagues.

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital offers a comprehensive child development music therapy service for children and families. We provide assessment and therapy across three Child Development Centres in Central London. We also offer a range of music therapy input to local children's centres and nurseries as well as training and consultation for professionals and parents/carers.

We are looking for a Music Therapist with substantial experience who is able to work both independently and autonomously as well as effectively within a music therapy and wider multi professional team. This post holder will be experienced in supervision and management responsibilities and be able to respond flexibly and effectively to supporting the needs of children with a wide variety of health, developmental and social needs. They will also be responsive to families who benefit from joined up collaborative work with other related professionals.

Excellent support will be provided including clinical supervision, regular managerial supervision, CPD opportunities and administrative assistance.

Main duties of the job

• To provide highly specialist music therapy assessment and intervention, using evidence based principles and current best practice, and maintain accurate records.
• To lead on specific management responsibilities as well as contribute to strategic planning and service developments.
• Operational management and clinical supervision responsibilities for qualified and trainee music therapists in the team.
• To provide consultation, teaching and training at undergraduate/post-graduate level, to child health/education staff, related professionals and parents.
• To work within a range of community settings, which could include child development centres, children's centres, nurseries and local schools.
• To implement service audits and evaluations, develop and lead CPD, and participate in research.
• To be a role model for expert clinical care, and the identified Trust values at all times.

Job responsibilities

• Clinical:
• To be professionally and legally responsible for all aspects of work, including the management of patients in your care.
• To provide specialist music therapy assessment and treatment for children presenting with a wide range of developmental needs.
• To lead the delivery of clinical services for a specific site.
• To implement a range of specialist interventions drawn from different evidence based theoretical models.
• To offer a flexible provision of care to the families in our service in liaison with the MDT and others working with a child, providing joint interventions as appropriate.
• To actively seek the views and involvement of families as part of clinical delivery and service development.
• To identify and develop particular areas of clinical practice within the service, and lead their implementation across the team.
• To demonstrate a sensitive approach to the diverse needs of the children and families who access the service.
• To adhere to Trust policies relating to confidentiality.
• To maintain accurate and up-to-date patient records and statistics in line with Trust and HCPC standards.
• To adhere to governance policies and procedures and be aware of relevant documents/briefings from bodies.
• To be responsible for the supervision of trainee music therapists.
• To demonstrate good time management and organisational skills during daily management of own workload and to be able to adapt flexibly to changes.
• To continue to develop professional expertise and knowledge through continuing professional development.
• To carry out practical, clinically related tasks as necessary.

• Leadership and management:
• To make appropriate and timely referrals to other members of the multidisciplinary team when required.
• To deputise for the lead music therapists during periods of absence to ensure effective day to day organisation of the teams workload.
• To understand and apply clinical governance principles to your own caseload and contribute to and lead departmental clinical governance sessions.
• To contribute to service and policy developments within the music therapy team and across wider AHP services in the Trust.
• To develop and maintain effective communication and working relationships with other colleagues within the Trust.
• To provide clinical support and guidance, and to act as a resource for clinical knowledge to other professionals both within and external to the Trust.
• To understand and manage service developments and changes with colleagues.
• To lead on the implementation of audit and service evaluations.
• To be involved in purchase of equipment and consumable stock, including furniture, electrical goods, stationery and specialist music therapy equipment.

• Education & research:
• To contribute to clinical supervision of trainee music therapists, supporting where appropriate the development of research projects which are deemed relevant to the service.
• To be involved in data collection for research and audits being undertaken in each area and to be able to monitor and implement change.
• To be involved in, audit and research projects, presenting as required.
• To participate in promoting music therapy through workshops, parent forums, and seminars where appropriate.

• Professional development:
• To maintain a high standard of care and professional conduct in accordance with the requirements of the HCPC ensuring that staff and trainees you are responsible for do likewise.
• To maintain professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council.
• To ensure that all mandatory training is completed within the required timescales. To assess own training and development needs, participating in regular clinical and managerial supervision.