Art Therapist, Brantridge School

Salary:    Salary Scale: Benchmark NHS Band 6 Scale Point 25-30 FTE £37,740-£45,324 Actual £6,727.12-£8,078.96 Depending on Experience

Location: Brantridge School

Working Pattern (hours per week, weeks per year): 1 day per week (7 hours) 39 weeks per year term time only

Brantridge School is a special school catering for boys with Social Emotional and Mental Health difficulties (SEMH) and Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC) from ages 6-12.

The school is located in an adapted country manor house on impressive grounds near Haywards Heath in the Sussex Weald, and offers its pupils an exciting programme of outdoor learning on site. It strives to provide a curriculum that is flexible and personalised to facilitate a community where individuals flourish and achieve their full potential.

Dedicated and experienced staff work with families to ensure children make real progress at Brantridge School, and parental feedback is overwhelmingly positive on the child-centred approach and flexibility of the staff team. To find out more about us visit www.brantridgeschool.org

The School is part of Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust and it has established a strong reputation with children, parents and professionals alike in educating and caring for pupils with challenging behaviour and associated learning difficulties. You will join a professional and dedicated educational team. To find out more about Brantridge School please visit www.brantridgeschool.org

We are looking for an enthusiastic and resilient Art Therapist to join our school to provide intensive specialist support for pupils. We seek a therapist who wants to develop their skills and knowledge in a specialist educational setting from Key Stage 1 and 2. Confidence and experience of working with children with complex Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs is essential.

Key aspects of your role will include:

• Assess children’s needs using relevant assessment methods; and to provide art therapy sessions in accordance with the requirements of needs identified and in line with the requirements of the school
• Provide individual and group arts therapy to pupils , helping pupils to decide on, and implement appropriate courses of action
• Writing reports of pupils’ progress and interventions used in Art Therapy e.g. for ARA, CAMHS, Social Services, and well as maintaining case records, completing written reports, and fulfilling procedures and statutory duties in line with the school’s policy British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT)
• You will also be required to participate and deliver training where appropriate within the school

You will:

·        Be able to provide 1:1, paired and group interventions both in and outside of the classroom setting, in order to meet provision outlined on pupil’s Education, Health and Care Plans

·        Support the pupils with specific areas of difficulty, and have specific knowledge and experience in developing interventions to target social and psychological needs

·        Be confident in implementing strategies to manage pupils’ emotional regulation, to increase engagement in learning and develop pupils’ self-esteem

·        Support in the development and coordination of a new sensory room within the school

·        Attend multi-displinary meetings and provide training for the Education team, Pupil Support team, Safeguarding team and Therapy team to provide updates on pupil progress, encourage effective sharing of research and knowledge and to develop sound understanding of the needs of the pupils

·        Be able to advise parents and carers with the management of students’ emotional regulation and sensory needs at home

·        Maintain succinct clinical notes, complete relevant assessments highlighting issues of concern to the teams around the pupils and track progress, to ensure pupil data is available to inform future planning.

This is a unique opportunity to develop specialist clinical skills within an educational environment, offering the chance to work collaboratively with a range of professionals and to use therapeutic skills creatively to meet the needs of pupils and students. In return we offer excellent support from colleagues and staff, commitment to CPD, access to internal and external training.

For an informal discussion about the role please contact Gio De Lucia on 01444 400228. 

Please see the attached job description and person specification for full details on the role and the skills, experience and knowledge we are looking for.

Brantridge is part of Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust, an established family of specialist academies and college centres that provide for over 1500 pupils and students with a wide range of learning abilities and additional needs. To find out more about us, and what makes us a special place to work please visit https://www.ohcat.org/work-for-us/

For an informal discussion about the role, candidates are invited to contact Hazel Smith, School Office Manager, via email h.smith@brantridge-school.co.uk  to arrange a time to speak with Dafydd Roberts – Principal.

To apply for the role please use the quick apply option to submit an application. If you have any queries, please contact h.smith@brantridge-school.org.uk.

Your application form will be scored according to each of the requirements laid out in the person specification for this role. Please demonstrate in your statement how your experience, skills and knowledge match the criteria that are required for the role. Failure to show evidence will result in your application not being shortlisted for interview.

Please note that CV applications will not be considered.

Closing Date: Friday 3rd January 2025

Interviews will take place on: W/C 6th January 2025

Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Appointments made will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.