Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical Skills and Responsibilities

• Provide high quality, evidence-based music therapy provision for children and young people attending The Childrens Trust School, in partnership with other members of the Multidisciplinary team and education services.
• Undertake specialist music therapy assessments of children with highly complex needs e.g. multiple co-morbidities and neurodisabilities through standardised and non-standardised assessments and clinical observations.
• Work therapeutically with children and young people who have complex needs and may present with mental health needs, and behaviours that may challenge.
• Devise suitable, individualised, 24hr music therapy programmes/strategies that fit within the childs daily routine, whether to be carried out by parents or members of the Multidisciplinary Team; these should be monitored, evaluated and adjusted appropriately according to the needs of the child.
• Develop therapy goals, in collaboration with the child and family/carers, as well as the multidisciplinary and education teams, other health professionals and agencies, to facilitate the participation of the child in their life skills.
• Set outcomes as part of the child or young persons annual review and education, health and care plans.
• Support the Multidisciplinary and education teams with measuring short term targets, through using the IMpacts curriculum, therapy outcome measurement tools e.g. Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS), music therapy star
• Work collaboratively with the musical education team at The Childrens Trust School, working together to implement musical technology and curriculum frameworks such as sounds of intent.
• Teach, integrate and monitor music therapy interventions in the childs environment, whether it is carried out by parents, school staff, therapy staff, nursing and care staff or volunteers.
• Keep appropriate and accurate intervention records, which fulfil legal, professional and the requirements of The Childrens Trust.
• Contribute to child related reports, including looked after children and annual review reports as required, and assist with the collation of these as required, in a timely manner in line with organisational targets.
• Take on coordinating therapist role for small number of young people and represent therapy at annual review and other statutory meetings
• Liaise with all appropriate medical staff, whether employed by The Childrens Trust, visiting consultants or at off-site clinics, and attend clinics (e.g. psychiatry) with the child as required.
• Support the delivery of a tiered model approach to music therapy at The Childrens Trust School, providing universal and targeted groups dependent on need of the young people
• Work closely with all members of the Multidisciplinary Team, as well as the child and family, to provide a fully integrated approach to the overall management of the child. This will include any home/school visits, professional child related meetings and/ or appointments, as required.
• Provide clinical cover across the service during episodes of staff shortage/heavy workload, to ensure effective service delivery.
• Work flexibly in terms of hours, including the ability to work an early evening (weekly) and one weekend day, per calendar month.

Management of self and others

• Communicate effectively with children/young people (applying the principles of consistent communication).
• Facilitate effective communication with families and members of the Multidisciplinary Team.
• Recognise barriers to effective communication and be able to reduce these as appropriate.
• Attend and contribute to Multidisciplinary Team meetings, to discuss individual children/ young people and service in general, as required e.g. reviews, case conferences, parents evenings, clinics, etc.
• Maintain clear and concise documents and records, in accordance with The Childrens Trust Policy.
• Ensure documents are managed confidentially at all times.
• Attend regular meetings with the Multidisciplinary Team, to discuss individual children/young people and service in general, as required e.g. reviews, case conferences, parents evenings, clinics.
• Manage informal complaints, in line with The Childrens Trust policies and contribute to the resolution of written complaints, and as they occur taking immediate action where necessary.

Management of self and others

• Provide support and supervision for junior team members and students, within area of responsibility, providing direction, motivation and support to achieve key objectives.
• Participate in the annual Performance Development Review and monthly supervision sessions, as required by The Childrens Trust, both as appraiser and appraise.
• Supervise and support students on placement at The Childrens Trust as requested.
• Advise the Head of Therapy regarding resources and equipment needs, including shortfalls.
• Manage time effectively, prioritising and delegating work appropriately and as required.

Governance

• Read and implements all policies, procedures and risk assessments, pertinent to working practice and keep up to date with changes as they occur.
• Critically evaluate practice through clinical audits and by appraisal of the information gained, in combination with current knowledge of evidence-based practice; identify opportunities for service improvement and development, with support from the Head of Therapy.
• Continue the audit cycle, by evaluating any changes implemented as a result. This should include the adoption of evidence informed practice, the trial of emerging interventions and the cessation of interventions where evidence is insufficient and other approaches are indicated.
• Recognise and critically appraise situations where the effectiveness, efficiency and quality of the service are compromised and take appropriate action to resolve the situation, with support from the Head of Therapy.
• Attend The Childrens Trust working events as requested by Head of Therapy, in order to contribute to strategic service development.
• Critically reflect on own performance and that of other staff; and use this evaluation to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency and quality of future practice.
• Undergo The Childrens Trust Risk Assessor training, in order that all activities are risk assessed and documented in the most appropriate format. Ensure that detailed risk assessments are completed, as required.
• Actively participate in local clinical governance activities.

Career Long Learning, Education and Research

• Undertake all mandatory training, in line with The Childrens Trust policy.
• Advance personal knowledge, understanding and skills in line with identified learning needs by making appropriate use of a variety of learning and development resources and opportunities; for example by attending courses/ lectures, contact and involvement with relevant special interest groups visiting other departments.
• Prepare appropriately for Performance and Development Reviews, identifying learning objectives and setting targets; identifying opportunities for professional development in order to meet continuing professional development requirements.
• Submit research Abstracts/ Posters to both local and national conferences, with support if required.
• Actively seek personal educational developmental opportunities, through attending off-site courses and events, in-house training sessions, contact and involvement with relevant special interest groups and external organisations, updating your knowledge through literary review.
• Participate in in-service competency training programmes and teaching sessions, as appropriate.

Limits of Authority and Problem Solving

• In addition to The Childrens Trust policies, the Specialist Music Therapist is governed by, and should adhere to, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Standards of Proficiency for Arts Therapists and the British Association of Music Therapists Quality Assurance Standards.
• Make day-to-day decisions regarding music therapy requirements for children and young people on caseload.
• Responsible for day-to-day time management and prioritisation of workload, taking into account the needs of the whole service.
• Monthly formal supervision.
• Provides formal supervision monthly to multi-disciplinary technicians as required.

Professionalism

• Meet current HCPC and British Association of Music Therapy standards with respect to professionalism and to keep up to date with any changes.
• Be responsible for maintaining registration with HCPC and the British Association of Music Therapy.
• Adhere to the policies and procedures of The Childrens Trust.
• Maintain professional boundaries and professionalism at all times.
• Keep abreast of sector developments.

Health and Safety

• Adheres to all health and safety guidelines, including infection prevention and control.
• Provide evidence of a valid NHS Covid Pass or acceptable proof of Covid vaccination or medical exemption and all vaccinations (or medical exemption) required for the post.
• Adhere to manual handling procedures and complete mandatory manual handling training.
• Promotes the health and safety of others.
• Uses the incident reporting and risk assessment system (IRAR), to identify and report risks and incidents/actions if directed.
• Responsible for identifying and mitigating risk within the work environment.

Wellbeing and Emotional Resilience

• Maintains a positive approach and outlook when dealing with change and overcoming challenges and problems.
• Recognises own limitations, develops realistic goals, and uses support network resource when or if necessary.
• Treats challenges and problems as a learning experience.
• Remains organised and focused when under pressure.
• Responds appropriately and effectively to all constructive feedback.
• Motivates self and others.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Masters degree or equivalent qualification in Music Therapy.
• HCPC registration.
• Continuous Professional Development in line with regulatory body standards.
• Identifies own training needs and pursues on own initiative.

Desirable

• Member of specialist interest group or forum.
• Member of British Association of Music Therapists.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with children/young people with neurodisabilities and or mainstream and or specialist schools/ and or paediatrics.
• Experience of working as part of a multi-professional team.

Desirable

• Minimum of two years clinical experience post qualification.
• Experience of curriculum frameworks in education such as sounds of intent:
• Experience of working with families.
• Experience of SEND legislation and SENDist tribunals.

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Knowledge of music therapy management for neurodisability supported by clinical reasoning.
• Clinical reasoning skills in predictable situations, analysing a variety of evidence and presenting this in a relevant format e.g. report, presentation.
• Workload management including delegation of tasks.
• Observation and treatment skills relevant to the assessment and management.
• Ability to meet the physical demands of a school therapy music therapy role.
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to supervise others and enable development of their skills.
• Professional integrity, particularly in clinical governance.
• To work flexibly to meet the needs of the service. This may include one weekend day a month and early evening working.
• Competent written and verbal communication skills.

Desirable

• Post graduate training: MATADOC and NMT.
• Risk assessment skills.

Knowledge

Essential

• Musical skills including music technology.
• The ability to draw on a wide range of theoretical frameworks to inform practise as a music therapist.
• Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding children and young people with complex disabilities.
• Competent skills in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint.
• Knowledge of relevant outcome measures and statutory outcome requirements.

Desirable

• Knowledge of current research, clinical audit and service evaluation methods.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Physically fit and able to comply with trust manual handling guidelines. Able to carry out moderate to intense physical effort throughout the working day and carry out concurrent activities.
• Commitment to the vision and values of The Childrens Trust.
• Flexible and can do attitude to competing commitments in workload.
• Highly motivated and reliable.
• Ability to cope working in a demanding environment.
• Commitment to maintaining personal wellbeing and the wellbeing of colleagues.

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 .

Employer details

Employer name

The Children's Trust

Address

The Childrens Trust

Tadworth Court

Tadworth

Surrey

KT20 5RU