CAT-K25

5pm, Friday 11th July

Late July 2025 in Dublin City Centre or Online

The post will be on a 2 day per week basis for a period of 1 year, commencing as soon as possible after the time of appointment with an opportunity to extend beyond 1 year.

Tralee, Kerry

Queries relating to the role to be directed to:

Liz Mc Mahon,

Assistant Manager, Therapeutic Services

liz@firstfortnight.ie

The successful candidate will be part of a dynamic creative arts therapy team who are responsible for the provision of creative therapy interventions for children, adolescents, and adults. The role is based across two sites in Kerry, where the charity works directly with children and adolescents at risk of or experiencing homelessness and who have mental health difficulties. This role would deliver creative arts therapy to children and adolescents as part of this service.

The successful candidate will report to the Therapeutic Services Manager or her nominee.

The following is an outline of the role:

• Provide trauma-informed creative arts therapy interventions for children and adolescents who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness and who have mental health difficulties.
• Engage in therapeutic assessment, formulation, implementation and evaluations of referrals.
• Maintain accurate, confidential records of referrals, clinical practice and service provision on online CRM system
• Commit to safe recording and storage of client creative work both in original and digital forms in line with best practice regarding GDPR and confidentiality.
• Report safeguarding’s and concerns appropriately and engage in risk management and reporting incidents.
• Undertake key service development and planning tasks, including report writing, audit and evaluations. Contribute to progress reports for stakeholders and information for funding submissions when necessary.
• Proactively engage in collaborative interagency working practices, including attending multidisciplinary meetings, contacting partners
• Actively engage in on going supervision with therapeutic service manager, in addition to team and project development meetings.
• Actively be involved with presentation and communication of the service to key stakeholders and contribute to the overall aim of the organisation to reducing stigma around mental health
• Maintain creative arts therapy spaces and materials to a high standard of professional practice.
• Engage in continual CPD and training
• Attend weekly team meetings (online)

This role description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and successful candidates may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to them from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

• Have knowledge and experience of working with vulnerable populations, with a broad understanding of mental health needs and issues pertaining to homelessness and risk of homelessness.
• Ideally, have worked with both adolescents and children in a therapeutic capacity.
• Have excellent communications skills, ie: oral, written and IT.
• Have strong ability to practice as an autonomous professional within the boundary of their own modality and their therapeutic role within First Fortnight.
• Exercise professional judgment in the management and prioritisation of their own caseload and treatment plans.
• Committed to working in a trauma-informed, evidenced based manner, acquiring knowledge and proactive learning in relation to advances in theory and practice.
• Have in-depth knowledge of creative therapy guidelines for clinical populations in homeless sector and beyond.
• Maintain fitness to practice, engage in own on-going external clinical supervision, self-care and work to identify personal and professional developmental needs.
• Maintain sound clinical, professional and ethical judgment in the adaptation of the physical settings, clinical model and boundaries in relation to best practice and the client needs.
• Have a broad understanding and working knowledge of legislation and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to relevant fields and the full range of client groups. 

Essential:

• Masters degree in either art therapy, music therapy or drama therapy.
• Accreditation with IACAT. If you are relocating from another jurisdiction, eligibility of accreditation with IACAT is essential.
• 3+ years post qualification experience working with vulnerable populations.

Preferred:

• Completed post qualification training/experience in trauma-informed practice.
• Experience of working in homeless sector.
• Experience in other creative modalities, ie: music, drama, play etc.      

Shortlisting will be carried out based on the information supplied in your application. The criteria for shortlisting will be based on the requirements for the role as outlined above.

Shortlisted applicants will be called to interview.

• Salary range for this role is €40,000 - €45,000 pro-rata depending on experience
• This contract will be offered on a PAYE basis, 2 days per week on a one-year fixed-term contract.
• Annual Leave is offered at 20 days per calendar year pro rata.
• A company laptop and phone will be provided to you.
• This role is subject to successful Garda Vetting.
• First Fortnight will cover the cost of monthly external supervision at the current market rate.
• Regular peer supervision is facilitated by Senior team members.