SENIOR ART THERAPIST

Code: 04568 Local Competitive

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under general direction of a physician, plans and conducts art therapy programs to aid mentally ill and physically disabled patients in their recovery or adjustment; exercises independent judgement; may supervise the work of therapists and supportive staff; does other related work.

Examples of work

• Confers with members of medical team to determine nature of patient illness.
• Plans, develops, implements and conducts art therapy to achieve the treatment goals.
• Recommends art therapy program for patients taking into consideration the emotional and physical condition and abilities of patients.
• Devises program and instruct patients in art techniques.
• Encourages and guides patient participation.
• Appraises patient's art projections and recovery progress.
• Maintains records of individual cases and submits periodic progress reports to the referring physician and other members of the treatment team.
• Reviews treatment plans for technical adequacy and appropriateness in relation to the treatment objectives.
• Reviews written reports covering initial evaluation, progress and termination of treatment for conformance with medical objectives and adherence to professional standards and practices.
• May supervise the work activities of therapists and supportive staff in specific therapeutic techniques, carrying out the objectives of the treatment plan and their relationship with patients and therapist.
• Participates in professional and related meetings.
• Maintains and repairs art materials and equipment.
• May participate in the clinical training of student therapists.
• Establishes and maintains records and files.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronics and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Education

Possession of a Masters degree in Art Therapy or related field with at least twenty one (21) semester hours of credit in art therapy from an accredited college or university, including or supplemented by six hundred (600) hours of supervised clinical training in art therapy.

Experience

One (1) year of experience in providing art therapy services and programs.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of sculpture, painting, and other fine arts.
• Knowledge of familiarity with approved art therapy principles, procedures, and techniques.
• Knowledge of illness and disability with implications for therapeutic art programming for patients.
• Knowledge of psychotherapy and psychological principles.
• Knowledge of activity modification techniques used to adopt the practices and procedures of art therapy to the specific needs of individual and groups of patients.
• Knowledge of procedures used in formulating individual and group diagnostic assessments, prescriptions, and treatment plans for patients.
• Knowledge of recording and reporting patient treatment and rehabilitation information, both in single therapy and multi-disciplinary treatment settings.
• Ability to adapt standard practices and procedures of art therapy to the needs and limitations of individual patients and groups of patients and to the treatment objectives prescribed by medical terms.
• Ability to integrate art therapy into the overall team treatment plans.
• Ability to plan, organize, and carry out individual and group programs of art therapy.
• Ability to sculpture and paint.
• Ability to evaluate degree to which art therapy programs are meeting their objectives.
• Ability to give assignments, review work and give instruction to employees.
• Ability to plan, organize, implement and manage a variety of therapeutic art activities for individual patients or group patients within the framework of a medical team approach to patient care, physiotherapy and psychotherapy treatment and rehabilitation.
• Ability to motivate, communicate, and work effectively with physically and psychologically handicapped persons.
• Ability to prepare progress notes on patients.
• Ability to interpret written regulations, guidelines and technical professional information.
• Ability to maintain harmonious working relationships with professional and sub-professional personnel.
• Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.