The Agenda for Change (AfC) provides a structured standardised approach for job profiles within the NHS (NHS Employers, 2022). AfC is divided into bands; as the bands increase, so do the levels of pay, skills and responsibilities. Arts therapists’ banding ranges from 6 to 8d and there are certain competencies that make up the different job profiles (NHS Employers, 2021a; Health Careers, 2022).

In 2020, Kat Leggett was appointed to an art therapy development post within a Community Learning Disability service. Kat had graduated in 2019. The development post is similar to a preceptorship, which is common within other NHS professions (NHS Employers, 2021b). This position supports Kat to develop from a band 6 to a band 7 by achieving competencies highlighted within the band 7 job profile.

The intention behind this article is to explore Kat’s experience of how it feels to be in a development post, and what value it may have to the wider art therapy community.

Franki Campbell previously worked within the same Trust as Kat, and also has experience of meeting the band 7 competencies early on in her art therapy career.

F: My first question is, What is a development post?

K: A development post is essentially a reviewed process that supports me to move from band 6 to band 7. This is achieved by completing certain competencies over a period of time – for me, roughly 12 to 18 months.

F: Is that unusual within advertised art therapy posts in the NHS?

K: I wasn’t aware it was something available to me. I noticed most NHS jobs for art therapists tend to be band 7 and did apply for these after qualifying. However, feedback I received was about my lack of band 7 experience. I understood this, although worried I would hear that forever if I never got an opportunity.

F: So it's an opportunity to get into that higher band whilst being supported?

K: Yeah, it focuses on development and career progression. For me, it’s been a stepping-stone into band 7 when perhaps I wasn't quite ready as newly qualified. In hindsight, if I had secured a band 7 post, I wonder if it would’ve felt daunting, especially as we are usually a lone practitioner within a service. Though this is in relation to my own past experiences, so it may be different and not needed for everyone.

F: What benefits does your service receive from having you on a development post?

K: The service has been able to tailor aspects of the criteria to suit both their needs and the needs of the client group. Art therapists have a lot of transferable skills, so aspects of the development post highlight the work that we do ‘outside’ of the therapy room and the breadth of value our profession brings. Also, in terms of career longevity, there’s a level of investment for myself and the service. Therefore, offering development posts may help retain staff.

F: There also seems to be something around going from being a trainee to a graduate – in terms of the level of support you get?

K: Yeah, there is quite a shift after graduating. I feel the development post has acted as a ‘bridge’ for this transition. Also, I find myself often thinking ‘Where can I next be developing?’. It has supported my focus and aspirations of where I’d like to see myself.

F: Can you tell me more about the specific competencies?

K: There are seven areas of competencies (Fig.1). The first was easy – to be registered as an art therapist with HCPC! The second competency is Clinical Work, so focusing around gaining more significant experience – both direct and indirect aspects. This includes working across a range of referral presentations of varying complexities and building on skills around assessment, formulation and intervention. There were also specific trainings I was expected to do, such as the specialised trauma model, CATT (Children’s Accelerated Trauma Technique), and BAAT’s two-day Supervision course. This relates to the third competency, Clinical Supervision, which is mostly around taking on a trainee.

F: What about in terms of supporting other professionals within the team?

K: That links into the fourth criterion, Clinical Leadership – demonstrating and supporting the team with my clinical knowledge, but also, encouragement to explore my value base with regards to leadership. I’ve had opportunities to notice where my strengths are and what's important to me as a leader. I don't think I would’ve thought about it in the same way had I not been on a development post.

F: That's really interesting. Maybe it's hard to notice those things without having a space where it is being reviewed?

K: I think so, as I also receive feedback from my supervisor. It reminds me about our work as art therapists, of how valuable it is to have a space to reflect; you notice so much of what may otherwise be missed. As it’s a reviewed process, I'm consistently provided with time to note what I'm learning, what I’m thinking about and how I’ve grown.

F: It sounds like you can really see yourself moving forward with your career – that it's quite a visual thing.

K: For me, it feels exciting. I’m not stagnant – which creates the feeling of progressing on a journey. That’s really key. It's helping me achieve things I might not be so confident to do ‘on my own’. Even when I get to band 7, I will now have a better sense of both my strengths and where I can still develop, as I’m not expected to achieve absolutely everything within the competencies criteria before moving up.

F: So, it's not one-dimensional in terms of ‘This is exactly what you have to do’, or ‘You've got to tick all these boxes’?

K: Not at all. Within each competency area we highlighted what feels important for me, as well as what’s important for the service. It’s felt somewhat tailored toward the art therapist I want to be. I’m not being asked to fit into a box and my identity as an art therapist still threads within it. I can focus on areas I see myself developing well in.

F: It sounds as though you've got the opportunity to blossom within a service and really reach your full potential.

K: Yes, which brings us to the sixth competency area – Freedom to Act. This is around demonstrating confidence in my role as an art therapist. Development in this area can also be recognised by my colleagues, as opportunities to develop come from learning from others too. I feel this then feeds back into the service, so it’s a very organic process in that way.

F: That's important, isn't it? You don't just come out as a graduate and can instantly do everything. Maybe there’s the expectation after graduating that you need to step up and be everything in order to obtain a job, especially as most NHS jobs start at band 7?

K: I wonder whether it’s an internal pressure or something expected by employers. Our training is so intensive and at such a high level, so to come out of it and not easily find work is hard. I hope this experience carries me forward for the rest of my career.

F: In terms of Art Therapy training, is there something you feel would’ve prepared you more coming out?

K: I'm aware we're talking in terms of the NHS as opposed to private sector, but the reality of our work is broader than what goes on within the therapy room. It’s obviously at the core of what we do, but there’s so much that goes on outside of the space I was not prepared for. We have a lot of transferable skills. I don’t recall career development as something much discussed within training. It’s helped me to realise the breadth of value art therapists bring into the places in which we work. I’m being asked ‘What are my passions?’, ‘Where do I want to develop?’. I hadn't really explored that before. I’m reflecting on my identity as an art therapist.

F: So it's a lot broader than specifically ‘You're an art therapist so you're here to do art therapy.’ There seems so much more involved, but that’s the reality of working, isn't it? No one's the same, everyone works differently. With that in mind, how has your supervisor helped you through this process?

K: For me, my clinical supervisor, line manager and reviewer of competencies is the same person. This helps keep my development in mind and see clearly where areas of development are occurring. We may reflect, in other contexts, ‘Is this evidence towards my competencies or something to build on?’

F: It sounds much like a mentorship. In terms of when organisations are advertising art therapy jobs, when might a development post be considered?

K: A development post could be thought about during the interview process, for those who might not have the breadth of experience but [in whom] nevertheless employers see potential. It could also be helpful for people returning to practice or for art therapists moving into new client groups. It supports what the person already knows but creates space for building confidence.

Hopefully this article brings more awareness of development posts as something that can be asked for. It’s respecting how we want to be invested in and knowing there's a lot we bring. It may open up possibilities within services which do not currently have art therapists. We should feel like we have opportunities to grow and develop in our careers.

F: I'm wondering if there is a political element to art therapists’ banding?

K: A development post recognises the art therapist is needed to work at band 7 but supports those without that level of previous experience to move into those roles – while at the same time creating job security. As I am going through a process that feels evidence-based, it reminds me of everything we bring to the services we work in.

F: As you're coming to the end of this process, are there any other considerations that are helpful to highlight?

K: There’s an element of pressure to be mindful of, as I'm aware there's things I need to achieve. At the same time, it takes out an element of burnout because I'm being checked in on and supported. I'm still quite early on in my career but going through this process has helped me experience things I wouldn’t have necessarily envisioned I’d be doing at this point. Because it’s structured in some form, it’s a containing process.

I can map out where I want to be. This goes into criterion five – Audit, Research, Presentation and Publication. There's potential to be part of projects as well as opportunities to reflect and promote not only where my strengths are, but those of the service I am working in.

It’s helping me recognise my limits as well. That's within HCPC standards, isn't it – knowing your limits? That comes with a level of experience, which leads to the final criterion, which is Service-Specific and Individual Requirements.

F: So, these elements can benefit both your career, as well as the art therapy profession as a whole?

K: I think that is why it is helpful to know there are processes to support our careers and promote the work we do. It's allowed me to expand my work, which I will carry forward as a practitioner. It’s helped me gain clearer understanding of who I want to be as an art therapist and has been a great start to my career.