Arts therapists

At the point of registration, arts therapists must be able to:

• 1. practise safely and effectively within their scope of practice

  
  1.1 identify the limits of their practice and when to seek advice or refer to another professional or service

  1.2 recognise the need to manage their own workload and resources safely and effectively, including managing the emotional burden that comes with working in a pressured environment

  1.3 keep their skills and knowledge up to date and understand the importance of continuing professional development throughout their career

  1.4 understand the value of therapy in developing insight and self-awareness through their own personal experience

   

• 2. practise within the legal and ethical boundaries of their profession

  
  2.1 maintain high standards of personal and professional conduct

  2.2 promote and protect the service user’s interests at all times

  2.3 understand the importance of safeguarding by actively looking for signs of abuse, demonstrating understanding of relevant safeguarding processes and engaging in these processes where necessary

  2.4 understand what is required of them by the Health and Care Professions Council, including, but not limited to, the standards of conduct, performance and ethics

  2.5 respect and uphold the rights, dignity, values and autonomy of service users, including their role in the assessment, diagnostic, treatment and/or therapeutic process

  2.6 recognise that relationships with service users, carers and others should be based on mutual respect and trust, maintaining high standards of care in all circumstances

  2.7 understand the importance of and be able to obtain valid consent, which is voluntary and informed, has due regard to capacity, is proportionate to the circumstances and is appropriately documented

  2.8 understand the importance of capacity in the context of delivering care and treatment

  2.9 understand the scope of a professional duty of care, and exercise that duty

  2.10 understand and apply legislation, policies and guidance relevant to their profession and scope of practice

  2.11 recognise the power imbalance that comes with being a healthcare professional, and ensure they do not abuse this for personal gain

  2.12 understand the role of the art, music or dramatherapist in different settings

  2.13 recognise that the obligation to maintain fitness to practise includes engagement in their own arts-based process

   

• 3. look after their health and wellbeing, seeking appropriate support where necessary

  
  3.1 identify anxiety and stress in themselves and recognise the potential impact on their practice

  3.2 understand the importance of their own mental and physical health and wellbeing strategies in maintaining fitness to practise

  3.3 understand how to take appropriate action if their health may affect their ability to practise safely and effectively, including seeking help and support when necessary

  3.4 develop and adopt clear strategies for physical and mental self-care and self-awareness, to maintain a high standard of professional effectiveness and a safe working environment

   

• 4. practise as an autonomous professional, exercising their own professional judgement

  
  4.1 recognise that they are personally responsible for, and must be able to justify, their decisions and actions

  4.2 use their skills, knowledge and experience, and the information available to them, to make informed decisions and/or take action where necessary

  4.3 make reasoned decisions to initiate, continue, modify or cease treatment, or the use of techniques or procedures, and record the decisions and reasoning appropriately

  4.4 make and receive appropriate referrals, where necessary

  4.5 exercise personal initiative

  4.6 demonstrate a logical and systematic approach to problem-solving

  4.7 use research, reasoning and problem-solving skills when determining appropriate actions

  4.8 understand the need for active participation in training, supervision and mentoring in supporting high standards of practice, and personal and professional conduct, and the importance of demonstrating this in practice

   

• 5. recognise the impact of culture, equality and diversity on practice and practise in a non-discriminatory and inclusive manner

  
  5.1 respond appropriately to the needs of all groups and individuals in practice, recognising that this can be affected by difference of any kind including, but not limited to, protected characteristics,* intersectional experiences and cultural differences

  5.2 understand equality legislation and apply it to their practice

  5.3 recognise the potential impact of their own values, beliefs and personal biases (which may be unconscious) on practice and take personal action to ensure all service users and carers are treated appropriately with respect and dignity

  5.4 understand the duty to make reasonable adjustments in practice and be able to make and support reasonable adjustments in their and others’ practice

  5.5 recognise the characteristics and consequences of barriers to inclusion, including for socially isolated groups

  5.6 actively challenge these barriers, supporting the implementation of change wherever possible

  5.7 recognise that regard to equality, diversity and inclusion needs to be embedded in the application of all HCPC standards, across all areas of practice

  5.8 take account of psychological, social, cultural, economic and other relevant factors when collecting case histories and other appropriate information
  
  

  *The Equality Act 2010 defines the protected characteristics as age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership and pregnancy and maternity. Equivalent equality legislation in Northern Ireland protects age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation.

   

• 6. understand the importance of and maintain confidentiality

  
  6.1 adhere to the professional duty of confidentiality and understand when disclosure may be required

  6.2 understand the principles of information and data governance and be aware of the safe and effective use of health, social care and other relevant information

  6.3 recognise and respond in a timely manner to situations where it is necessary to share information to safeguard service users, carers and/or the wider public

  6.4 understand the need to ensure that confidentiality is maintained in all situations in which service users rely on additional communication support (such as interpreters or translators)

  6.5 recognise that the concepts of confidentiality and informed consent extend to all mediums, including illustrative clinical records such as photography, video and audio recordings and digital platforms

  6.6 recognise that the concepts of confidentiality and informed consent extend to illustrative records such as paintings, digital images and other creative practice

   

• 7. communicate effectively

  
  7.1 use effective and appropriate verbal and non-verbal skills to communicate with service users, carers, colleagues and others

  7.2 communicate in English to the required standard for their profession (equivalent to level 7 of the International English Language Testing System, with no element below 6.5*)

  7.3 understand the characteristics and consequences of verbal and non-verbal communication and recognise how these can be affected by difference of any kind, including, but not limited to, protected characteristics,** intersectional experiences and cultural differences

  7.4 work with service users and/or their carers to facilitate the service user’s preferred role in decision-making, and provide service users and carers with the information they may need where appropriate

  7.5 modify their own means of communication to address the individual communication needs and preferences of service users and carers, and remove any barriers to communication where possible

  7.6 understand the need to support the communication needs of service users and carers, such as through the use of an appropriate interpreter

  7.7 use information, communication and digital technologies appropriate to their practice

  7.8 understand the need to provide service users or people acting on their behalf with the information necessary, in accessible formats, to enable them to make informed decisions

  7.9 explain the nature, purpose and techniques of therapy to service users and carers and proceed within an ethos of co-designing the therapeutic alliance
  
  

  * The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) tests competence in the English language. Applicants who have qualified outside of the UK, whose first language is not English and who are not applying through the Swiss Mutual Recognition Route (SMR) must provide evidence that they have reached the necessary standard. More information is available here: Statement on English language proficiency requirements for internationally trained health and care professionals.
  
  ** The Equality Act 2010 defines the protected characteristics as age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership and pregnancy and maternity. Equivalent equality legislation in Northern Ireland protects age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation.

   

• 8. work appropriately with others

  
  8.1 work in partnership with service users, carers, colleagues and others

  8.2 recognise the principles and practices of other health and care professionals and systems and how they interact with their profession

  8.3 understand the need to build and sustain professional relationships as both an autonomous practitioner and collaboratively as a member of a team

  8.4 contribute effectively to work undertaken as part of a multi-disciplinary team

  8.5 identify anxiety and stress in service users, carers and colleagues, adapting their practice and providing support where appropriate

  8.6 understand the qualities, behaviours and benefits of leadership

  8.7 recognise that leadership is a skill all professionals can demonstrate

  8.8 identify their own leadership qualities, behaviours and approaches, taking into account the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion

  8.9 demonstrate leadership behaviours appropriate to their practice

  8.10 act as a role model for others

  8.11 promote and engage in the learning of others

  8.12 understand the need to engage service users and carers as equal partners in planning, co-design and evaluating diagnostics and assessment outcomes, to meet their needs and goals

  8.13 recognise the role of arts therapists as an integral part of health and social care provision for service users and their integration with health and social care

  8.14 understand the need to establish and sustain a therapeutic relationship within a creative and containing environment

   

• 9. maintain records appropriately

  
  9.1 keep full, clear and accurate records in accordance with applicable legislation, protocols and guidelines

  9.2 manage records and all other information in accordance with applicable legislation, protocols and guidelines

  9.3 use digital record keeping tools, where required

   

• 10. reflect on and review practice

  
  10.1 understand the value of reflective practice and the need to record the outcome of such reflection to support continuous improvement

  10.2 recognise the value of multi-disciplinary reviews, case conferences and other methods of review

  10.3 understand the role and value of ongoing clinical supervision in an arts therapy context

   

• 11. assure the quality of their practice

  
  11.1 engage in evidence-based practice

  11.2 gather and use feedback and information, including qualitative and quantitative data, to evaluate the response of service users to their care

  11.3 monitor and systematically evaluate the quality of practice, and maintain an effective quality management and quality assurance process working towards continual improvement

  11.4 participate in quality management, including quality control, quality assurance, clinical governance and the use of appropriate outcome measures

  11.5 evaluate care plans or intervention plans using recognised and appropriate outcome measures, in conjunction with the service user where possible, and revise the plans as necessary

  11.6 recognise the value of gathering and using data for quality assurance and improvement programmes

   

• 12. understand and apply the key concepts of the knowledge base relevant to their profession

  
  12.1 appreciate, and be actively informed by, lived experiences of wellness and illness, as well as the effects of social disablement and exclusion, and consider this alongside diagnostic knowledge that is relevant to their profession

  12.2 demonstrate awareness of the principles and applications of scientific enquiry, including the evaluation of treatment efficacy and the research process

  12.3 recognise the role(s) of other professions in health and social care and understand how they may relate to the role of arts therapists within the integrated teams that serve communities

  12.4 understand the structure and function of health and social care systems and services in the UK

  12.5 recognise the importance of working in partnership with service users when carrying out research

  12.6 understand the theoretical basis of, and the variety of approaches to, assessment and intervention

  12.7 understand the psychological and cultural background to health, and be aware of influences on the service user–therapist relationship

  12.8 understand the core processes in therapeutic practice that are best suited to service users’ needs and be able to engage these to achieve productive outcomes

  12.9 understand the therapeutic relationship, including its limitations

  12.10 employ a coherent approach to the therapeutic process

  12.11 understand how and why different approaches to the use of the arts in arts therapy and in other settings vary according to context and purpose

  12.12 know about theories of group work and the management of group process

  12.13 know about theories relevant to work with an individual

  12.14 know about:
  –human development;
  –psychology;
  –human communication and language development;
  –the continuum of mental health, psychiatric assessment and treatment and self-help and social resources;
  –disability/impairment and ways in which people experience themselves as having been disabled;
  –impairments of social functioning;
  –the principal psychotherapeutic interventions and their theoretical bases; and
  –the nature and application of other relevant interventions

  12.15 recognise different methods of understanding the experience of service users, including diagnosis (specifically mental health and learning disability), and be able to critique these systems of knowledge from different socio-cultural perspectives

  Art therapists only

  12.16 understand that, while art therapy has a number of frames of reference, they must adopt a coherent approach to their therapy, including the relationship between theory, research and practice and the relevant aspects of connected disciplines

  12.17 know the practice and process of visual art-making

  12.18 understand the role of the physical setting and the art-making process in the physical and psychological containment of emotions

  12.19 understand the role and function of the art object within the relationship between service user and art therapist

  12.20 understand the role and use of visual symbols in art that communicate conscious and unconscious processes

  12.21 understand the influence of socio-cultural context on the making and viewing of art in art therapy

  12.22 recognise that different approaches to the use of visual arts practice in therapeutic work have developed in different socio-cultural and political contexts around the world

  Dramatherapists only

  12.23 understand core processes and forms of creativity, movement, play and dramatic representation pertinent to practice with a range of service user groups

  12.24 understand the symbolic value and intent inherent in drama as an art form, and in more explicit forms of enactment and re-enactment of imagined or lived experience

  12.25 know a range of theatrical representation techniques and be able to engage service users in a variety of performance-derived roles

  12.26 recognise that dramatherapy is a unique form of psychotherapy in which creativity, play, movement, voice, storytelling, dramatisation, improvisation and the performance arts have a central position within the therapeutic relationship

  12.27 recognise that different approaches to the discipline have developed from many different cultures and traditions

  12.28 recognise that the discipline has deep foundations within the many cultural traditions that use ritual, play, drama and performance for the enhancement of health

  12.29 know the key principles of influential theatre practitioners and their relevance to the therapeutic setting

  Music therapists only

  12.30 apply a coherent approach to their work, appropriate to each setting in which they practise

  12.31 understand the practice and principles of musical improvisation as an interactive, communicative and relational process, including the psychological and psychosocial significance and effect of shared music-making

  12.32 make culturally-informed use of a broad range of musical styles and genres within their music therapy practice and continue to develop this through engagement in their own arts-based process

  12.33 apply a high degree of musicianship, including the ability to play at least one musical instrument to a high level, and to use their singing voice, a harmonic instrument and digital technology to a competent level

   

• 13. draw on appropriate knowledge and skills to inform practice

  
  13.1 change their practice as needed to take account of new developments, technologies and changing contexts

  13.2 gather appropriate information

  13.3 analyse and critically evaluate the information collected

  13.4 select and use appropriate assessment techniques and equipment

  13.5 undertake and record a thorough, sensitive and detailed assessment

  13.6 undertake or arrange investigations as appropriate

  13.7 conduct appropriate assessment or monitoring procedures, treatment, therapy or other actions safely and effectively

  13.8 recognise a range of research methodologies relevant to their role

  13.9 recognise the value of research to the critical evaluation of practice

  13.10 critically evaluate research and other evidence to inform their own practice

  13.11 engage service users in research as appropriate

  13.12 work with service users to define a clear timeframe for the length of therapy, review this with them and evaluate the therapy's strengths, benefits and limitations

  13.13 formulate specific and appropriate management plans

  13.14 observe and record service users’ responses and assess their implications for diagnosis and intervention

  Art therapists only

  13.15 use a range of arts and art-making materials and techniques competently and be able to support a service user to work with these

  Dramatherapists only

  13.16 use a range of dramatic concepts, techniques and procedures, including games, activities, styles and structures, and improvise drama spontaneously with service users, in a variety of styles and idioms

  Music therapists only

  13.17 use a range of music and music-making techniques competently, including improvisation, structured musical activities, listening approaches and creation, and composition of material and music technology where appropriate, and be able to support the service user to work with these

   

• 14. establish and maintain a safe practice environment

  
  14.1 understand the need to maintain the safety of themself and others, including service users, carers and colleagues

  14.2 demonstrate awareness of relevant health and safety legislation and comply with all local operational procedures and policies

  14.3 work safely, including being able to select appropriate hazard control and risk management, reduction or elimination techniques, in a safe manner and in accordance with health and safety legislation

  14.4 select appropriate personal protective equipment and use it correctly

  14.5 establish safe environments for practice, which appropriately manage risk

   

• 15. promote health and prevent ill health

  
  15.1 understand the role of their profession in health promotion, health education and preventing ill health

  15.2 understand how social, economic and environmental factors (wider determinants of health) can influence a person’s health and wellbeing

  15.3 empower and enable individuals (including service users and colleagues) to play a part in managing their own health

  15.4 engage in occupational health, including being aware of immunisation requirements

   

• Development

  We first published standards of proficiency for arts therapists when our Register opened in July 2003.

  We review the standards regularly to look at how they are working and to check whether they continue to reflect current practice in the professions we regulate. Our most recent review began in 2019 and included a formal consultation and close collaboration with key stakeholders, registrants and professional bodies. The revised sets of standards for all 15 professions were formally approved by our Council in March 2022 and came into effect on 1 September 2023.

  The profession-specific standards for arts therapists were developed with the input of the relevant professional bodies and the views of stakeholders during our consultation work. We are confident that the standards are fit for purpose and reflect safe and effective professional practice in the arts therapies.  

  Please note there will be differences between the documents published on our website before and after the effective date of 1 September 2023, due to amendments and corrections.  

  The publication code for these standards is 20230901POLPUB ASSoP.

• Ensuring the standards remain relevant

  As part of our commitment to ensuring the standards remain relevant to current professional practice, will continue to listen to our stakeholders and keep the standards under regular review.

  This may result in updates to the standards in future, which may include corrections, amendments or changes to ensure the standards remain relevant.

  This is a crucial component in fulfilling our purpose to promote excellence in the professions we regulate, and championing high quality care that the public can access safely and with confidence.  

• Publication information

  This document contains minor amendments to typographical errors, meaning it may differ slightly from previous versions published on our website.

  The publication code for these standards is 20230901 ASSoP.