Creating a New Music Therapy Post

Abstract

This paper describes a pilot project carried out as part of a newly created music therapy post in the NHS. It briefly sets out the circumstances surrounding the creation of the post, followed by a full description of the six-month research project. This includes a discussion of seven aims for music therapy in mental health, which form the basis of the research. The process of evaluation is presented, with an analysis of the involvement of the multi-disciplinary team in the work. Music therapy was carried out with six different client groups. Both clients and staff were involved in evaluating the service, and the benefits and difficulties of client-based evaluation are discussed. The results of this evidence-based research are presented in full. The paper also seeks to comment briefly on the experience of creating a new post within the NHS and the use of evidence-based research to justify the employment of a music therapist.