County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Hospital Play Assistant
The closing date is 27 June 2025
Are you looking to join the Paediatric Team within theEmergency Department at Darlington Memorial Hospital?
A Play Assistant in a Paediatric EmergencyDepartment helps reduce anxiety and fear in children by providing emotionalsupport and engaging activities during their hospital visit. They usetherapeutic play to explain medical procedures in a child-friendly way, offerdistraction during treatments, and create a comforting environment thatpromotes normalcy. By collaborating with healthcare professionals, PlayAssistants ensure that the emotional and psychological needs of young patientsare met, enhancing their overall care experience in the emergency setting.
Main duties of the job
The Play Assistant will provide developmental, therapeuticand specialised play techniques for all ages and diversities in an effort tofulfil emotional, social and developmental needs and help alleviate emotionaltrauma within families.
They will help to bridge the gap betweenhospital and home, creating a positive environment and a positive patientjourney
About us
If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager
You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks
We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented
Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents
Over reliance onAI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances ofsuccess
For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.
From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have a minimum of two yearsof experience working within the NHS as a HCA for the Trust to considersponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria andhave a current visa expiring within 3 months)
Job responsibilities
A Play Assistant in a Paediatric Emergency Department playsa crucial role in supporting the emotional and psychological needs of childrenduring their hospital visit. Their primary responsibility is to create acomforting and child-friendly environment that helps reduce anxiety, stress,and fear often associated with medical settings. Here are key aspects of theirrole:
1. ProvidingDistraction and Comfort: Play Assistants use various activities, such as games,art, and storytelling, to distract children during medical procedures orwaiting times. This helps to minimize distress and make the experience lessintimidating.
2. SupportingTherapeutic Play: They engage children in therapeutic play, which helps themunderstand and cope with their illness, injuries, or upcoming procedures. Thistype of play can help explain medical processes in an age-appropriate way.
3. EmotionalSupport: Play Assistants provide emotional support not only to the children butalso to their families, helping them navigate the challenges of being in anemergency department. They act as a comforting presence during what can be ahighly stressful time.
4. PromotingNormalcy: By encouraging play, they help maintain a sense of normalcy for thechild, which is essential for emotional well-being. This is particularlyimportant in an emergency setting where the environment can be overwhelming andunfamiliar.
5. AssistingHealthcare Professionals: Play Assistants work closely with doctors, nurses,and other healthcare staff, offering insights into a childs emotional stateand needs, which can be valuable during treatment. They may also help preparechildren for procedures, using play to explain what will happen in a way thatis understandable to the child.
6. Creatinga Child-Friendly Environment: They help to design and maintain a welcomingspace filled with age-appropriate toys, books, and activities, ensuring the paediatricemergency department feels less clinical and more engaging for youngpatients.
Person Specification
Experience
* Previous Childcare experience - e.g working within a Nursery or School.
* Experience of working in a Hospital environment.
* Working with Children/young people in intensive settings. Community work/ home/ school visits. Team work experience Special needs experience Leadership experience Working with children/young people in groups or individually Working with different cultures
Special Requirements
* Rotational shift patterns
Special Skills and Knowledge
* Understanding of developmental, social and psychological needs of children, young people and their families.
* Knowledge of developmental needs from birth to 18 years, incorporating all special needs, Cultures and diversities. Understanding health & safety issues and confidentiality/data protection. Leadership skills- Leading play service in area of work and leading projects and schemes. Ability to empower other health care professionals in providing specialised play materials and interaction. Communication skills. Negotiation skills. Organisation skills. Able to work independently using own initiative and within a team. Document and report writing skills. Enthusiastic and forward thinking. Ability to reflect practice through. Show willingness to learn and develop self and practice. Ability to work with families under stress.
* Awareness of literature and government legislation relating to children and young people including child protection, Childrens Act 1989, Human Rights Act, UN Convention The rights of the child etc. Clinical skills in all aspects of developmental, therapeutic & specialised play. Presentation/teaching skills. Consultation skills with children/teenagers and families to obtain user views and participation.
Qualifications
* Maths and English GCSE/equivalent
* NVQ Level 3 in Childcare or equivalent (e.g. NNEB BTEC Nursery Nurse
* qualification)
* Play work special needs
* Level 2 safeguarding
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer name
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
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