Are you passionate about creating fun, meaningful experiences for children and young people? Were looking for someone who can help plan, lead, and support play and activity sessions that are engaging, inclusive, and tailored to each childs age, needs, and background‑especially those with special educational needs (SEN). This is a part time role, 16 hours per week. Candidates would need to be available for shifts across Monday to Sunday, and be available during evenings, weekends and bank holidays, on a rostered basis. In this role, youll be at the heart of creating positive, meaningful experiences for children, young people, and their families. Your key responsibilities will include:
* Planning and leading play activities that promote emotional, social, and developmental wellbeing.
* Creating a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment where children and young people feel supported and empowered to express themselves.
* Supporting parents and carers to build confidence in engaging and playing with their child, helping to strengthen those vital early bonds.
* Youll also contribute to play assessments, helping to identify the individual developmental and emotional needs of each child. Working closely with other professionals, youll assist in the planning and delivery of tailored play programmes that form part of each childs wider holistic care.
* Help to provide an attractive, child‑orientated environment including the Children and Young Peoples own work.
* Encourage play to maintain the child/young persons link with family and home and to help the child/young person to adjust to the hospice situation.
* Facilitate active play for children with special needs.
* Provide appropriate play that promotes growth and development (social, emotional, physical, and cognitive).
* Help familiarise children and young people with unfamiliar surroundings to reduce stress and anxiety.
* Assist the Play Therapist in supporting children/young people who are experiencing death and bereavement helping children and young people to understand and explore grief and loss through play.
* Encourage parents/carers, siblings, and all members of staff to participate in play.
* Ensure that a range of activities are available for other staff to utilise in the absence of the play specialist.
* Observe and assess the child/young persons anxieties and communicate these to the appropriate staff.
* Establish effective communication with all members of the multidisciplinary team.
At Havens Hospices, we care for children, young people and adults with complex or incurable conditions. Our specialist Care Teams can support them and their family living throughout illness, death and bereavement in the comfort of their own home and through our hospice services, Fair Havens and Little Havens. Working at Havens Hospices allows you to give the gift of time to patients and families, creating memories. Although you may not be giving direct care to our patients, your contribution will have an immediate effect on our care services.
In return for your expertise and passion, you will receive a competitive salary package, and most of all, by making the most of every day you work at Havens Hospices youll be helping us continue Making every day count for those who need us most.
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