Go back Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust
Play Facilitator
The closing date is 03 September 2025
To work in collaboration with the Play and Youth Service team to meet the general and normalising play/recreation/leisure needs of children & young people through the facilitation of activities within Urgent Care.
Main duties of the job
To facilitate play, recreation and leisure activities for individuals and groups of children/young people in hospital according to their individual needs, as part of an overall plan
To facilitate and support play strategically across the Trust.
To assess, plan, implement, record and evaluate a programme of daily play, recreation and leisure activities which can be delivered flexibly depending on where the child/young person is.
To facilitate and create a caring and safe play, recreation and leisure environment for children/young people and families, helping to reduce anxiety and fear
To advise wards and departments on a receptive environment
Implement and complete cleaning rotas in line with the Trust's Infection Control
Policy ensuring that toys and equipment are cleaned appropriately and to a high standard.
Participate in cleaning audits within the department.
To communicate appropriately with children/young people, families and all members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team.
To ensure that Children/Young People who are anxious or have misunderstood their treatments/procedures will be referred to Specialist Play and Youth Service/ Health in Mind in a timely manner.
To be responsible for ordering toys and play equipment and ensure that the equipment is maintained in good order in consultation with Ward/Department
To use initiative and prioritise own workload.
About us
Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust is the first of its type in the UK. Our Trust was formed in February 2017 to drive forward our commitment to provide the highest quality, world-class physical and mental health care for our women, children and families. Uniting our hospitals means more seamless care; more investment to make greater advances in our specialist treatment and world-leading neo-natal and fetal work. Importantly, it also gives us a greater voice in shaping the future of family-centred care.
Birmingham Children's Hospital is a UK leading specialist paediatric centre with an international reputation in several areas.
Birmingham Women's Hospital is one of two dedicated women's hospitals in the UK, with the busiest single site maternity unit, delivering more than 8,200 babies a year offering a full range of gynaecological, maternity and neonatal care.
Forward Thinking Birmingham (FTB) Mental Health Services are a unique, innovative community and inpatient mental health partnership. Alongside partners FTB offers care pathways of mental health assessment and treatment for young people aged 0-25 years old.
Our Trust is committed to creating the best place to work. We believe in promoting and enhancing inclusion, diversity and equality and encourage applications from all areas of the community, who meet the criteria for the role, regardless of age, gender identity, disability, race, religion or sexual orientation.
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification to view the full details for this opportunity at Birmingham Womens and Childrens NHS Foundation Trust.
When completing your application, please ensure you have evidenced how you meet the job description and person specification to include transferable experience, qualifications, skills along with professional registration details (if applicable).
Occasionally we receive a large number of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* NVQ level 3 in Child Health and Social Care or equivalent
* 5 GCSE's A-C grade including English and Maths
* Making Every Contact Count (MECC) training or willingness to undertake.
Knowledge and Nature of Experience
* Previous relevant experience, especially in the care of children/young people aged 0-19 years
* Knowledge of the importance of play and how development can affect this
* Knowledge of development
* Knowledge of issues relating to consent and confidentiality
* Knowledge and understanding of issues relating to safeguarding and cultural and diversity awareness
* Knowledge/experience working with children/young people with additional needs - Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Learning Disability
Analytical and Judgement Skills
* Excellent concentration and observation skills
* Enthusiastic and self-motivated
* Excellent interpersonal skills
Professional/Managerial/Specialist Knowledge
* Ability to meet the play and recreation needs of individuals and groups of children/young people and their families
* Basic IT skills or be prepared to undertake training identified by the Trust
* To be professional and non-judgmental
* Knowledge of Child Development and Play in children/young people aged 0-19 years
* Awareness of the needs of the hospitalised child/young person and family
* Experience of working with children/young people with learning disabilities including those with challenging behaviour
* Good understanding of Health & Safety issues relating to children/young people and Play
* Enthusiastic in all aspects of professional and personal development
Personal Skills/Abilities and Attributes
* Able to work as part of a team
* Able to liaise with professionals at all levels
* Able to seek and act upon advice
* Have resilience to work with sick and terminally ill children/young people
* To have stamina to work with children and young people
* Able to evaluate and reflect on own practice
Other Requirements
* Demonstrate alignment with the values and beliefs of the Trust
* Demonstrate an understanding of the practices of equality and inclusion in the delivery of this role
* Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required
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
Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust
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