Job Summary
The post holder will be one of a team of play specialists.
You will work to ensure high quality play provision for patients and siblings. Prepare the child and family for treatments and procedures.
Facilitate emotional support and help to establish coping strategies.
The post will be predominantly in the children's unit, but also you may be required in other areas of the hospital where children are cared for.
Main duties of the job
A Play Specialist's main duties include providing therapeutic and developmental play to help children cope with illness and hospitalisation, preparing them for medical procedures through age-appropriate explanations and play techniques, and supporting their emotional well-being by reducing anxiety and distress. They also work to maintain cognitive, social, and physical development during hospital stays, collaborate with families and healthcare teams to improve communication and involvement, and advocate for the child's needs to ensure a positive, child-centered care experience.
About Us
Our STAR values - Service, Teamwork, Ambition and Respect - are a golden thread running through everything we do. These values serve as a guiding principle, driving us towards our vision of delivering great joined up services to our local community. Whether at home, in the community, or within the hospital, our goal is to empower individuals to lead independent and healthier lives.
Job Description
Job responsibilities
To act as an advocate for the child and family
Encourage and support parents to participate in play with their children
To provide preparation for children undergoing treatment and medical procedures
Explain reasons for treatment or the nature of the illness on a level that the child can understand
Ensure that information given to the child/family is consistent and presented in a professional manner
Educate and empower parents as necessary on the benefits of play and how to facilitate appropriate play to enhance the childs development and recovery
Implement distraction/coping strategies
To work in conjunction with the Play Specialist team and Co-ordinator to develop the provision of play
To apply evidence-based practice to areas of your work
To use knowledge to select and apply appropriate techniques to facilitate children and young people to overcome difficulties with hospital admission and procedures
Assess, plan and implement play programmes for a varied client group
Select monitor and advise on play resources required to reflect the need of the client group
To provide emotional support for families when in crisis or under stress
To establish and maintain effective communication both verbal and written with all members of the multidisciplinary team throughout the hospital
To ensure all toys, play equipment and facilities are clean and safe, maintained to comply with Trust policies, and stored safely.
To attend clinics as requested to prepare the child psychologically for procedures and provide distraction therapy
Provide teaching sessions to other staff and students as required to promote an awareness of the therapeutic benefits of play and the effects of hospitalisation
Through play provide support to assist children in understanding and coping with serious illness, disability or death.
To demonstrate and apply knowledge of the effects of hospitalisation and illness on the child/family
To review and reflect on your own practice and attend an annual appraisal.
To participate in ongoing professional development
Recognise and respond appropriately to emergency situations
To provide supervision and support to junior team members
Person Specification
Qualifications
Qualifications Essential
HPSET Qualified Hospital Play Specialist or 2nd year Trainee Hospital Play Specialist
Desirable
Professional Childcare Qualification level 3
Experience Essential
Evidence of personal or professional development
Understanding of family centred care and able to deliver play in a holistic child/family focused manner
Knowledge and understanding of confidentiality
Understands the importance of child protection and safeguarding children
Desirable
Experienced at working in a hospital setting with children and families
Additional information
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab) .
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab) .
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).