Job overview
There is an exciting opportunity to join our Play Team at GOSH as a Senior Play Worker. We have a One Team ethos, and you will be required to support your fellow Play Team members across the whole hospital.
Play is integral to the wellbeing of children, young people and families, and this post will see you use your knowledge of play and child development to provide normalising play opportunities, promoting a positive patient experience.
The role of the Senior Play Worker enhances children and young people's hospital experiences. This may be at the bedside or in a playroom setting, bringing your creative skills, enthusiasm and passion to deliver meaningful play opportunities, while providing much needed family support. Provide guidance and active leadership to all Play Worker colleagues across the Team.
You will provide high quality, holistic play for all children and their families across the Trust, enabling them to feel safe and at ease within the hospital environment.
You will ensure that all children and young people have appropriate access to play whilst at the hospital and offer opportunities to play that reflects diversity and inclusivity.
Main duties of the job
· Provide high quality, holistic play for all children, young people, and their families across the Trust, enabling them to feel safe and at ease within the hospital environment.
· Work flexibly with other Play workers within the team, and across multi teams.
· Ensure that all children and young people have appropriate access to play whilst at the hospital and offer opportunities to play that reflects diversity and inclusivity.
· Mentoring apprentices on Level 2 Health Play work apprenticeship. Responsible for teaching, clinical guidance and support.
· Promote and develop play projects, liaising with colleagues, and create innovation to promote a positive patient experience through play.
Working for our organisation
GOSH is committed to recruiting the best person for the job, based solely on their ability and individual merit as measured against the criteria for the role; through a process that is fair, open, consistent and free from bias and discrimination.
We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture where all staff are valued, respected and acknowledged. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, disability status or length of time spent unemployed.
We particularly welcome applications from BAME communities, people with disabilities and/or long-term health conditions and LGBT+ community members.
We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants and employees are treated fairly and consistently. We are proud to be accredited as a Disability Confident Employer, a member of Business Disability Forum and a Stonewall Diversity Champion.
We have active and Executive supported BAME, LGBT+ and Allies, Disability and Long-Term Health Conditions and Women’s staff networks. Staff networks are employee-led groups formed around interests, issues and a common bond or background. Staff network members create a positive and inclusive work environment at Great Ormond Street Hospital by actively contributing to the Trust’s mission, values and efforts specific to inclusion. All of our staff networks are open to any employee.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents please view the attachment.
Person specification
Academic/Professional qualification/Training
Essential criteria
* NVQ, CACHE, NNEB (Level 3) in Child Care/Play Work or Diploma in Children and Young Peoples Workforce or Early Childhood Studies
* Basic Secondary Education up to 5 GCSE level or beyond, including English and Math’s (GCSE Grade A* - C)
Desirable criteria
* Educated to level 5 in relevant subject (Play work/Child Development/Therapeutic Play) •diploma of higher education (DipHE)
* Level 5 qualifications are - foundation degree, higher national diploma (HND), level 5 award, level 5 certificate, level 5 diploma, level 5 NVQ
Skills/Abilities
Essential criteria
* Ability to work with and provide activities to individual and groups of children and young people in hospital.
* Effective verbal and written communication skills
* Ability to understanding and adhere to professional boundaries of the role, and to line manager where necessary
* Good organisational skills
* Health, safety, and risk awareness. Documentation and data input skills IT Skills- for word, excel and teams etc.
* Knowledge of documenting play sessions into EPIC.
Desirable criteria
* IT Skills
Experience/Knowledge
Essential criteria
* Previous experience of working with children/young people in healthcare
* Knowledge and understanding of child development.
* Experience of working as a team member.
* Experience of working as part of a diverse team.
* Experience of contributing to an inclusive workplace culture
* Basic knowledge of confidentiality
Desirable criteria
* Knowledge of the value of play for sick children
* Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development
* Experience of working with parents and extended families
GOSH Culture and Values
Essential criteria
* Our Always values •Always welcoming •Always helpful •Always expert •Always one team