The play specialist is a person with expert knowledge and experience of play with the well child and with the sick child/ young person. The play specialist is fully integrated member of the health professional's team. The play specialist will work within the play service and ward/ team environment but also they will work independently using their own initiative, organisation, leadership, and time management. The play specialist will provide developmental, therapeutic and socialised play techniques for all ages and diversities in an effort to fulfil emotional, social and developmental needs and help alleviate emotional trauma within families.
They will help to bridge a gap between hospital and home, creating a positive environment and a positive patient journey. The play specialist will provide interesting and stimulating play programmes for children and young people. They will highlight the importance of play in assisting recovery and aiding development to all health professionals and students.
Main duties of the job
To be a communicating link with health care professionals between the child and the parents/carer including internal and external professionals.
Assess the needs and views of children and young people to provide developmental and therapeutic play activities creating an environment both comfortable and enjoyable.
Make time to listen to anxious children, young people and family members including siblings and help give emotional support when required. Document and communicate relative information to other health professionals.
Provide specialised distraction and post procedural play within a variety of clinics.
Provide normalising play for all inpatients.
Devise individual play sessions where appropriate and monitor the emotional well being of long term patients.
About us
About us
Wye Valley NHS Trust is a member of an NHS Foundation Group with South Warwickshire University NHS FT, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and Worcestershire Acute NHS Hospitals Trust.
Located on the border with Wales in the shadow of the Black Mountains, we provide acute and community services across Herefordshire and into parts of Powys and run Hereford County Hospital and the community hospitals in Bromyard, Leominster and Ross-on-Wye.
We are a progressive and forward looking trust with ambitious plans to improve quality and integrate patient pathways through close collaborative working with our partners to deliver the quality of care wed want for our family and friends.
More than 3,000 people work for the Trust they tell us its a great place to work, blending the busyness of a DGH with the benefits of working in a beautiful rural and unspoilt county like Herefordshire.
We can offer a great work-life balance and have a fine tradition of working with staff to help them achieve their full potential.
Russell Hardy, Trust Chairman: "The strength of the Trust is its amazing staff; a great place to work, a great place to develop your career and a great place to reach your potential."
Our values -Care, Accountability, Respect and Excellence - are at the heart of all we do. We believe in providing the right care in the right place at the right time.
Job responsibilities
Attached to job advertisement and added to role requirements.
If you require any further information please contact Ward Sister.
Person Specification
Education and Qualification
* (Registered) Foundation Degree or NVQ Level 4 also NNEB/BTEC Diploma in Nursery Nursing or BTEC Diploma in Childcare & Development (relevant childcare qualification NVQ level 3 equivalent )
Skills, Knowledge and abilities
* 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
* Document and report writing skills
* Clinical skills in all aspects of developmental, therapeutic & specialised play
Experience
* Post qualification experience working in childcare/youth work setting: Experience working with the well child/young person Experience of working with child/young people with complex health needs Hospital experience Experience in Psychological -Preparation & Distraction/Diversional
* Community work/ home/ school visits. Team work experience Youth worker experience Special needs experience Working with children/young people in groups or individually Working with different cultures
Personal Attributes
* Good role model Keen and quick to learn Flexibility Good time management Professional Approach Good communication to children/young people and parents and all disciplines Honest, reliable and trustworthy
* 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. Able to use own initiative and within a team Forward thinking Ability to reflect practice through literature research and action research Show willingness to learn and develop self and practice. Ability to work with families under stress
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.
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