Job overview
The post holder will be responsible for providing play opportunities that are appropriate for the child's age and developmental stage, as well as offering support to the hospitalized child and their family. They will work alongside a qualified Health Play specialist. Throughout this job description, the term "child" refers to individuals between the ages of 0-18 years, encompassing a wide range of developmental abilities and, at times, complex and challenging behaviours.
This job opportunity is based in a busy paediatric Emergency Department (ED) within the main hospital. The role involves working autonomously with the support of A&E medical staff and the play team on the children's ward'.
For further information about the role, please see the attached recruitment pack which includes a detailed job description and person specification.
For an informal discussion about the role please contact Paulette Ellis-Garvey, Emergency Department Paediatric Lead Matron
Main duties of the job
This job opportunity is based in a busy paediatric A&E department within the main hospital. The role involves working autonomously with the support of A&E medical staff and the play team on the children's ward'. To promote an awareness of the emotional needs of children in hospital, and the importance of play within the multi-disciplinary team.
Working for our organisation
Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain’s leading healthcare providers.
The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.
Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.
We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.
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/s below.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Active enrolment and engagement in educational course to qualify FdE/or equivalent Health Care Play Specialism Qualification (or international equivalent) with graduation expected in 2024
2. Awareness of Children’s safeguarding issues.
Desirable criteria
3. FdE/or equivalent Health Care Play Specialism Qualification (or international equivalent).
Experience
Essential criteria
4. Experience during training or employment working with children within a hospital setting.
5. Experience in child care settings. Experience /knowledge of different cultures and ethnic groups.
6. Experience of working within multidisciplinary team.
7. Knowledge/experience relating to consent, confidentiality and child protection
Knowledge
Essential criteria
8. Communicates in a manner that is consistent with relevant legislation, policies and procedures.
9. Awareness of and commitment to following requirements within HPSET or CCLS registrations.
Skills
Essential criteria
10. Excellent verbal and written communication skills
11. Excellent interpersonal skills Adaptable and able to deal with changing workloads
12. Able to use initiative, work independently and prioritise workload
13. A full understanding and ability to use play preparation, distraction therapy and post procedural play skills
14. Ability to supervise, teach and assess students and volunteers.
15. Sensitive / empathetic to children and their families in hospital.
16. Positive attitude and ability to work under pressure
17. Takes responsibility for own learning. Responsible for own IPR
18. Evidence of continued professional development.
Desirable criteria
19. Work with multi-disciplinary team to identify specific psychological or physical problems offering support and advice to parents about meeting their child's needs and be an advocate for the child and family
Other
Essential criteria
20. Communicates with people in a form and manner that: -Is consistent with their level of understanding, culture, background and preferred ways of communicating.
21. Is appropriate to the purpose of the communication and the context in which it is taking place
22. Encourages the effective participation of all involved
23. Recognises and reflects on barriers to effective communication and modifies communication in response
24. Is proactive in seeking out different styles and methods of communicating to assist longer term needs and aims
25. Takes a proactive role in producing accurate and complete records of communication consistent with legislation, policies and procedures