Main Duties and Responsibilities. To create a welcoming, caring and safe play environment for the CYP with cancer and their families. To use play as a tool to communicate and build a rapport with children and young people with cancer attending the hospital. To manage and be responsible in using theoretical knowledge and evidence-based practice to assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapeutic play interventions in hospital which encompass the development and emotional needs of CYP. (This includes distraction and preparations techniques). To take individual referrals for children/Young people and their family members experiencing difficulty in managing hospital admissions/procedures. To work with members of the Oncology MDT. To document therapeutic interventions and outcomes on patient records system. To ensure that patient records and activity data are maintained contemporaneously in accordance with Professional and Trust standards. Attend MDT meetings and contribute to treatment and care plans. Devise play programmes for CYP with cancer in hospital or home, according to their individual needs and as part of their overall care plan. To plan and implement individual therapeutic play programmes to include preparation for invasive, such as chemotherapy or biopsy and non-invasive procedures. (This includes distraction therapy and post procedural play). To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions using reflective practice to achieve best outcomes. To support and involve parents and carers in their childs distraction and play plans. To empathise with and provide and/or facilitate emotional support to parents, carers and siblings during times of stress or crisis, such as at a time of medical diagnosis or bereavement. To establish effective communication, both verbal and written, with all members of the multi-disciplinary team. To establish communication links with other agencies / hospitals involved with the CYP. To work as a member of the multi-disciplinary team, contributing to patient treatment/care plans. To provide play-based observations to influence and support the overall assessment of CYP. To contribute and provide expert knowledge when involved in specific projects, audits and plans sharing at a local level. To contribute to the development of protocols, standards (including cancer standards), guidelines and competencies for the department and devise standards for the Play and Youth service. To be responsible for mentoring and clinically supervising Play Workers in your team, with support from your team. Personal and professional development To comply with the SoHPS Code of Professional Conduct. To actively participate in maintaining own professional development, identifying own educational and clinical training needs with Line Manager. To maintain a continuing professional portfolio in line with SoHPS recommendations for re-registration, recording learning outcomes from practice and participation in internal and external development opportunities. To ensure own mandatory training certificates are current. To be actively involved in relevant special interest groups. To contribute to policy development demonstrating the ability to evaluate current research and apply to practice. Departmental To contribute to the planning, evaluation and audit of practice, care pathways and protocols to ensure a consistent and high-quality service. To proactive in the delivery of the play service development plan as part of the overall business plan for the Paediatric oncology, Therapies, Dietetics and Play and Youth Services. To attend staff meetings to share relevant information related to the Trust and the Play & Youth department. To attend CYP service user groups to ensure the safe, meaningful and ethical participation of children and young people within the delivery of quality child health services To select, order and monitor play resources to reflect the needs of the patient group, specialist resources for the use in preparation and distraction will be ordered by the HPS. To be responsible for maintaining the services play resources, in accordance with Trust health and safety and infection control standards. To establish effective communication, both verbal and written, with all members of the multidisciplinary team in child health and in other departments of the hospital where children are treated. To work closely with the Hospital School to minimise the interruption and disruption to children and young peoples education so that academic progress and an interest in learning will continue, as far as medical circumstances permit. To work with hospital and external charities in identifying fundraising opportunities for activities and resources. Education and training To participate in the departments in-service training programmes. Where appropriate represent King's Trust and the Play and Youth Service at conferences and meetings presenting case studies and best practice. To supervise and act as a mentor for HPS/nursing and other health and social care students, as well as and work experience students and volunteers on placement under the direction line manager. To create teaching sessions and participate in the training and education of other health care professionals to promote awareness of the therapeutic benefits of play in hospital, both internally and externally