The Hillingdon Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Band 3 / 4 Hospital Play Specialist (Depending on Qualification)
Children's Day Care & Outpatients Department
(set shift pattern, with a need for flexibility)
Monday 08.00 - 13.30
Tuesday 08.00 - 13.30
Thursday 08.00 - 13.30
An exciting opportunity has arisen to appoint a new play specialist to our team. The successful applicant will need to be motivated, calm under pressure, have good organisational skills and a passion for entertaining and supporting children and young people with a variety of medical, surgical and complex needs, including mental health.
The role of the hospital play specialist is essential to supporting and helping children understand their health care experience. Through the development of strong relationships with the children and young people attending our service, the successful applicant would be responsible for using play as a therapeutic tool to help children understand their illness and treatment.
Previous experience in a similar role and an ability to adapt to a changing environment are essential.
Main duties of the job
You will lead on play activities with children and young people who are in hospital and work closely with other members of the multi-disciplinary team to ensure the child's hospital stay is a positive experience. The role also includes providing distraction therapy and play preparation when children are undergoing procedures and investigations as well as supervising and liaising with visitors to the ward. It will be the responsibility of the post holder to ensure the environment is child friendly and safe.
Job responsibilities
1. Organise daily play services / activities for children of all ages with a variety of health needs either at the bedside or in the playroom.
2. Use theoretical knowledge and evidence-based practice to assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapeutic play interventions in hospital, including distraction and preparation techniques.
3. Provide play activities to achieve developmental goals or therapeutic targets.
4. Work alongside the multidisciplinary team contributing to clinical judgements through documentation and observation.
5. Provide support to families and siblings either resident with their child or visiting the children's wards.
6. Support children and young people admitted with mental health crisis.
7. Ensure play therapy is available across all of the children's areas within the Trust, cross covering for colleagues during periods of absence.
8. Liaise with parents and schools as necessary to ensure the educational needs of hospitalised children are met.
9. Create a child-focused environment where play is encouraged.
Person Specification
Criteria
* Experience of working with children
* Level 3 Qualification in Childcare and Development
* Foundation Level English and Maths qualification
* Hospital Play Specialist Course
* Experience of working with children in a hospital setting.
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.
Employer name
The Hillingdon Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
£31,081 to £33,665 a year per annum/incl HCAS
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