We are an award-winning organisation providing care at two main hospital sites—Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital—and a number of community-based services across London, such as sexual health and HIV clinics.
With 6,700 members of staff, we are proud to care for a diverse population of one million people. We are committed to ensuring that our workforce is just as diverse with a strong mix of skills and abilities.
Our staff are at the very heart of our organisation and we recognise the valuable contribution that each and every person working at the Trust makes. One of our Trust priorities is to be an employer of choice—a place where people want to start their career and to grow with us through continued education, professional development and support.
Site: Cross Site role - primarily at Chelsea and Westminster Town London. Salary: £29,485 - £31,088 per annum incl. HCAS. Salary period: Yearly. Closing: 13/01/2025 23:59.
Job overview
Cross site - primarily based at Chelsea and Westminster hospital
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated Hospital Play Support Worker to join the Play Team at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital.
The role includes working alongside other Play Support workers, Health Play Specialists, and a Youth Worker to enhance the hospital experience of children, young people, and their families.
Play is essential to children and young people’s health and wellbeing, and with this in mind, the candidate will use their knowledge of play development to provide a wide range of stimulating play activities. You will provide holistic support to patients and families creating normalised and therapeutic play opportunities, reflecting on diversity and inclusion.
The Hospital Play Support Worker will be required to work both autonomously and will be required to organise their working day to fit in with the needs of the patients and families.
You will be working in collaboration with physios, psychology, hospital school, and the rest of the multi-disciplinary team to ensure a positive patient care pathway. Ideally, the successful candidate would have excellent verbal and communication skills, and a clear understanding of safeguarding processes and patient confidentiality.
Main duties of the job
To organise and supervise play activities for individuals and groups of children and young people in hospital, according to their individual needs and as part of the overall plan of care.
Working for our organisation
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites—Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital—along with award-winning clinics across North West London.
Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5 million, providing full clinical services, including maternity, A&E, and children’s services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health clinics. The Care Quality Commission rates us 'Good' in safety, effectiveness, care, and responsiveness, and 'Outstanding' in leadership and resource use.
We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and Westminster and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Middlesex.
We welcome applications for flexible working arrangements, accommodating requests where possible to support our staff and patient needs.
The Trust is committed to equality and welcomes applications from all, regardless of background. Adjustments can be made for disabled candidates. Early application is advised as vacancies may close once sufficient applications are received. If you haven’t heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probationary period.
Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Play service runs from 08:00 - 17:00.
To provide play sessions and activities for children at their bed spaces where they cannot come into the designated space.
To organise and tailor play and recreation activities to the individual needs of the patient and circumstance.
To offer play intervention for siblings.
To plan a programme of daily play activities for the playroom or outpatient play areas.
To establish effective and professional communication, both verbal and written with children/families and all members of the multidisciplinary team, referring information to seniors when appropriate.
To provide play-based observations to support the overall assessment of the child.
To ensure that up-to-date written records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards.
To comply with Trust policies.
To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of patients and their families, and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.
Person specification
Qualifications
* Good understanding of English/literate
Skills
* Knowledge of child development and stage appropriate play for children
* Awareness of Children’s Act and Safeguarding Children processes
Experience
* Proven experience of working professionally with children
* Demonstrate experience of working with children in a group environment
Personal Qualities
* Sensitive/empathic to children and families in hospital
* Commitment to patient/family – centred, non-discriminatory practice
* Demonstrate evidence of, and being able to understand and promote our Trust values.
Important
* The closing date given is a guide only. There may be some occasions when we have to close a vacancy once sufficient applications have been received. You are therefore advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
* Please check your emails regularly as this is how we will communicate with you throughout the recruitment process.
* If you have not heard from us within 3 weeks after the closing date, we regret that this usually means your application was not successful.
* In submitting an application, you authorise the Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process, should you be appointed to the post.
* During the recruitment process, your identity documentation (i.e., passport, driving licence, visa, etc.) will be scanned using a device which recognises UV, infrared and machine-readable zone security features of the documents provided.
* Employment at the Trust is offered subject to successful completion of a six-month probationary period.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
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