Job summary Working in a busy Regional unit for children with burn injuries can be both challenging and highly rewarding. We cover a population of over 5.5 million. This specialised setting presents unique demands, including managing acute burn care, complex emotional support, and long-term rehabilitation for young patients. The environment can be fast-paced due to the urgency of burn treatments and the need for multidisciplinary care. Children often face physical pain, trauma, and psychological distress, which requires not only medical expertise but also compassion and a strong therapeutic approach. The Health Play Leaders role is pivotal in helping to provide this care and the rewards stem from the positive impact you can have on the lives of these children and their families. The resilience and progress seen in young patients, as they heal physically and emotionally, are deeply fulfilling. The role allows professionals to witness life-changing recoveries and play a part in a child's journey back to normalcy. An excellent team dynamic is crucial in this setting. Effective teamwork fosters an environment of shared knowledge, emotional support, and innovation in treatment. The high level of coordination and mutual respect within the team helps to ensure that every aspect of the child's care is addressed, making the experience both professionally and personally satisfying for those involved. Main duties of the job In our Regional Children's Burns Unit, a Play Leader plays a vital role within our team to support the emotional, psychological, and developmental needs of children undergoing treatment for burn injuries. Their main duties involve using play and therapeutic activities to help children cope with the stress, pain, and trauma associated with their condition, which can help children express their emotions, fears, and anxieties related to their injuries and treatment. Play helps children process difficult experiences and offers a sense of normalcy. The use of distraction techniques during medical procedures, such as using toys, games, and interactive activities can help to divert the child's attention away from pain or discomfort. Play leaders assist with physical therapy and supporting transitions by integrating play into rehabilitation exercises. This makes it more enjoyable and engaging for the child, and encourages children to participate in activities that help them regain motor skills and build strength, supporting their recovery and helping them feel more confident in their physical abilities, and prepare for home. The play leader will help our psychologist to support siblings and families, providing resources or offering play opportunities that involve the family. The play leader will document progress or any observations that could be useful for the child's ongoing care and recovery process. About us We are an acute trust caring for over half a million people in Wakefield and Kirklees. Our 10,000 staff work in patients homes, the community, and our three hospitals in Pontefract, Dewsbury, and Pinderfields (Wakefield). We prioritise our people and values so we can deliver the best possible care to patients. Our team is friendly, passionate, and innovative, always seeking better ways to work. The Children's Regional Burns Unit covers a population of approximately 5.5 million and covers West/East/North Yorkshire, Humberside and North Lincolnshire. We are a small supportive team and work well with our colleagues in delivering outstanding care. Our unit has 5 inpatient beds and a busy outpatient department, to ensure continuity of care for the child and family. We offer a dynamic and supportive educational package and regular teaching sessions offered by our Nurse Specialist. We support work-life balance and foster a diverse, inclusive environment where everyone belongs. Our staff networks offer safe spaces to share ideas and concerns so we can increase awareness and appreciation of equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and especially encourage members of the LGBTQ community, ethnic minority groups, and people with disabilities or neurodivergence to apply, as they are currently underrepresented in the Trust. Date posted 28 January 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 4 Salary £26,530 to £29,114 a year Pro rata for part time positions Contract Permanent Working pattern Part-time, Flexible working Reference number C9377-FCS6037 Job locations Pinderfields Hospital Aberford Road Wakefield West Yorkshire WF1 4DG Job description Job responsibilities The post holder will be required to provide stimulating play and distraction to support children who have sustained a burns injury on the Children's Regional Burns Unit. This role involves using play therapy, distraction techniques, and other activities to help reduce anxiety, pain perception, and distress during treatments and recovery. The play leader will work collaboratively with nursing teams, including doctors, clinical support workers, play specialist, occupational therapy, and psychologists, to deliver holistic care for patients facing challenging and painful procedures in a burns care setting. To take an active role in attending and referring to Family Burns Club which provides support to children, their family members and young adults following a burn injury. Play Therapy & Distraction : Design, implement, and facilitate individual and group play therapy sessions tailored to meet the needs of burns patients, especially children. Use age-appropriate toys, games, creative activities, and relaxation techniques to distract patients during medical treatments and procedures. Offer emotional support through play, helping patients express feelings of fear, anxiety, and pain in a safe, therapeutic environment. Pain Management Support : Work with medical staff to identify when distraction techniques should be applied and assist in managing pain levels and reducing anxiety. Provide evidence-based distraction interventions, such as guided imagery, music therapy, virtual reality, or interactive storytelling, during procedures like dressing changes or wound care. This role is essential to improving the quality of care for burns patients, helping them cope with their treatment journey through therapeutic interventions focused on reducing stress, pain, and anxiety. Emotional Support : Build trust and rapport with patients, creating a safe space for them to engage in therapeutic play. Support families and caregivers by providing information, coping strategies, and guidance on how to support the patients emotional well-being. Collaboration and Communication : Collaborate closely with the burns care team to develop and update individual care plans for patients. Regularly communicate with nursing staff, physicians, and psychologists about the patients progress, needs, and emotional state. Job description Job responsibilities The post holder will be required to provide stimulating play and distraction to support children who have sustained a burns injury on the Children's Regional Burns Unit. This role involves using play therapy, distraction techniques, and other activities to help reduce anxiety, pain perception, and distress during treatments and recovery. The play leader will work collaboratively with nursing teams, including doctors, clinical support workers, play specialist, occupational therapy, and psychologists, to deliver holistic care for patients facing challenging and painful procedures in a burns care setting. To take an active role in attending and referring to Family Burns Club which provides support to children, their family members and young adults following a burn injury. Play Therapy & Distraction : Design, implement, and facilitate individual and group play therapy sessions tailored to meet the needs of burns patients, especially children. Use age-appropriate toys, games, creative activities, and relaxation techniques to distract patients during medical treatments and procedures. Offer emotional support through play, helping patients express feelings of fear, anxiety, and pain in a safe, therapeutic environment. Pain Management Support : Work with medical staff to identify when distraction techniques should be applied and assist in managing pain levels and reducing anxiety. Provide evidence-based distraction interventions, such as guided imagery, music therapy, virtual reality, or interactive storytelling, during procedures like dressing changes or wound care. This role is essential to improving the quality of care for burns patients, helping them cope with their treatment journey through therapeutic interventions focused on reducing stress, pain, and anxiety. Emotional Support : Build trust and rapport with patients, creating a safe space for them to engage in therapeutic play. Support families and caregivers by providing information, coping strategies, and guidance on how to support the patients emotional well-being. Collaboration and Communication : Collaborate closely with the burns care team to develop and update individual care plans for patients. Regularly communicate with nursing staff, physicians, and psychologists about the patients progress, needs, and emotional state. Person Specification Personal Attributes Essential Team player Willingness to gain and develop professional knowledge Good attendance record To be enthusiastic, creative, caring and friendly Understand how to provide compassionate care to families in cases of severe trauma Qualifications Essential NNEB/ National Diploma in Nursery Nursing Childcare level 3 Certificate and Diploma, or equivalent which includes a child development module. Desirable Hospital Play Specialist B-Tec Foundation Degree in Healthcare Play Specialism Early Years Status Paediatric First Aid Experience Essential Post qualifying work experience with children of all ages Recent experience working with groups of children Experience of supporting staff Desirable Experience of working/volunteering in a health care setting Experience of working with children with complex health needs Skills and abilities Essential Ability to communicate in a variety of settings with children/young people and their families, respecting their cultural and developmental dimensions Creativity in providing children's play activities Can communicate with children/young people and their families Ability to present and document factual information Is able to adapt play activities to meet children's needs Desirable IT skills Ability to manage difficult/distressing situations Awareness of Family Burns Club Other attributes Essential Physical ability to meet the job Advocacy ensuring the child's voice is heard during treatment planning Knowledge and Awareness Essential Knowledge of play and distraction therapies To have an awareness of psychological effects of hospitalisation on the child and their family Awareness of trauma-related stress, low mood and body image concerns in children and young adults Knowledge of the play role within pain management Desirable Knowledge of child safeguarding awareness Awareness of the hospital play specialist educational trust standards Awareness of the Trust core values and behaviours Person Specification Personal Attributes Essential Team player Willingness to gain and develop professional knowledge Good attendance record To be enthusiastic, creative, caring and friendly Understand how to provide compassionate care to families in cases of severe trauma Qualifications Essential NNEB/ National Diploma in Nursery Nursing Childcare level 3 Certificate and Diploma, or equivalent which includes a child development module. Desirable Hospital Play Specialist B-Tec Foundation Degree in Healthcare Play Specialism Early Years Status Paediatric First Aid Experience Essential Post qualifying work experience with children of all ages Recent experience working with groups of children Experience of supporting staff Desirable Experience of working/volunteering in a health care setting Experience of working with children with complex health needs Skills and abilities Essential Ability to communicate in a variety of settings with children/young people and their families, respecting their cultural and developmental dimensions Creativity in providing children's play activities Can communicate with children/young people and their families Ability to present and document factual information Is able to adapt play activities to meet children's needs Desirable IT skills Ability to manage difficult/distressing situations Awareness of Family Burns Club Other attributes Essential Physical ability to meet the job Advocacy ensuring the child's voice is heard during treatment planning Knowledge and Awareness Essential Knowledge of play and distraction therapies To have an awareness of psychological effects of hospitalisation on the child and their family Awareness of trauma-related stress, low mood and body image concerns in children and young adults Knowledge of the play role within pain management Desirable Knowledge of child safeguarding awareness Awareness of the hospital play specialist educational trust standards Awareness of the Trust core values and behaviours 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). Additional information 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). Employer details Employer name The Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust Address Pinderfields Hospital Aberford Road Wakefield West Yorkshire WF1 4DG Employer's website https://www.midyorks.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)