Job summary
Employer heading
Hospital Play Specialist
NHS AfC: Band 4
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The Trust only accepts applications made through this site, please register when you click APPLY at the end of this advertisement. The Trust is able to offer hospital accommodation, pension scheme, on-site nursery (through third party provider), together with salary sacrifice schemes (including child care vouchers, ride to work) and a range of national and local staff discounts (subject to availability).
HSJ Best Places to Work 2015 Top 100
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Job overview
Band 3 / 4 Hospital Play Specialist (Depending on Qualification)
The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Bumblebee Ward
37.5 Hours per week
(set shift pattern, with a need for flexibility)
Monday - Friday 08.30 – 16.30
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 have 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.
Working for our organisation
The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the only acute Hospital in the London Borough of Hillingdon and offers a wide range of services including accident and emergency, inpatient care, day surgery, outpatient clinics and maternity services. The Trust’s services at Mount Vernon Hospital include routine day surgery, delivered at a modern treatment centre, a minor injuries unit and outpatient clinics.
The safety and well-being of our patients and of our staff is paramount and we are making urgent improvements to address this – particularly in infection prevention and control. We are making progress and going forward by working in partnership with local GPs, charities,
community services, academic partners, our local authority, neighbouring hospitals and the wider North West London Integrated care system, and ensuring that we listen and work in partnership with our local population. We are absolutely focused on ensuring that our hospitals
provide high quality, safe and compassionate care, while drive forward the building of the new Hillingdon Hospital.
We have over 3,500 members of staff that are proud to care for nearly half a million people, with a vision to be an outstanding provider of healthcare through leading health and academic partnerships, transforming services, to provide the best care where needed.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Organise daily play services / activities for children of all ages with a variety of health needs either at the bedside or in the playroom.
Use theoretical knowledge and evidence-based practice to assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapeutic play interventions in hospital, including distraction and preparation techniques.
Provide play activities to achieve developmental goals or therapeutic targets.
Work alongside the multidisciplinary team contributing to clinical judgements through documentation and observation.
Provide support to families and siblings either resident with their child or visiting the children’s wards.
Support children and young people admitted with mental health crisis.
Ensure play therapy is available across all of the children’s areas within the Trust, cross covering for colleagues during period of absence.
Liaise with parents and schools as necessary to ensure the educational needs of hospitalised children are met.
Create a child focussed environment where play is encouraged.
Person specification
Criteria
Essential criteria
- Experience of working with children
- Level 3 Qualification in Childcare and development
- Foundation Level English and Maths qualification
Desirable criteria
- Hospital Play Specialist Course
- Experience of working with children in a hospital setting.
Applicant requirements
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Chris Mann
- Job title
- Paediatric Nursing Services Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01895 279507
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