Senior Play Specialist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the job description and person specification for further details of the role.

The post holder will be required to provide a safe, welcoming child friendly environment for the patients and families organising play and leisure activities across the various childrens wards, whilst implementing specialised play and therapeutic intervention as necessary. This role will also require management skills as you will be in a senior role and step up as deputy when the play lead is absent.

The post holder should be a qualified Hospital Play Specialist (HPS) and registered with HPSET. They may also hold the NNEB or CACHE Diploma in Nursery Nursing or BTEC National Diploma in Nursery Nursing/Childhood Studies or equivalent.

The post holder should have at least 2 years experience in post as a HPS to move into a senior role.

1. The post holder will be required to work some of the shift unsupervised.

2. To provide a welcoming, child friendly atmosphere with a caring, attitude towards children and their families.

3. To act as the childs advocate ensuring the childs best interests come first.

4. Devise and implement play preparation tailored to each childs individual needs and review regularly e.g play preparation to support the child undergoing radiotherapy treatment when required.

5. Be involved in family support, liaising with other professionals, as necessary and to attend Multi-Disciplinary Team meetings and case conferences as required.

6. Understand the need and the use of preparation, distraction, post procedural and passive play and implement this to support the child and family through treatment.

7. To understand the need for and initiate the use of specialised therapeutic play

8. To initiate and participate in preparation and distraction for invasive/painful procedures.

9. Work with the childs family as a whole, respecting their needs and wishes whilst providing the best care for the child.

10. To provide written and verbal reports as required and ensure familiarity with documentation.

11. Liaise with other professionals within the multi-disciplinary team issues concerning the childs physical, emotional and social needs.

12. Be aware of issues regarding confidentiality both on the ward and within the team.

13. Be responsible for the general maintenance of toys and equipment as required.

14. To teach parents as requested in the occupation of their child.

15. To be responsible to the child and their family to ensure that correct preparation for procedures is given.

16. Attend ward/play staff meetings.

17. Liaise with Play Co-ordinator concerning professional development needs.

18. To take an active role in the training of nursery nursing, nursing, medical and Hospital Play Specialist students and completing their reports.

19. To be involved in the mentorship and preceptorship of other members of play staff.

20. To demonstrate and teach members of the multi-disciplinary team (this may include going into the school of nursing) the theories and usage of play preparation within the department.

21. To undertake mandatory training, child protection, moving and handling, fire safety and food handling.

22. Participate in the provision of on-going education for children and their families about recreation and play activities.

23. Participate in audits which provide information of the quality and quantity of care provided by Childrens Services.

24. Assist in monitoring and evaluating the service given to patients and their carers.

25. Following individual performance management (IPM), liaise with the Hospital Play Specialist Lead in agreeing how identified training and development needs are to be met.

26. To take on specific referrals, leading and running play specialist specific clinics.

27. To act as deputy for the hospital play specialist lead and take on management duties when required and in absence of play manager.

28. To run training sessions for the play specialist team and to support them with the continued professional development.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Foundation degree in healthcare play specialism
• NNEB/BTEC in childcare, learning and education
• Registered with SOHPS

Desirable

• management qualifictaions

management

Desirable

• management experience

scenarios

Essential

• Have at least 2 years working in a hospital/hospice environment within a play team.
• safeguarding training to evidene

Desirable

• 5 years working with children in a variety of settings

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trusts

Address

Queens medical centre - children's hospital

Nottingham

NG7 2UH

Employer's website

https://www.nuh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)