Job summary
The Health Play Specialist is member of the Play Team who works within the Play Department to implement safe, high quality play programmes covering all aspects of hospital play provision, which meet patients emotional, social, developmental and creative needs.
The Health Play Specialist will respond to referrals from the multidisciplinary team to provide support for children and young people through play preparation and play programmes and support patients through procedures using therapeutic play and distraction therapies. In addition, they supervise play assistants, students and volunteers throughout the hospital.
Main duties of the job
Please see Job Description for main duties of the job
Please note there is some community/travel working with this post.
About us
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) is one of the largest acute Trusts in the country, bringing together a combined workforce of over 13,000 staff and over 100 different clinical services across 10 different sites, serving a core population of more than 500,000 people across South West England. UHBW has been rated by the CQC as 'Good' overall and our staff are proud to deliver excellent care to the people of Bristol, Weston and beyond. As a forward- thinking multi-award winning Trust and a digital exemplar committed to improving patient care, our world-leading research and innovations are having a positive local and global impact. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone's throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. UHBW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we're meeting our pledge.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For a more detailed job description, main responsibilities, and person specification, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For a more detailed job description, main responsibilities, and person specification, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.
Person Specification
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Experience of working as a Health Play Specialist with children in a hospital setting
- Experience of assessing patients' needs to provide specialised play, therapeutic distraction, preparation and post procedural play
- Excellent knowledge of child development
Desirable
- Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team and have ability to communicate effectively at all levels
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Problem solving and analytical skills
- Excellent time management skills
- Ability to motivate others
- Ability to work under own initiative
- Driving Licence & use of vehicle or able to confidently use public transport
Desirable
- Strong IT skills including use of Microsoft Word, Teams and other in house systems
- Awareness of budget and stock control
Aptitudes
Essential
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work under pressure and manage conflicting demands
- Positive and motivated team player
- Willingness to reflect upon practice and be open to new ideas and ways of working
- Sympathetic attitude and ability to support your team
- Promotes positive working relationships with all colleagues within the play team and wider multi-disciplinary team
- Enthusiastic and motivated to continually develop
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Foundation Degree (FdA) in Healthcare Play Specialism or equivalent
- Current HPSET registration (or overseas equivalent) or be in the process of re-registering. You will be required to remain registered with HPSET (or overseas equivalent) whilst in post
Person Specification
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Experience of working as a Health Play Specialist with children in a hospital setting
- Experience of assessing patients' needs to provide specialised play, therapeutic distraction, preparation and post procedural play
- Excellent knowledge of child development
Desirable
- Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team and have ability to communicate effectively at all levels
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Problem solving and analytical skills
- Excellent time management skills
- Ability to motivate others
- Ability to work under own initiative
- Driving Licence & use of vehicle or able to confidently use public transport
Desirable
- Strong IT skills including use of Microsoft Word, Teams and other in house systems
- Awareness of budget and stock control
Aptitudes
Essential
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work under pressure and manage conflicting demands
- Positive and motivated team player
- Willingness to reflect upon practice and be open to new ideas and ways of working
- Sympathetic attitude and ability to support your team
- Promotes positive working relationships with all colleagues within the play team and wider multi-disciplinary team
- Enthusiastic and motivated to continually develop
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Foundation Degree (FdA) in Healthcare Play Specialism or equivalent
- Current HPSET registration (or overseas equivalent) or be in the process of re-registering. You will be required to remain registered with HPSET (or overseas equivalent) whilst in post
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.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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.
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).
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
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)
Address
Bristol Royal Hospital for Children
Upper Maudlin Street
Bristol
BS2 8BJ
Employer's website
https://www.uhbw.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
