Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Qualified and Registered Health Play Specialist to join our Play and Youth Team in the department of Child Health, led by a Health Play Specialist Team Co-Ordinator.
Are you passionate about making a difference in health care through play?
Do you champion the power of play to support babies, children and young people to feel safe, understood and empowered?
This is an exciting role where you can apply your skills in providing therapeutic play, preparation, distraction therapy and normalised play to babies, children and young people.
You should have strong communication and interpersonal skills, with a high degree of empathy, understanding, diplomacy, honesty, integrity and sensitivity.
You will need to have experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team, maintaining confidentiality throughout. You must be able to accurately document all patient interventions on the patient's electronic notes.
You will need the Health Play Specialist qualification and be a registered Health Play Specialist.Applications from 2ndyear Health Play Specialist students will be accepted.
You will need an understanding and ability to work with addition and complex needs.
Main duties of the job
The post holder must be a registered and qualified Health Play Specialist, holding the foundation degree in Health Play Specialism or the Edxcel certificate or diploma as a Hospital Play Specialist.
They will work as part of the Play & Youth team to deliver a high standard of service, promoting play activities, therapeutic play sessions in the preparation of babies, children and young people (BCYP) for procedures, examinations and inventions.
To be responsible for the assessment, planning, implementation and the evaluation of play strategies which encompass the developmental and emotional needs of the BCYP and their families or carers within the hospital setting.
To adhere to the safeguarding policy and guidance within the Trust to ensure the safety of BCYP within the organisation.
To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of BCYP and their families, and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.
To support and participate in the delivery of training and education on the importance and impact therapeutic play intervention has on BCYP to the multi-disciplinary team (MDT).
Be responsible for acting in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the good standard and reputation of Play (Acknowledgement - SoHPS Code of Professional Conduct Standards)
About us
The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.
We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.
King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Practice
- Create a welcoming, safe and caring play environment for the Babies, children and young people (BCYP) and their families.
- Use play as a tool to communicate and build rapport with BCYP people attending the hospital.
- Manage and be responsible in using theoretical knowledge and evidence-based practice to assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapeutic play interventions in hospital
- Document therapeutic interventions and outcomes on patient records system.
- Undertake individual referrals for BCYP and their family members experiencing difficulty in managing hospital admissions/procedures.
- Ensure that patient records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards
- Attend Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) meetings and contribute to treatment and care plans.
- Devise play programmes for BCYP in hospital, according to their individual needs and as part of their overall care plan.
- Plan and implement individual therapeutic play programmes to include preparation for invasive and non-invasive procedures, distraction therapy and post procedural play.
- Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions using reflective practice to achieve best outcomes.
- Empathise with and provide and/or facilitate support to parents, carers and siblings during times of stress or crisis, such as at a time of medical diagnosis or bereavement.
- Establish and maintain effective communication, both verbal and written, with all members of the multi-disciplinary team.
- Establish good communication with other agencies / hospitals involved with the BCYP.
- Provide play-based observations to influence and support the overall assessment of BCYP
- Contribute and provide expert knowledge when involved in specific projects, audits and plans
- Contribute to the development of protocols, standards, guidelines and competencies for the department and devise standards for the Play and Youth service.
- Be responsible for mentoring and clinically supervising students and Volunteers, with support from your team.
Training and Education
- Manage and participate in the departments in-service training programmes.
- Where appropriate represent King's trust and the Play and Youth Service at conferences and meetings presenting case studies and best practice
- Participate in the orientation, training and supervision of work experience students and volunteers
- Participate in teaching and training sessions of other health care professionals to promote awareness of the therapeutic benefits of play in hospital
Departmental
- Contribute to the planning, evaluation and audit of practice, care pathways and protocols to ensure a consistent and high-quality service
- Be proactive in the delivery of the play service development as part of the overall business plan for the Therapies, Dietetics and Play and Youth Services
- Attend meetings to share relevant information related to the Trust and the Play & Youth service
- Order and monitor play resources to reflect the needs of the patient group and maintain the resources, in accordance with Trust health and safety and infection control standards
- Establish effective communication, both verbal and written, with all members of the MDT and in other departments of the hospital where BCYP are treated
- Work closely with the Hospital School to minimise the interruption to children and young peoples education so that academic progress and an interest in learning will continue, as far as medical circumstances permit
- Work with hospital and external charities in identifying fundraising opportunities for activities and resources
- Ensure compliance with the Trust's Equality and Diversity Policy, supporting the delivery of the Trusts Race Equality Scheme and the Trust's duty to positively promote race equality and equality of opportunity for disabled people ensuring services are responsive to the needs of equality groups.
Personal and Professional Development.
- Comply with Society of Health Play Specialists (SoHPS) Professional Standards
- Actively participate in maintaining own professional development, identifying own educational and clinical training needs with the Play and Youth Team Coordinator
- Maintain a professional portfolio in line with SoHPS recommendations for re-registration recording learning outcomes from participation in internal and external development opportunities.
- Ensure mandatory training is up to date
- Contribute to policy development demonstrating the ability to evaluate current research and apply to practice.
Other Duties
- To work flexibly with the Play and Youth Team to ensure service provision is consistent and effective
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Practice
- Create a welcoming, safe and caring play environment for the Babies, children and young people (BCYP) and their families.
- Use play as a tool to communicate and build rapport with BCYP people attending the hospital.
- Manage and be responsible in using theoretical knowledge and evidence-based practice to assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapeutic play interventions in hospital
- Document therapeutic interventions and outcomes on patient records system.
- Undertake individual referrals for BCYP and their family members experiencing difficulty in managing hospital admissions/procedures.
- Ensure that patient records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards
- Attend Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) meetings and contribute to treatment and care plans.
- Devise play programmes for BCYP in hospital, according to their individual needs and as part of their overall care plan.
- Plan and implement individual therapeutic play programmes to include preparation for invasive and non-invasive procedures, distraction therapy and post procedural play.
- Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions using reflective practice to achieve best outcomes.
- Empathise with and provide and/or facilitate support to parents, carers and siblings during times of stress or crisis, such as at a time of medical diagnosis or bereavement.
- Establish and maintain effective communication, both verbal and written, with all members of the multi-disciplinary team.
- Establish good communication with other agencies / hospitals involved with the BCYP.
- Provide play-based observations to influence and support the overall assessment of BCYP
- Contribute and provide expert knowledge when involved in specific projects, audits and plans
- Contribute to the development of protocols, standards, guidelines and competencies for the department and devise standards for the Play and Youth service.
- Be responsible for mentoring and clinically supervising students and Volunteers, with support from your team.
Training and Education
- Manage and participate in the departments in-service training programmes.
- Where appropriate represent King's trust and the Play and Youth Service at conferences and meetings presenting case studies and best practice
- Participate in the orientation, training and supervision of work experience students and volunteers
- Participate in teaching and training sessions of other health care professionals to promote awareness of the therapeutic benefits of play in hospital
Departmental
- Contribute to the planning, evaluation and audit of practice, care pathways and protocols to ensure a consistent and high-quality service
- Be proactive in the delivery of the play service development as part of the overall business plan for the Therapies, Dietetics and Play and Youth Services
- Attend meetings to share relevant information related to the Trust and the Play & Youth service
- Order and monitor play resources to reflect the needs of the patient group and maintain the resources, in accordance with Trust health and safety and infection control standards
- Establish effective communication, both verbal and written, with all members of the MDT and in other departments of the hospital where BCYP are treated
- Work closely with the Hospital School to minimise the interruption to children and young peoples education so that academic progress and an interest in learning will continue, as far as medical circumstances permit
- Work with hospital and external charities in identifying fundraising opportunities for activities and resources
- Ensure compliance with the Trust's Equality and Diversity Policy, supporting the delivery of the Trusts Race Equality Scheme and the Trust's duty to positively promote race equality and equality of opportunity for disabled people ensuring services are responsive to the needs of equality groups.
Personal and Professional Development.
- Comply with Society of Health Play Specialists (SoHPS) Professional Standards
- Actively participate in maintaining own professional development, identifying own educational and clinical training needs with the Play and Youth Team Coordinator
- Maintain a professional portfolio in line with SoHPS recommendations for re-registration recording learning outcomes from participation in internal and external development opportunities.
- Ensure mandatory training is up to date
- Contribute to policy development demonstrating the ability to evaluate current research and apply to practice.
Other Duties
- To work flexibly with the Play and Youth Team to ensure service provision is consistent and effective
Person Specification
Core
Essential
- Foundation Degree (FDA) in Health Play Specialism / Edexcel Certificate in Hospital Play Specialism . Registered with Society of Health Play Specialists. Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development
- Skills and knowledge in the planning and implementation of individual therapeutic play programmes to include preparation for procedures, distraction therapy and post procedural play.
- Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding, policies and procedures.
- Theoretical knowledge and understanding of child development and effects of hospitalisation on children, young people and their families
Desirable
Person Specification
Core
Essential
- Foundation Degree (FDA) in Health Play Specialism / Edexcel Certificate in Hospital Play Specialism . Registered with Society of Health Play Specialists. Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development
- Skills and knowledge in the planning and implementation of individual therapeutic play programmes to include preparation for procedures, distraction therapy and post procedural play.
- Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding, policies and procedures.
- Theoretical knowledge and understanding of child development and effects of hospitalisation on children, young people and their families
Desirable
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
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Denmark Hill
London
SE5 9RS
Employer's website
https://www.kch.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
