Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen at UCLH for a qualified Health Play Specialist or second year Apprentice/student on the Health Play Specialist course, looking to gain more experience within our highly respected team.
The successful candidate will implement specialised play interventions across both inpatient and outpatient settings. You will need to be able to engage easily with children and young people, be able to work effectively with your multi-disciplinary team colleagues and use therapeutic play techniques creatively throughout the setting.Responsibilities will include supporting hospitalised children and young people , leading alternative focus activities during procedures, therapeutic play preparation, creating an age appropriate welcoming environment throughout the area and helping patients and families manage anxiety effectively.
You will need to have experience of working with children and young people in a healthcare setting and be able to deal sensitively with families under stress. You will work as part of a supportive team where play and recreation is valued and respected as an integrated part of young people's treatment and your contribution to the patient's pathway will be highly respected.
Main duties of the job
To provide, manage and lead appropriate play and recreational activities to enable normal cognitive, social and emotional development to continue during hospitalisation and treatment.
To plan, implement and evaluate interventions to achieve therapeutic goals, in collaboration with the referrer, the child/young person and their family, managing own case loads and demonstrating effective time management.
Through play provisions, contribute to clinical judgements based on the patient's individual needs.
Assess, plan, implement and evaluate recreational and therapeutic play interventions, including preparation, distraction therapy and post procedural techniques for invasive and non-invasive procedures.
Contribute to establishing and maintaining systems to provide patients with a smooth transition between hospital departments.
To work independently to meet the needs of children and young people as well as part of the MDT.
Provide and maintain a safe, welcoming and age appropriate environment where play and recreation can occur naturally.To select and apply therapeutic techniques to help children, young people and young adults overcome difficulties with hospital admission/procedures.
...continued below (Job Description)
About us
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.
We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:
We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological,gastrointestinaland oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclearmedicineandpathology.
Weare committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For the full Person Specification and more informationregardingthe main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
...Main duties, continued from above:
To contribute to assessments and overall care planning using knowledge of child and adolescent development and incorporating an understanding of child/vulnerable adult protection issues.
Through the provisions of play and recreation, anticipate and provide empathic support to families that are under stress and in crisis, providing advice on helping their child cope and adapt to treatment, demonstrating a commitment to family centred care. -
To monitor, evaluate and modify therapeutic interventions in order to measure the children and/or young persons progress and ensure effectiveness of care plan.
To demonstrate and apply knowledge of the effect of hospitalisation and illness on the young person/family when contributing to care pathways.
To undertake cover on any other ward or departments as required due to staff absence ensuring patients throughout the Play and Youth Play Service receive play input as required as delegated by the supervisor.
The play service team consists of 35 experienced staff, lead by a play services manager who will actively support your professional development. The post holder will need to be able to work flexible hours to meet the needs of the service.
The FdA in Healthcare Play Specialism, Edex PDC/HND in Specialised play for the sick child or the previous HPSC/HPSEB, or international equivalent, is required for this post.
Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*
*UCLH top trust to work at in England- In the most recentNHS staff surveyUCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the third year in a row.
UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff To find out more, visit:Flexible working.
To discover more about what makes UCLHa great placeto work, visit:Why Choose UCLH?
Job description
Job responsibilities
For the full Person Specification and more informationregardingthe main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
...Main duties, continued from above:
To contribute to assessments and overall care planning using knowledge of child and adolescent development and incorporating an understanding of child/vulnerable adult protection issues.
Through the provisions of play and recreation, anticipate and provide empathic support to families that are under stress and in crisis, providing advice on helping their child cope and adapt to treatment, demonstrating a commitment to family centred care. -
To monitor, evaluate and modify therapeutic interventions in order to measure the children and/or young persons progress and ensure effectiveness of care plan.
To demonstrate and apply knowledge of the effect of hospitalisation and illness on the young person/family when contributing to care pathways.
To undertake cover on any other ward or departments as required due to staff absence ensuring patients throughout the Play and Youth Play Service receive play input as required as delegated by the supervisor.
The play service team consists of 35 experienced staff, lead by a play services manager who will actively support your professional development. The post holder will need to be able to work flexible hours to meet the needs of the service.
The FdA in Healthcare Play Specialism, Edex PDC/HND in Specialised play for the sick child or the previous HPSC/HPSEB, or international equivalent, is required for this post.
Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*
*UCLH top trust to work at in England- In the most recentNHS staff surveyUCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the third year in a row.
UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff To find out more, visit:Flexible working.
To discover more about what makes UCLHa great placeto work, visit:Why Choose UCLH?
Person Specification
Knowledge & Qualifications
Essential
- Registered & qualified Health Play Specialist holding the Foundation Degree in Health Care Play Specialism or previous HPSC/HPSEB, Edexcel PDC/HND in Hospital Play Specialism or overseas equivalent.
- Knowledge of and ability to analyse professional and ethical issues, including professional boundaries, clinical governance and safeguarding children policies and practice.
- Applied knowledge of recent health policy & guidance and NAHPS Guidelines for professional Practice.
Desirable
- NNEB/ NVQ Level 3 or equivalent training involving normal child care and development.
- Bachelor's Degree (or overseas equivalent) in a subject relevant to work with children and/or young people.
Experience
Essential
- Post qualifying and recent, comprehensive experience of working with children and/or young people in a health care setting, in a variety of clinical areas and/or vast experience in specialised field.
- Experience of providing family centred care and working with the extended family.
- Comprehensive experience of leading play/recreation activities for babies, children and/or young people.
- Previous experience of applying presentation skills through formal and/or informal teaching of students and staff.
Desirable
- Experience of working with children and/or young people with special needs including those with challenging behaviours.
- Experience of supporting, teaching, training, assessing and supervising junior staff, students and/or volunteers.
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Able to communicate effectively with patients, families and staff, in written, verbal and nonverbal forms.
- Ability to work independently, manage own workload and determine priorities under pressure.
- Ability to work as an individual as well as within a team, effectively and efficiently.
Desirable
- Basic competency using Word and Excel.
Other Requirements
Essential
- Able to work flexible hours and weekends according to needs of clinical area.
- Up to date registration with HPSET.
- Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development
Desirable
- Membership of NAHPS Professional Body.
Person Specification
Knowledge & Qualifications
Essential
- Registered & qualified Health Play Specialist holding the Foundation Degree in Health Care Play Specialism or previous HPSC/HPSEB, Edexcel PDC/HND in Hospital Play Specialism or overseas equivalent.
- Knowledge of and ability to analyse professional and ethical issues, including professional boundaries, clinical governance and safeguarding children policies and practice.
- Applied knowledge of recent health policy & guidance and NAHPS Guidelines for professional Practice.
Desirable
- NNEB/ NVQ Level 3 or equivalent training involving normal child care and development.
- Bachelor's Degree (or overseas equivalent) in a subject relevant to work with children and/or young people.
Experience
Essential
- Post qualifying and recent, comprehensive experience of working with children and/or young people in a health care setting, in a variety of clinical areas and/or vast experience in specialised field.
- Experience of providing family centred care and working with the extended family.
- Comprehensive experience of leading play/recreation activities for babies, children and/or young people.
- Previous experience of applying presentation skills through formal and/or informal teaching of students and staff.
Desirable
- Experience of working with children and/or young people with special needs including those with challenging behaviours.
- Experience of supporting, teaching, training, assessing and supervising junior staff, students and/or volunteers.
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Able to communicate effectively with patients, families and staff, in written, verbal and nonverbal forms.
- Ability to work independently, manage own workload and determine priorities under pressure.
- Ability to work as an individual as well as within a team, effectively and efficiently.
Desirable
- Basic competency using Word and Excel.
Other Requirements
Essential
- Able to work flexible hours and weekends according to needs of clinical area.
- Up to date registration with HPSET.
- Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development
Desirable
- Membership of NAHPS Professional Body.
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).
