Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen at UCLH for a Health Play Specialist for Teenage and Young Adult (TYA) Cancer Services to join a highly respected play and youth services team. To be successful in this role, you will be a qualified and registered Health Play Specialist, you will have extensive experience of working with children and/or young people in social or healthcare settings.
We are looking for an exceptional individual who would like an opportunity of working in a supportive and diverse team within the children and young people division.UCLH strive to be a flexible working Trust and encourage applications from people seeking flexible working options.This post is an exciting and fantastic opportunity for you to expand your knowledge, skills and experience as a professional working with children and young people within a leading, award-winning play and youth team who support children and young people from 0 to 25 years. A team which is led by a supportive leadership team who are members of the governing bodies of play, striving to embed high quality specialised play practices on a national level. This post will help shape the delivery of services to children and young people within health and is an opportunity to expand your knowledge, skills and experience of working within TYA Cancer Services.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will need to enjoy working with TYA, be emotionally resilient and have compassion, sensitivity and a sense of humour, when working within the busy children and young people's (CYP) cancer services. Supporting patients admitted for treatment, you will be vital in reducing the anxiety surrounding hospital treatment and procedures. You will be proactive in creating and maintaining an age-appropriate environment throughout the young people's area and facilitate group activities and individual therapeutic sessions with patients.
You will need to have relevant experience of working with children and young people in a healthcare or social setting and be able to deal sensitively with families under stress. You will need to be able to engage easily with children and young people and be able to work effectively with your MDT colleagues to use therapeutic techniques creatively to enhance the children and young person's hospital experience. 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. The post holder will have responsibility to support and supervise junior members of staff and mentor students.
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:
University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)
National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals
University College Hospital Grafton Way Building
Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street
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, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.
We are 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 information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
The post holder will work alongside a team of play and recreation workers, play specialists and youth support co-ordinators for TYA cancer services who will support you in your role and the leadership team who will actively support your professional development.
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 recent NHS staff survey UCLH 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 UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?
Job description
Job responsibilities
For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
The post holder will work alongside a team of play and recreation workers, play specialists and youth support co-ordinators for TYA cancer services who will support you in your role and the leadership team who will actively support your professional development.
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 recent NHS staff survey UCLH 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 UCLH a great place to 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).
