Ashford & St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Play Specialist Assistant, Paediatrics

This job is now closed

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated and enthusiastic Health Play Specialist Assistant to work alongside an experienced and dynamic play team in a hospital environment helping to care for children and young people up to the age of 18 years.

You will be offered opportunities to work across the paediatric division - inpatients, oncology unit outpatients, ED and the day unit.

You will support the multi-disciplinary team and be an advocate for the patients by creating a stimulating environment and activates for the patients and their families to meet their personal, emotional and social developmental needs while in hospital.

Main duties of the job

Work within the Paediatric Services directorate on both sites as required - Paediatric ED, Ash Ward, Oak Ward, Paediatric OPD at SPH and Ashford. Support the implementation of therapeutic assessments and help devise play programmes for children and young people in hospital according to their individual needs.

Maintain a safe child focused environment adhering to Trust protocols and policies.

To participate in the training, orientation and education of staff/students and volunteers to promote an awareness and importance of the therapeutic benefits of play in hospital.

To promote continued self development, developing new skills to help promote play services within the hospital setting.

Provide play preparation and distraction for medical procedures as required to support patient resilience.

Considering the individual needs and any neurodiversity needs, plan and implement individual therapeutic play programmes including preparation for invasive and non-invasive procedures, distraction and post procedural play.

To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions using reflective practice to achieve best outcomes.

Ensure the environment is both safe and stimulating whilst enabling the child / young person and their families to fulfil their individual needs - emotional, social and developmental.

Ensure up to date patients records and activity data are maintained in accordance with the professional and trust standards.

About us

Ashford and St. Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust serves a population of more than 410,000 people living in North-West Surrey, parts of Hounslow and beyond.

Over 3,700 highly trained doctors, nurses, midwives, therapists, healthcare scientists and other support staff make up our workforce, providing a wide range of services across our two hospital sites, Ashford, Surrey and St Peter's, Chertsey, Surrey.

We also run many specialist clinics in the community and local community hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Our vision is to be one of the best healthcare Trusts in the country. There has never been a better time to join us in the NHS at ASPH. We are committed to providing continuous professional development and flexibility to shape our workforce around our patient care.

We are expanding our theatres at Ashford Hospital and moving towards this becoming our dedicated elective centre. We want to create a state-of-the-art centre for excellence for planned surgical procedures.

We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:

Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
On-site Nurseries
On-site staff cafes
On-site parking
Support in career development
Salary Sacrifice schemes including wage stream, lease cars, Cycle to Work schemes and home electronics

Adverts may close early, so applicants are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.

For more information about a career at ASPH please visit:www.asph-careers.org

Date posted

03 October 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,857 to £30,570 a year pa inc. HCAS pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

323-AHP7409-JN

Job locations

St Peters

Guildford Road

Chertsey

KT16 0PZ

Job description

Job responsibilities

The play team at Ashford and ST Peters Hospitals NHS Trust recognises the importance of play and the impact it can have on a patients experience while attending hospital.

Play is essential to children and young people's health and wellbeing, and with this in mind the candidate will use their knowledge of play development to provide a wide range of stimulating play activities. You will provide holistic support to patients and families creating normalised and therapeutic play opportunities, reflecting on diversity and inclusion.

You will support the organisation and maintain safe and stimulating play activities in a friendly and welcoming environment.

You will assess the individuals needs and developmental stage to plan and provide play interventions and evaluate them considering any neurodiversity.

You will support the promotion and awareness of the emotional needs and physical needs of children and young people in hospital and the importance of play, within the multi-disciplinary team.

You will document therapeutic interventions and outcomes in order to support a wide MDT and contribute to the treatment process.

As a team member you will support the promotion of a positive experience for children and young people and their families / carers who are either inpatients on the acute paediatric ward, in the Paediatric Emergency Department, attending the Paediatric Day Unit or Paediatric Outpatients.

The successful applicant can learn and develop new skills with the support of the play team and help to promote the play services .

Organise activities at the bedside or within play areas to encourage children and young people to engage in play in either 1:1 or in group activities.

For more information about the job description and main responsibilities please see attached job description.