Job summary
Do you want to make a difference to children and their families in hospital ? Do you want to be part of the paediatric team at North Tees who work tirelessly to provide family centred care ? The paediatric service adopts a holistic approach to care and quality improvement. Patient safety and service improvement is at the forefront of our philosophy and we seek to recruit team members who are motivated, promote high standards of patient care and work effectively as part of the multi-disciplinary team.
The paediatric children's team consists of a Ward Matron, Team Leads, Nurses, Health Care Assistants, and Hospital Play Specialists who are driven to ensure all care we deliver is patient and family centred, high quality and compassionate. You will see Multi-disciplinary team working at its best within our unit as we involve all allied health professionals to ensure the child receives the most appropriate care including medical staff, physiotherapists, dieticians and speech and language therapists. The post holder will work collaboratively with members of the multi-disciplinary team utilising a family centred approach to care.
The Paediatric Inpatient Unit includes a 26 bed inpatient ward (20 beds in the summer).
Main duties of the job
The role of Play Support Worker has been developed to provide support for our Hospital Play Specialists whose role it is to provide play therapy and distraction for children within the department requiring investigations and surgery. They promote the importance of play within the paediatric team and plan for events and occasions throughout the year. You will assist our Hospital Play Specialists in organising play activities within the unit appropriate to a child's age and development, and, be an advocate for patients and their families during their hospital stay. As a team you would be expected to cover a 7 day service and daily hours are flexible depending on ward/candidate.
Our ideal candidate will have knowledge of child development, play and recreational activities appropriate to age, and safeguarding children. You would have experience of working with children and families, possess good communication skills, work well in a team and bring ideas to develop play within our unit
About us
At North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust our main priority is, and always will be, to provide safe and high quality care to our patients every day; the kind of care we would want for ourselves and our loved ones. We want our organisation to be the best place to work with the right staff, in the right roles, at the right time, to ensure we deliver exceptional patient care and experience.
We will support staff through providing an inclusive and supportive workplace with health and well-being initiatives, staff benefits and opportunities for personal and professional development. Staff recognition is very important to us; as well as performance reviews and appraisals, we recognise staff through Star and Team of the month, colleague recognition - a note of thanks, Managers Awards, Shining Stars and Service Awards.
We support the Making Every Contact Count approach to behaviour change in the promotion of health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.
We recruit for values and "Together we are North Tees & Hartlepool"
Job description
Job responsibilities
Applicants should have NVQ Level 2 Caring for Children and Young People or Early Years Care or Play Work Qualification.
- Acts as a communication link with the other team members, including MDT, between the child and parents/carers.
- Work with the Hospital Play Specialists to implement and oversee the provision of daily activities, which stimulate and provide distraction for the children whilst encouraging learning and development through play.
- Create an attractive child-orientated environment in which play occurs naturally at all times, by providing appropriate activities for normal social, physical, cognitive and emotional growth. Set up play areas and clear away.
- Form supportive relationships with the family members and encourage them to participate in play.
- Assist the family to adjust to the hospital environment by explaining ward routines etc.
- Liaise with the Ward Matron or team lead on duty with regards to the needs of children and significant developments in play.
- Make and report relevant observations (development, emotional and anxieties) to appropriate ward staff.
- Responsible for maintaining play equipment with regard to safety and infection control prevention.
- Teaching the value of play for normal development and the significance of play in hospital to student nurses, medical students, other hospital staff and their students, students on work placement and parents.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Applicants should have NVQ Level 2 Caring for Children and Young People or Early Years Care or Play Work Qualification.
- Acts as a communication link with the other team members, including MDT, between the child and parents/carers.
- Work with the Hospital Play Specialists to implement and oversee the provision of daily activities, which stimulate and provide distraction for the children whilst encouraging learning and development through play.
- Create an attractive child-orientated environment in which play occurs naturally at all times, by providing appropriate activities for normal social, physical, cognitive and emotional growth. Set up play areas and clear away.
- Form supportive relationships with the family members and encourage them to participate in play.
- Assist the family to adjust to the hospital environment by explaining ward routines etc.
- Liaise with the Ward Matron or team lead on duty with regards to the needs of children and significant developments in play.
- Make and report relevant observations (development, emotional and anxieties) to appropriate ward staff.
- Responsible for maintaining play equipment with regard to safety and infection control prevention.
- Teaching the value of play for normal development and the significance of play in hospital to student nurses, medical students, other hospital staff and their students, students on work placement and parents.
Person Specification
shortlisting criteria
Essential
- NVQ LEVEL 2 CARING FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE OR EARLY YEARS CARE OR PLAY QUALIFICATION
- EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH CHILDREN
- KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE OF PLAY
Desirable
- EXPERIENCE WORKING IN A NURSERY SETTING
Person Specification
shortlisting criteria
Essential
- NVQ LEVEL 2 CARING FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE OR EARLY YEARS CARE OR PLAY QUALIFICATION
- EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH CHILDREN
- KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE OF PLAY
Desirable
- EXPERIENCE WORKING IN A NURSERY SETTING
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).
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).
Employer details
Employer name
North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust
Address
University Hospital of North Tees
Hardwick Road
Stockton-on-Tees
TS19 8PE
Employer's website
https://www.nth.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
