Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Hospital Play Specialist Riverbank / PAU Paeds, WRH

This job is now closed

Job summary

It Is an exciting time to join the Childrens nursing team at WAHT. A new dedicated 14 bed PAU is due to open in Winter 2024 and will be operational 24/7.

If you are looking for a new challenge, we can offer you an opportunity to progress your career in a supportive environment rotating between PAU (Paediatric Assessment Unit) and Riverbank, a thirty-five bedded Childrens Ward.

To be considered for this role you must have a foundation degree in Healthcare Play Specialism and be registered with the Healthcare Play Specialists Education Trust (HPSET). You must also have hospital experience, working on either an in-patients ward or outpatients department.

As a Play Specialist you will undertake a range of tasks and responsibilities to support professionally qualified staff to provide a high-quality service. These include supporting children and young people during acute hospital admissions with medical, surgical, orthopaedic and psychiatric problems, as well as patients undergoing elective day surgery and outpatient procedures. You must be able to plan, implement and evaluate care in sensitive situations and have the skills to assess, plan, implement and evaluate appropriate play programmes including preparation and distraction.

You will be fully supported by colleagues who are committed to giving high quality care to children and young people and their families

Main duties of the job

To manage and maintain a child focused environment where play occurs naturally.

To use theoretical knowledge and evidence based practice to assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapeutic play interventions in hospital and in the community.

To document therapeutic interventions and outcomes.

To develop skills knowledge and be responsible for own practice.

To promote an awareness of the emotional needs of children in hospital and the importance of play within the multi-disciplinary team.

Rotate between Riverbank Childrens Ward and PAU (Paediatric Assessment Unit)

About us

Our purpose is simple - Putting Patients First. We are looking for exceptional colleagues who can help us achieve this.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.

The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester

Our workforce is over 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.

We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us to achieve our Vision - working in partnership to provide the best healthcare for our communities, leading and supporting our teams to move 4ward. Our 4ward behaviours, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.

Our objectives are simple:

Best services for local people
Best experience of care and best outcomes for our patients
Best use of resources
Best people

Better never stops, and our Clinical Services Strategy provides a clear future vision for our Trust, our hospitals, our services and our role in the wider health and care system.

We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.

Date posted

07 March 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£25,147 to £27,596 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

C9365-24-0290

Job locations

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

Worcestershire

WR5 1DD

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical/Professional Leadership

To undertake therapeutic assessments and devise play programmes for children and young people in hospital, according to their individual needs and as part of the overall care plan.

To plan and implement individual therapeutic play programmes to include preparation for invasive and non-invasive procedures, distraction therapy and post procedural play.

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

To provide support to families under stress and in crisis.

To establish effective communication, both verbal and written with all members of the multi-disciplinary team.

To work as a member of the multi-disciplinary team, contributing to decisions with regard to patient treatment / care plans.

To provide play based observations to influence and support the overall assessment of the child.

To ensure that up to date written records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards.

To participate in the orientation, training and supervision of students.

To participate in the training and education of staff to promote an awareness of the therapeutic benefits of play in hospital.

To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of patients and their families, and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs. .

To attend and contribute to any relevant meetings or case conferences/ discussions.

Ensure own actions help to maintain quality.

To select, monitor and order play resources to reflect the needs of the patient group.

To be responsible for maintaining play equipment in accordance with Trust Health and Safety Standards.

Staff Development

To attend staff meetings/discussions and working groups.

To comply with Health & Safety Legislation and local policies and procedures.

To be aware of service quality standards and to following, where appropriate.

To participate in any clinical or quality initiative undertaken by the service.

To be responsible for the accurate collection of data.

To assist in the ward teaching programmes, to give guidance in the choice of suitable play activities and to demonstrate the value of play as a contribution to the development and recovery of all paediatric patients.

To review and reflect on own practice through the effective use of clinical supervision and appraisal.

To at all times act as role model for both new and experienced Play Staff.

To apply theoretical knowledge and understanding to professional practice.

To be proactive in up- dating knowledge and understanding of current research and best practice.

Clinical Governance

Ensure own actions support equality, diversity and rights.

To contribute to the control of infection by monitoring and reporting any housekeeping issues and maintaining rotas for the regular cleaning of toys and play equipment.

To maintain high standards of care by continual updating of own knowledge and skills, both formally and informally.

To comply with Trust polices and regulations and attend mandatory lectures as instructed.

Assist in maintaining own and others health and safety and security.

To work within the Trusts clinical governance and quality agenda.

To demonstrate an understanding of NAPHS Guidelines for Professional Practice.

Personnel

To participate in an appraisal system with the Ward Manager, giving and receiving feedback against agreed objectives.

To attend any necessary courses, study days or conferences to maintain and develop professional and supervisory skills, as agreed with the Ward Manager.

To comply with the NAHPS Code of Professional Conduct ant Trust policies.

To maintain a professional portfolio in line with HPSET recommendations for re- registration, recording learning outcomes from participation in internal and external development opportunities.

Service Development

Assist in maintaining and developing services.

To support the planning, evaluation and audit of practice and protocols.

To be pro-active in the delivery of play services within the Trust

Local Ward/Department Variation to Core Job Descriptions

To ensure that the needs of the children are met by providing for normal growth and development physically, psychologically and socially.

To assist the Named Nurse for Child Protection in related issues including raising awareness of child protection.

To have an awareness of child protection issues and to act as a child advocate at all times.

To maintain a close liaison and relationship with Childrens Community Nursing Team (Orchard Service)

Rotate to the Paediatric Assessment Unit and Riverbank Ward

Disclosure and Barring Service

The Trust aims to promote equality of opportunity for all, with the right mix of talent, skills and potential. Criminal records will be taken into account for recruitment purposes, only when the conviction is relevant. As the Trust meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of cautions, reprimands or final warnings, as well as convictions. Postholders may periodically be asked to undertake a re-check.

The Trust is legally required to check all staff against the Disclosures and Barring Services Childrens and Vulnerable Adults barring lists if they engage in what is defined as Regulated Activity or Controlled Activity: Regulated Activity is defined as working closely with children or vulnerable adults, paid or unpaid, on a frequent or intensive basis. Controlled activity is work that provides opportunities for contact with children or vulnerable adults.

Equality and Diversity

The Trust promotes policies and practices that challenge discrimination, promote equality, respect individual needs, preferences and choices, and protects human rights. The Trust has a clear commitment to equality for all in employment practices based on an applicants ability, skills and aptitude for the post. A range of equality & diversity policy initiatives are in place and all successful applicants are expected to familiarise themselves with these. It is therefore the duty of every employee to comply with the detail and spirit of these policies and the law at all times. Any issues or concerns you have should be taken up with your manager or the human resource team as soon as possible.

Dignity

All employees must treat each person as an individual, offering a personalised service respecting peoples dignity and modesty at all times.

Conflict of Interest

The Trust is responsible for ensuring that the service provided for patients and its care meet the highest standard. Equally, it is responsible for ensuring that staff do not abuse their official position for personal gain or to benefit their family or friends. The Trusts Standing Orders require any member of staff to declare any interest, direct or indirect, with contracts involving the Trust. Staff are not allowed to further their private interests in the course of their NHS duties.