Job summary
Job Title: Play Service Team Leader
Fixed Term End Date 31st October 2025 The job purpose is: -
1. Be responsible for the management of staff within the Play Service.
2. Take an active role in improving care pathways for patients and their families within their hospital journey.
3. Work as an advanced practitioner in clinical areas.
4. Participate in the assessment, planning, development and evaluation of play services within all areas where children and young people are seen, holding responsibility for service development and defined projects.
5. Provide leadership to junior staff through role modelling, teaching and management.
6. Supervise HPS and degree level students on practice placement as well as students from other members of the MDT.
7. Provide complimentary support to children seen outside of paediatric setting and 16 - 18 yrs. old admitted onto the adult wards.
8. Actively work to improve the safety and quality of services for children, contributing to safeguarding and sourcing funds for environmental improvements and building partnerships with external founders
Main duties of the job
Being an accountable professional
Working within NMUH Play service, the post holder's key areas of work will be:-
1. To support the Play Services to ensure high quality care in provided throughout the service.
2. To support the Ward Manager in managing the Play service provided in NMUH, ensuring children and young people receive high quality care as required.
3. To manage a caseload of patients, providing advanced therapeutic play interventions to help alleviate patient's anxieties and fear, helping to increase their co-operation during their time in hospital receiving specialised treatment/care.
4. To liaise with all members of the MDT and other healthcare agencies to provide the highest quality care to paediatric patients and young people at NMUH.
5. To work collaboratively with the Oasis Youth service to provide support to 16yrs - 18yrs admitted to the adult wards.
6. To ensure the Play Team provide a welcoming, safe, and secure environment where culturally diverse patient populations' needs are being represented throughout the service.
7. To increase awareness, understanding and knowledge of the play team's work and how our services help patients during their hospital journeys, internally and externally.
8. To provided leadership, guidance, and support to the Play Team, ensuring services can be improved, developed, and evolve at NMUH.
About us
North Mid is part of North Central London integrated care system - consisting of the NHS and Local authority organisations in Camden, Islington, Barnet, Enfield and Haringey. As with other ICS's, we are working increasingly closely with partners and indeed many of our financial and performance objectives are measured at this system level. Whilst all organisations remain as standalone, statutory bodies we have an ICS infrastructure for making shared decisions and agreeing shared approaches.
We are proud of our staff and want to ensure their training allows them to provide excellent clinical care. We are also a training unit for medical students from UCL and St George's University Grenada, and for nursing and midwifery students from Middlesex and City Universities.
Take a tour of our hospital here
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical and Therapeutic
1. To work as an advanced practitioner and manage a caseload of children and young people with complex needs.
2. To apply a high level of understanding of the psychological effects of hospitalisation and long-term chronic illness, providing training and advice to members of the multidisciplinary team.
3. Ensure that the play equipment provided is safe and that the culturally diverse patient populations needs are being represented.
4. Support, develop and manage systems to ensure the smooth transfer of children from one area of the Trust to another and from other healthcare settings providing age-appropriate information about the patients care and treatment.
Use advanced knowledge and understanding of child/adolescent development and child protection issues to observe and assess patients, reporting back to the MDT relevant details.
6. To plan, implement and evaluate interventions to achieve therapeutic goals, in collaboration with the referrer, the child/young person and their family.
7. Through advanced play and recreation provisions, contribute to specialised clinical judgements based on the patients individual needs.
8. To work independently to meet the needs of children and young people as well as part of the MDT, liaising with a wide range of professionals to meet the emotional and psychological needs of the children and young people.
9. To select and apply therapeutic techniques to help children, young people and young adults overcome difficulties with hospital admission/procedures.
10. Provide support to families that are under stress and in crisis, providing expertise on helping their child cope and adapt to specialised treatment, demonstrating a commitment to family centred care.
11. To monitor, evaluate and modify therapeutic interventions to measure the children and/or young persons progress and ensure effectiveness of care plan.
12. To undertake cover on any other ward or departments as required due to staff absence ensuring patients receive play input as required and delegated by the supervisor.
Communication
1. Maintain effective communication with children, young people, and their families, working closely with them to ensure high quality care is provided enabling them to cope and adapt to treatment.
2. To establish effective communication, both verbal and written, with all members of the multidisciplinary team in child/adolescent health and in other departments of the hospital where the children and young people are treated.
3. To communicate sensitively and professionally in complex and challenging situations, such as with parents who have been told bad news, or with a teenager who has been abused.
4. To understand and monitor the referral pathway, ensuring patients have been appropriately referred.
5. To establish communication links with other agencies/hospitals involved with the child/young person and to effectively liaise with a wide range of professionals, within other agencies/hospitals to ensure the highest standard of care is provided.
6. Ensure that up to date written records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standard.
Leadership, supervision & appraisal
1. Provide effective leadership, guidance, and supervision to junior members of the team.
2. Supervise the professional development of the Play team and lead annual appraisals.
3. Manage play services within the local area and Trust wide as delegated by the and Ward Manager.
4. Demonstrate leadership skills through the implementation and management of designated staff and projects.
Training staff & students
1. Participate in and manage the orientation, training, and supervision of HPS students, providing mentorship throughout the placements to the student and delegated mentor.
2. To be responsible for the supervision and written assessment of HPS/nursing students on placement.
3. Actively promote an awareness of the emotional needs of children and young people in hospital and the importance of play and recreation, within the multi-disciplinary team and to external agencies.
Service development & delivery
1. To actively contribute to the planning, evaluation and audit of practice, care pathways and protocols.
2. To be proactive in the delivery of the play service development plan and annual report.
3. To determine changing needs of department and implement strategies to reflect changes.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical and Therapeutic
1. To work as an advanced practitioner and manage a caseload of children and young people with complex needs.
2. To apply a high level of understanding of the psychological effects of hospitalisation and long-term chronic illness, providing training and advice to members of the multidisciplinary team.
3. Ensure that the play equipment provided is safe and that the culturally diverse patient populations needs are being represented.
4. Support, develop and manage systems to ensure the smooth transfer of children from one area of the Trust to another and from other healthcare settings providing age-appropriate information about the patients care and treatment.
Use advanced knowledge and understanding of child/adolescent development and child protection issues to observe and assess patients, reporting back to the MDT relevant details.
6. To plan, implement and evaluate interventions to achieve therapeutic goals, in collaboration with the referrer, the child/young person and their family.
7. Through advanced play and recreation provisions, contribute to specialised clinical judgements based on the patients individual needs.
8. To work independently to meet the needs of children and young people as well as part of the MDT, liaising with a wide range of professionals to meet the emotional and psychological needs of the children and young people.
9. To select and apply therapeutic techniques to help children, young people and young adults overcome difficulties with hospital admission/procedures.
10. Provide support to families that are under stress and in crisis, providing expertise on helping their child cope and adapt to specialised treatment, demonstrating a commitment to family centred care.
11. To monitor, evaluate and modify therapeutic interventions to measure the children and/or young persons progress and ensure effectiveness of care plan.
12. To undertake cover on any other ward or departments as required due to staff absence ensuring patients receive play input as required and delegated by the supervisor.
Communication
1. Maintain effective communication with children, young people, and their families, working closely with them to ensure high quality care is provided enabling them to cope and adapt to treatment.
2. To establish effective communication, both verbal and written, with all members of the multidisciplinary team in child/adolescent health and in other departments of the hospital where the children and young people are treated.
3. To communicate sensitively and professionally in complex and challenging situations, such as with parents who have been told bad news, or with a teenager who has been abused.
4. To understand and monitor the referral pathway, ensuring patients have been appropriately referred.
5. To establish communication links with other agencies/hospitals involved with the child/young person and to effectively liaise with a wide range of professionals, within other agencies/hospitals to ensure the highest standard of care is provided.
6. Ensure that up to date written records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standard.
Leadership, supervision & appraisal
1. Provide effective leadership, guidance, and supervision to junior members of the team.
2. Supervise the professional development of the Play team and lead annual appraisals.
3. Manage play services within the local area and Trust wide as delegated by the and Ward Manager.
4. Demonstrate leadership skills through the implementation and management of designated staff and projects.
Training staff & students
1. Participate in and manage the orientation, training, and supervision of HPS students, providing mentorship throughout the placements to the student and delegated mentor.
2. To be responsible for the supervision and written assessment of HPS/nursing students on placement.
3. Actively promote an awareness of the emotional needs of children and young people in hospital and the importance of play and recreation, within the multi-disciplinary team and to external agencies.
Service development & delivery
1. To actively contribute to the planning, evaluation and audit of practice, care pathways and protocols.
2. To be proactive in the delivery of the play service development plan and annual report.
3. To determine changing needs of department and implement strategies to reflect changes.
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 oversees equivalent.
- Further training in child protection.
- Management training modules
- Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development For example; Counselling Skills certificate, Supervisory Skills Training, Presentation skills., Published articles, Conference Presentations
- Comprehensive knowledge and application of therapeutic assessments and interventions relevant to patient group and treatment plan.
- Specialist knowledge of the effects of hospitalisation, treatment and long term chronic and life-threatening illness on children and young people and their families.
- Knowledge and awareness of the emotional and personal impact of the work and the ability to self-manage or seek help appropriately.
- Detailed knowledge of current health legislation and NAHPS Guidelines for Professional Practice.
- Detailed knowledge of the principles and application of clinical governance.
Desirable
- Bachelor's Degree (or overseas equivalent) in a subject relevant to work with children and/or young people.
- Training in ;Guided Imagery, Adolescent Development, Teaching adults
Experience
Essential
- Extensive post qualifying, 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, including individual and group work.
- Project leadership experience.
- Participation in recruitment and selection procedures
- Experience of audit procedures
- Experience of regularly supporting, teaching, training, assessing and supervising students and/or volunteers.
Desirable
- Management of junior staff, undertaking annual appraisals and PDP.
- Participation in recruitment and selection procedures
- Experience of working with children and/or young people with special needs including those with challenging behaviours
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 oversees equivalent.
- Further training in child protection.
- Management training modules
- Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development For example; Counselling Skills certificate, Supervisory Skills Training, Presentation skills., Published articles, Conference Presentations
- Comprehensive knowledge and application of therapeutic assessments and interventions relevant to patient group and treatment plan.
- Specialist knowledge of the effects of hospitalisation, treatment and long term chronic and life-threatening illness on children and young people and their families.
- Knowledge and awareness of the emotional and personal impact of the work and the ability to self-manage or seek help appropriately.
- Detailed knowledge of current health legislation and NAHPS Guidelines for Professional Practice.
- Detailed knowledge of the principles and application of clinical governance.
Desirable
- Bachelor's Degree (or overseas equivalent) in a subject relevant to work with children and/or young people.
- Training in ;Guided Imagery, Adolescent Development, Teaching adults
Experience
Essential
- Extensive post qualifying, 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, including individual and group work.
- Project leadership experience.
- Participation in recruitment and selection procedures
- Experience of audit procedures
- Experience of regularly supporting, teaching, training, assessing and supervising students and/or volunteers.
Desirable
- Management of junior staff, undertaking annual appraisals and PDP.
- Participation in recruitment and selection procedures
- Experience of working with children and/or young people with special needs including those with challenging behaviours
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).
