Play Specialist

Job summary

Being a Play Specialist at Kingston Hospital is varied, creative and a brilliant place to grow your skills -- all while supporting local children and families across Kingston and Richmond.

You'lljoin a small, friendly team supporting children and young people,from a few days old right up to 18,across the paediatric ward, A&E, outpatientclinicsand specialist services like oncology.You'llbe there for the quick visits, the long stays, and everything in between.

One minute you're doing sensory play with a newborn, the next you're building a train track with a three-year-old, distracting a nervous 10-year-old during an NG tube, or chatting with a teenager about hair loss, or who just needs a bit of normality in a very un-normal place. We're also big on creativity -- sometimes that means using resources, sometimes it means making them yourself,all with the goal of helping children feel calmer, morepreparedand more in control. It'sfast-paced,it'sunpredictable, and if you like thinking on your feet,you'll love it here.

You'llwork across clinics like phlebotomy,dermatologyand asthma, as well as dental, orthopaedics,ENT and day surgery.

This role is open to qualified Health Play Specialists, as well as second-year apprentices or students currently studying on the Health Play Specialist course.

Ifyou'dlike to see what life in the team really looks like,take a lookat our candidate information pack.

Main duties of the job

Build on your clinical experience by supporting children through scans, proceduresand longer-term treatment, including oncology care.You'llrotate across a 24-bed inpatient ward, two HDU beds, the Physical Assessment Unit and outpatient clinics, which means lots of variety. Along the way,you'lldevelop specialist skills, gain exposure to different clinicalsettingsand builda strong foundationfor future progression.

Key responsibilities

Build relationships with children and young people through play, using approaches appropriate to their developmental and emotional needs.

Assess individual needs and plan, deliver and evaluate therapeutic play interventions, including preparation for procedures, distraction techniques and post-procedural play.

Create and maintain a safe, welcoming and stimulating play environment with inclusive and well-maintained resource.

Record play interventions, outcomes and observations accurately in line with Trust policies and professional standards.

Promote awareness of children's emotional and developmental needs within the multidisciplinary team.

Provide play-based observations to inform holistic care planning and liaise with external agencies, including the Local Education Authority where educational support is required.

Respect the individuality, cultural background and beliefs of children and families while advocating for their needs.

About us

Our play service is supported by Momentum and Kingston Hospital Charity, which means we can do more than just the basics. We'vegot a bright, purpose-built playroom that opens out onto a garden -- somewhere children can get fresh air, move around and just feel a bit more like themselves.

We'realso able to bring things onto the ward that childrenwouldn'tusually expect in hospital -- from visits by Chelsea Football Club and therapy animals (including owls and ponies), to entertainers, puppet sessions, bake sales and toy events.

You'llbe encouraged to share ideas, get involved and help bring them to life as part of a creative, supportive team.

What skills/ qualifications do you need?

• A recognised Health Play Specialist qualificationor to be a second-year apprentice/student on the Health Play Specialist course.

• Registration with the Society of Health Play Specialists (SOHPS), or eligibility to register.

• Experience supportingpatients withSEND, and confidence adapting play,communicationand preparation to meetdifferent needs.

Employer details

Employer name

Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Kingston Hospital

Galsworthy Road

Kingston

KT2 7QB

Employer's website

https://www.kingstonandrichmond.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

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Employer details

Employer name

Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Kingston Hospital

Galsworthy Road

Kingston

KT2 7QB

Employer's website

https://www.kingstonandrichmond.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

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