Job summary
Are you looking to join the Paediatric Team within the
Emergency Department at Darlington Memorial Hospital?
A Play Assistant in a Paediatric Emergency
Department helps reduce anxiety and fear in children by providing emotional
support and engaging activities during their hospital visit. They use
therapeutic play to explain medical procedures in a child-friendly way, offer
distraction during treatments, and create a comforting environment that
promotes normalcy. By collaborating with healthcare professionals, Play
Assistants ensure that the emotional and psychological needs of young patients
are met, enhancing their overall care experience in the emergency setting.
Main duties of the job
The Play Assistant will provide developmental, therapeutic
and specialised play techniques for all ages and diversities in an effort to
fulfil emotional, social and developmental needs and help alleviate emotional
trauma within families.
They will help to bridge the gap between
hospital and home, creating a positive environment and a positive patient
journey.
About us
If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager
You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks
We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented
Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents
Over reliance on
AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of
success
For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.
From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have a minimum of two years
of experience working within the NHS as a HCA for the Trust to consider
sponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria and
have a current visa expiring within 3 months)
Job description
Job responsibilities
A Play Assistant in a Paediatric Emergency Department plays
a crucial role in supporting the emotional and psychological needs of children
during their hospital visit. Their primary responsibility is to create a
comforting and child-friendly environment that helps reduce anxiety, stress,
and fear often associated with medical settings. Here are key aspects of their
role:
1. Providing
Distraction and Comfort: Play Assistants use various activities, such as games,
art, and storytelling, to distract children during medical procedures or
waiting times. This helps to minimize distress and make the experience less
intimidating.
2. Supporting
Therapeutic Play: They engage children in therapeutic play, which helps them
understand and cope with their illness, injuries, or upcoming procedures. This
type of play can help explain medical processes in an age-appropriate way.
3. Emotional
Support: Play Assistants provide emotional support not only to the children but
also to their families, helping them navigate the challenges of being in an
emergency department. They act as a comforting presence during what can be a
highly stressful time.
4. Promoting
Normalcy: By encouraging play, they help maintain a sense of normalcy for the
child, which is essential for emotional well-being. This is particularly
important in an emergency setting where the environment can be overwhelming and
unfamiliar.
5. Assisting
Healthcare Professionals: Play Assistants work closely with doctors, nurses,
and other healthcare staff, offering insights into a childs emotional state
and needs, which can be valuable during treatment. They may also help prepare
children for procedures, using play to explain what will happen in a way that
is understandable to the child.
6. Creating
a Child-Friendly Environment: They help to design and maintain a welcoming
space filled with age-appropriate toys, books, and activities, ensuring the paediatric
emergency department feels less clinical and more engaging for young
patients.
Job description
Job responsibilities
A Play Assistant in a Paediatric Emergency Department plays
a crucial role in supporting the emotional and psychological needs of children
during their hospital visit. Their primary responsibility is to create a
comforting and child-friendly environment that helps reduce anxiety, stress,
and fear often associated with medical settings. Here are key aspects of their
role:
1. Providing
Distraction and Comfort: Play Assistants use various activities, such as games,
art, and storytelling, to distract children during medical procedures or
waiting times. This helps to minimize distress and make the experience less
intimidating.
2. Supporting
Therapeutic Play: They engage children in therapeutic play, which helps them
understand and cope with their illness, injuries, or upcoming procedures. This
type of play can help explain medical processes in an age-appropriate way.
3. Emotional
Support: Play Assistants provide emotional support not only to the children but
also to their families, helping them navigate the challenges of being in an
emergency department. They act as a comforting presence during what can be a
highly stressful time.
4. Promoting
Normalcy: By encouraging play, they help maintain a sense of normalcy for the
child, which is essential for emotional well-being. This is particularly
important in an emergency setting where the environment can be overwhelming and
unfamiliar.
5. Assisting
Healthcare Professionals: Play Assistants work closely with doctors, nurses,
and other healthcare staff, offering insights into a childs emotional state
and needs, which can be valuable during treatment. They may also help prepare
children for procedures, using play to explain what will happen in a way that
is understandable to the child.
6. Creating
a Child-Friendly Environment: They help to design and maintain a welcoming
space filled with age-appropriate toys, books, and activities, ensuring the paediatric
emergency department feels less clinical and more engaging for young
patients.
Person Specification
Special Requirements
Essential
- Rotational shift patterns
Experience
Essential
- Previous Childcare experience - e.g working within a Nursery or School.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a Hospital environment.
- Working with Children/young people in intensive settings. Community work/ home/ school visits. Team work experience Special needs experience Leadership experience Working with children/young people in groups or individually Working with different cultures
Qualifications
Essential
- Maths and English GCSE/equivalent & NVQ Level 3 in Childcare or equivalent (e.g. NNEB BTEC Nursery Nurse
- qualification)
Desirable
- Play work special needs
- Level 2 safeguarding
Special Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of developmental, social and psychological needs of children, young people and their families.
- Knowledge of developmental needs from birth to 18 years, incorporating all special needs, Cultures and diversities. Understanding health & safety issues and confidentiality/data protection. Leadership skills- Leading play service in area of work and leading projects and schemes. Ability to empower other health care professionals in providing specialised play materials and interaction. Communication skills. Negotiation skills. Organisation skills. Able to work independently using own initiative and within a team. Document and report writing skills. Enthusiastic and forward thinking. Ability to reflect practice through. Show willingness to learn and develop self and practice. Ability to work with families under stress.
Desirable
- Awareness of literature and government legislation relating to children and young people including child protection, Childrens Act 1989, Human Rights Act, UN Convention The rights of the child etc. Clinical skills in all aspects of developmental, therapeutic & specialised play. Presentation/teaching skills. Consultation skills with children/teenagers and families to obtain user views and participation.
Person Specification
Special Requirements
Essential
- Rotational shift patterns
Experience
Essential
- Previous Childcare experience - e.g working within a Nursery or School.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a Hospital environment.
- Working with Children/young people in intensive settings. Community work/ home/ school visits. Team work experience Special needs experience Leadership experience Working with children/young people in groups or individually Working with different cultures
Qualifications
Essential
- Maths and English GCSE/equivalent & NVQ Level 3 in Childcare or equivalent (e.g. NNEB BTEC Nursery Nurse
- qualification)
Desirable
- Play work special needs
- Level 2 safeguarding
Special Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of developmental, social and psychological needs of children, young people and their families.
- Knowledge of developmental needs from birth to 18 years, incorporating all special needs, Cultures and diversities. Understanding health & safety issues and confidentiality/data protection. Leadership skills- Leading play service in area of work and leading projects and schemes. Ability to empower other health care professionals in providing specialised play materials and interaction. Communication skills. Negotiation skills. Organisation skills. Able to work independently using own initiative and within a team. Document and report writing skills. Enthusiastic and forward thinking. Ability to reflect practice through. Show willingness to learn and develop self and practice. Ability to work with families under stress.
Desirable
- Awareness of literature and government legislation relating to children and young people including child protection, Childrens Act 1989, Human Rights Act, UN Convention The rights of the child etc. Clinical skills in all aspects of developmental, therapeutic & specialised play. Presentation/teaching skills. Consultation skills with children/teenagers and families to obtain user views and participation.
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.
Employer details
Employer name
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust
Hollyhurst Road
Darlington
County Durham
DL3 6HX
Employer's website
https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
