Play Specialist

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical / Therapeutic

• To identify and implement a wide range of therapeutic techniques to help children and young people overcome hospitalisation and complex difficulties within the hospital environment.
• To provide advice and support for children and families throughout the cancer treatment trajectory, signposting to external support networks, services and organisations where appropriate
• To participate in referral pathways for paediatric patients, taking a co-ordinating role where appropriate between internal and external professionals
• To be involved in the assessment and care planning of a case load of children and young people (some of which may be complex) and consider individual and service need in collaboration with the referrer, the child and family.
• To provide assistance and advice to members of the multi-disciplinary team and wider hospital workers in order that children receive appropriate services.
• To supervise and support approved external organisations, facilitators, and volunteers providing entertainment, activities, or charitable donations for the paediatric service, ensuring all visits are delivered safely, appropriately, and in accordance with Trust policies and safeguarding requirements.

Service Development and Delivery

• Responsible for the continuous development, implementation, and maintenance of the play service at The Christie
• Ensure the standard of play is innovative and provides best practice and outcomes for the paediatric patients to ensure the minimal use of sedation / anaesthetic
• Liaises with the multidisciplinary team regarding the progress of paediatric patients within their treatment pathway on a weekly basis, ensuring care pathways and protocol deadlines/time scales are met
• Facilitate and deliver informal teaching sessions for staff within the Trust relating to paediatric care and play therapy

Clinical Governance

• To work within the Trust’s clinical governance and quality agenda, and to monitor
• practice standards
• To apply NAHPS Guidelines for Professional Practice and legislation relating to
• health and social care
• To act as an advocate for the child or adolescent, promoting and protecting their rights in line with relevant legislation, national guidance and professional standards. This includes ensuring children and young people are listened to, their views are considered, and they are supported to participate in decisions about their care in accordance with their age, understanding and individual needs.

Communication

• To establish effective communication, both verbal and written, with all members
• of the multidisciplinary team, with other Trust departments and with regional children’s services
• To communicate with families and children/young people using reassuring and positive language to encourage compliance within medical procedures

Research and Practice Development

• To ensure consultation with relevant members of the MDT and revise/amend services where necessary
• To identify relevant and current research and apply to practice.
• To be responsible for the development and implementation of local guidelines to ensure best practice
• To be responsible for the implementation and audit of the regional benchmarking
• standards

Documentation

• To ensure up to date written records and activity data are maintained in accordance with professional and Trust standards and provide specialist written reports relevant to the child’s care plan where necessary.
• To record and capture all paediatric activity within digital systems
• Participate and contribute to the weekly multidisciplinary team meetings to inform staff members of patient’s progress within their treatment

Professional Ethics

• To comply with the NAHPS Code of Professional Conduct and Trust Policies
• To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of patients and
• their families, contribute to the provision of a sensitive service to meet these needs
• To demonstrate the ability to reflect on ethical issues

Professional and personal development

• To maintain a professional portfolio in line with HPSET recommendation for re-registration recording learning outcomes from participation in internal and external development opportunities
• To review and reflect on own practice through the effective use of clinical supervision and appraisal
• To participate in an agreed programme of personal development

Responsibility for Resources

• To ensure play equipment is maintained to a high standard, advising on resources to meet the needs of the service area, in accordance with Trust health and safety standards
• To ensure information resources relating to patients are collated in adherence with Trust Policy and presented to the multidisciplinary team

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Foundation degree in Healthcare Play Specialism / Level 5 Health Play Specialist apprenticeship
• Current registration with SoHPS
• At least 2 years post qualifying experience working with children

Desirable criteria

• Related Hons Degree Qualification; Psychology, Health and Social Care
• Documented evidence of Continued Professional Development

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of working with children and young people and their families
• Ability to communicate with and advise a wide range of people
• Hospital environment experience

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge and experience of working with children and young people with additional needs
• Experience in the Oncology setting
• Experience of supporting staff

Skills

Essential criteria

• Ability to plan, co-ordinate and apply therapeutic interventions for children and young people experiencing difficulties with treatment
• Applied knowledge of health legislation and NAHPS Guidelines for Professional Practice
• The ability to maintain confidentiality
• To work autonomously
• Ability to manage own workload and determine priorities
• Effective written, verbal, and non-verbal communication skills
• Numeracy, literacy, and computer skills
• Ability to work under pressure
• Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team

Desirable criteria

• Training and facilitation skills
• Supervisory skills
• Ability to work with 0-16-year-olds
• Have an understanding of teenage and young adult development and the difficulties/issues that affect them
• Ability to analyse professional and ethical practice and issues
• Family centred care

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Knowledge of distraction techniques and therapeutic play
• Knowledge of normalising play
• Understanding of the developmental needs from birth – 16 years

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of: Food hygiene, risk management, health promotion
• Infection control policies
• Knowledge of issues relating to consent, child protection, and confidentiality
• Applied knowledge of health and safety issues and risk management

Values

Essential criteria

• Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours

Desirable criteria

• Clinical safety
• Compassion

Other

Essential criteria

• Flexible working, including weekends to meet the needs of the service

Desirable criteria

• Highly motivated

The closing date for this post may be extended if there are insufficient applicants or brought forward if there is a high volume of applicants.

Sponsorship Information

We are an approved sponsoring organisation. Applications will be considered from applicants requiring sponsorship alongside all other applications.

Please be aware, not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible role and requirements on the

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