Healthcare Play Specialist | Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
| Posting date: | 14 May 2024 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | £30,279 - £33,116 inclusive |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 13 June 2024 |
| Location: | London, W2 1NY |
| Company: | IMPERIAL COLLEGE HEALTHCARE NHS TRUST |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 6308515/290-RDPS-18 |
Summary
We welcome a fun, enthusiatic & dedicated Healthcare Play Specialist to join our team.
This is a qualified post but is open to those currently undertaking the Healthcare Play Specialism training course.
This is the perfect opportunity for you to continue to develop and learn within a busy and friendly children's department. The job would suit someone who has solid experience working in the role or on placement .
The job is varied and interesting, with specialities including Haematology/Oncology, Diabetes, Allergy, Renal, Infectious Disease, Neurology. Housing a trauma centre, children's intensive care and emergency department means that there is always a lot of opportunity to use your exisiting skills, whilst continuing to learn & experience different things.
If you have great communication skills, a solid foundation of experience with children & young people and a passion for play we would love to hear from you.
Please note that only applicants with the required qualification or currently undertaking the training can be considered for the post.
• To use theoretical knowledge and evidence based practice to assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapeutic play programmes for children & young people within the departments, contributing towards the holistic care of children and young people.
• To foster an awareness of the emotional needs of children within the hospital and promote the importance of play within the multi-disciplinary team.
• To support the creation of an appropriate & safe enviornemnt for children, young people & their families
• To supervise, support and mentor junior staff, students and volunteers.
• To assist with the service planning and delivery of the play service.
At Imperial College Healthcare you can achieve extraordinary things with extraordinary people, working with leading clinicians pushing boundaries in patient care. Become part of a vibrant team living our values - expert, kind, collaborative and aspirational. You’ll get an experience like no other and will fast forward your career.
Benefits include career development, flexible working and wellbeing, staff recognition scheme. Make use of optional benefits including Cycle to work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities. We encourage staff to have the Covid vaccination to protect themselves, patients, other colleagues as well as the wider community. Please note it is an operational requirement to comply with infection prevention and control procedures within the Trust such as lateral flow testing, handwashing and the wearing of masks, according to the procedures in place at any time or location. As part of our continued response to Covid19 we are still conducting the majority of our interviews virtually.
We are committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and will consider applications to work flexibly, part-time or job share.
Please see full details in attached job description document
Clinical/Therapeutic
• To plan and provide play, support and therapeutic interventions to help children and young people cope with hospitalisation and overcome difficulties associated with their condition and/or treatment.
• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate play programmes, including timely preparation, support and procedural play.
• To provide normalising and interactive play, in Isolation or with others, as appropriate to the developmental, emotional and medical needs of the child.
• To provide play-based observations to influence and support the overall assessment of the child.
• To monitor, reflect upon and modify therapeutic interventions to measure best outcomes.
• Work in partnership with children & families encouraging their involvement where appropriate and contributing towards an environment in which advocacy is promoted.
• Liaise and work alongside colleagues to provide a continuity of care for long term patient’s between inpatient & outpatient services.
• Through the provision of play provide support for the families and siblings that are under stress and in crisis.
• To accept referrals for play input, preparation and support from within Children’s Services and for non-children’s services as directed by the Play Team Lead.
• To provide cover to another ward/department as appropriate to the needs of the service
• Create a welcoming, safe and age appropriate environment for children & young people.
• Co-ordinate special events and celebrate children’s successes/achievements
Communication
• To establish effective communication, both verbal and written, with all members of the multidisciplinary team involved in the care both inside and outside of the hospital. For example;• Devising care plans and planning daily input with other members of the play & MDT team
• attending relevant handovers
• attending & contributing to relevant meetings, including play meetings, weekly MDT and case reviews
• documenting input in medical notes
• sharing information & seeking support for any worries or concerns with the appropriate person within the service, e.g Safeguarding, Team Leader, Ward manager
Documentation
• To ensure that up to date records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards. To document in play and shared care notes as appropriate.
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, and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.
• Pay due regard at all times to the Trust’s and Children's Services Policies, especially Health and Safety, Equal Opportunities, Safeguarding and issues related to the Children act and children rights.
• To demonstrate the ability to reflect on ethical issues and discuss those that arise with senior staff.
Leadership, Supervision & Appraisal
• To undertake the day to day supervision of students, volunteers and visitors within the play department.
• To demonstrate basic leadership skills through the management of designated projects relevant to role.
• To be an active participant in the appraisal process.
Training Staff & Students
• To participate in the implementation of the training/education of students and other members of the multidisciplinary team alongside senior team members.
Service Development & Delivery
• To participate in the evaluation and audit of practice, care pathways and protocols.
• To be proactive in the delivery of the play service and contribute toward the planning for the needs of the service, alongside senior team members.
• To offer flexible working across the Children’s Services
This advert closes on Friday 14 Jun 2024