(*) Health Play Assistant

Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Basildon; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Health Play Specialist to deliver developmentally appropriate play, recreation and leisure activities for babies, children and young people within a hospital setting.

You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team, supporting families throughout the hospital journey, promoting a safe and welcoming environment and ensuring activities meet individual needs and abilities.

Qualifications

• Experience working with babies, children and young people in healthcare, education, community or childcare settings.
• Ability to plan and deliver developmentally appropriate play and recreational activities.
• Understanding of needs of children with additional needs and safeguarding principles.

Responsibilities

• Provide access to developmental play and recreational activities tailored to each child.
• Use knowledge of child development to select suitable play activities.
• Undertake assessments during play and activities to support individual needs.
• Deliver one-to-one and group play sessions to promote development.
• Maintain safe, clean play areas and restock resources.

Skills

Play activities

Child development understanding

Communication skills

Education

NVQ Level 3 or equivalent

CACHE Level 3 or equivalent

BTEC Level 3 or equivalent

Job description

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is the only acute hospital provider in the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS), which is a system of health and care partners working together for our local population.

Within Mid and South Essex there are 149 GP practices, operating from over 200 sites, forming 27 Primary Care Networks and one Ambulance Trust. There are also three main community and mental health service providers who work together through a community collaborative.

We collaborate with other valuable partners, including three Healthwatch organisations, nine voluntary and community sector organisations and three top tier local authorities, with seven district, borough and city councils, as well as our local universities.

Job overview

As part of the Health Play Specialist team, you will use your knowledge and experience of child development to deliver play, recreation and leisure activities tailored to each baby, child and young person's individual needs. You will work as a fully integrated member of the multidisciplinary team, supporting babies, children, young people and their families throughout their hospital journey. You will help provide a positive, safe and welcoming environment that promotes positive experiences for babies, children, young people and their families.

Main duties of the job

• Provide access to developmental play, recreation and leisure activities for babies, children and young people, promoting equality, diversity and inclusion whilst supporting their emotional, social and developmental needs.
• Use knowledge of child development when selecting appropriate play, recreation and leisure activities for babies, children and young people.
• Have an understanding of the adaptations required for babies, children and young people with additional needs to fulfil their right to play and recreational activities.
• Promote and support the development of babies, children and young people.
• Undertake assessments of babies, children and young people based on observations during play and activity sessions.
• Deliver stimulating, supportive and developmentally appropriate play through one-to-one and group play sessions.
• Provide individual play and activity sessions for isolated or long-term patients.
• Promote the social development of babies, children and young people through group activities.
• Deliver simple preparation and distraction interventions to support babies, children and young people undergoing procedures, under the supervision of a qualified Health Play Specialist.
• Provide a safe environment for babies, children and young people to play and relax in by maintaining play areas, restocking resources, and ensuring toys and equipment are clean, safe and in good repair.

Working for our organisation

Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and well being of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

We aim to make the most of our skills and experiences so we can become the best we can be. As one organisation we will recruit the finest and retain more specialist staff due to more employment opportunities across our Trust.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For full details about this varied and rewarding role, please see attached job description.

We look forward to your application.

Please be aware that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a suitable number of applications.

Unfortunately, there is no Visa Sponsorship available for this role. Whilst we are able to employ candidates on a graduate Visa, we are unable to offer sponsorship once the graduate visa expires.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• NVQ Level 3, CACHE Level 3, BTEC Level 3 or equivalent qualification in Childcare, Early Years, Play work, Health and Social Care or a related subject.

Desirable criteria

• GCSE English and Mathematics (Grade C/4 or above) or equivalent.

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of working with babies, children and young people in a childcare, educational, community or healthcare setting.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working with babies, children and young people with additional needs, including those who may present with behaviours that challenge.
• Experience of planning and delivering developmentally appropriate play and recreational activities.

Please be aware as per the new Immigration guidelines we cannot sponsor candidates with a salary (full time or pro Rata) under the current minimum threshold.

Please note, the selection processes at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust are in place to ensure we recruit candidates with the right skills and values, please be advised that the use of AI in applications are monitored. We remain vigilant against candidates who misuse these tools to generate an application that doesn't accurately reflect their skills, and you will be required to declare on your application if AI has been used before submitting your application.