(*) Paediatric Health Play Specialist

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust; England; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Development and career opportunities跨/

Job summary

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Health Play Specialist to join the Paediatric Play Team in the department. You will plan, deliver and evaluate therapeutic play for babies, children and young people, supporting families through hospital stays and the move home.

You will work across paediatric areas of the acute hospital, with opportunities for service development and quality improvement, and you must hold a BTEC in hospital play with SoHPS registration.

Qualifications

• BTEC or equivalent in hospital play is required.
• SoHPS registration and ongoing professional registration are expected.
• Experience with babies, children and young people is essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide developmental, therapeutic and specialised play interventions for babies, children and young people.
• Meet emotional, social and developmental needs, reducing anxiety for children and families.
• Plan, deliver and evaluate age-appropriate play programmes for families.
• Advocate for therapeutic play within the multidisciplinary team.
• Work across paediatric areas of the acute hospital and in other clinical areas as needed.
• Contribute to Play Service projects and quality improvement initiatives.

Skills

Therapeutic play in paediatrics

Leadership

Time management

Independent working

Education

BTEC or equivalent in hospital play

Foundation degree in Healthcare Play

Job description

Health play specialist post in the Play Team within the Paediatric Department at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, sitting within the multidisciplinary healthcare team. The role plans, delivers and evaluates therapeutic play for babies, children and young people, aiming to reduce anxiety and help children and families cope with hospital and the move back home. It covers all paediatric areas of the acute hospital, with occasional work in other clinical areas, and includes service development and quality improvement work. Fit depends on a BTEC or equivalent in hospital play and SoHPS registration, and no visa sponsorship is available.

What the job involves

• Provide developmental, therapeutic and specialised play interventions for babies, children and young people
• Meet emotional, social and developmental needs, reducing anxiety and emotional trauma for children and families
• Support positive coping and bridge the gap between hospital and home
• Plan, deliver and evaluate age-appropriate play programmes for babies, children, young people and families
• Advocate for therapeutic play and promote it within the multidisciplinary team, including students and learners
• Work flexibly across all paediatric areas of the acute hospital and occasionally in other clinical areas
• Contribute to Play Service projects, service development and quality improvement initiatives

Qualifications

• BTEC or equivalent in hospital play

Registration & licences

• SoHPS registration
• Maintained professional registration in line with national standards

Experience

• Experience working with babies, children and young people

Skills & knowledge

• Expert knowledge of using play to support babies, children and young people, well and unwell
• Working independently with initiative, organisation, leadership and time management

Nice to have

• Foundation degree in Healthcare Play Specialism

What’s offered

• Development and career opportunities across the Trust