Play Team Assistant - Paediatrics, Band 2

NHS; New Jersey; On-site; USD 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a passionate team at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as a Play Team Assistant in Paediatrics. This role offers a unique chance to support children's emotional and social development during challenging medical experiences. You will engage sick children in play, collaborate with healthcare staff, and create a nurturing environment while enhancing your professional skills.

Benefits

Flexible working opportunities

Excellent benefits package

Qualifications

• 4 GCSEs (or equivalent) including English, Mathematics and preferably a Science.
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office.
• NVQ level 3 in childcare or equivalent required.

Responsibilities

• Select and plan play activities appropriate for children in a clinical setting.
• Promote and support the play specialist role.
• Establish good communication with parents/carers.

Skills

Communication

Compassion

Creativity

Teamwork

Education

4 GCSEs including English, Mathematics

First Aid Training

NVQ level 3 in childcare or equivalent

Job description

Go back Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Play Team Assistant - Paediatrics, Band 2

The closing date is 15 June 2025

Do you have a passion for working children of all ages? If so, we are looking for you to to join our wonderful, fun and supportive team providing invaluable play experiences to children at difficult times during hospital admissions or visits.

The successful candidate will be a valuable member of the dynamic play team providing inclusive play within the Children's Services. Your role will be to work within the structure of the play department referring to health play specialists as required for support and guidance. This can be a challenging role with emotive moments but is incredibly rewarding to see the positive impact play can have on children and their families/carers.

This is an exciting opportunity to learn new skills and develop professionally!

Main duties of the job

The role of the successful candidate will include, having the ability to work effectively under pressure caring for sick children and their families. You will also be required to promote/support the role of the play specialist within the clinical environment. Post holder will be assigned to a specific area but will be required to support other areas driven by clinical demand. They will be required to establish good communication with parents/carers and siblings encouraging them to participate in play sessions.

Post holder will need to be physically fit and active, open to further training and professional development, they must be self motivated, be able to work in a team but also able to work independently. They will have the ability to work effectively within an ever changing environment and be able to provide support during different circumstances. Day to day you will be required to provide, organise, initiate and supervise play activities for all children appropriate to their age, medical condition and background; this will be within the play room or at the bedside as appropriate.

About us

With a team of over 9,000 employees, we are proud to be the largest employer in Gloucestershire and rank among the top 10 largest Trusts in the South West region. By joining our Trust, you will benefit from an excellent package that includes exclusive benefits, flexible working opportunities and the chance to gain valuable experience in one of our innovative hospitals.

The Children's Centre is a purpose-built, modern unit. In addition, the Centre offers a unique environment for professionals to develop their paediatric experience across a range of areas:

- Paediatric Inpatient Ward - a 31-bedded unit, with a range of cubicles and one bay.

- Paediatric Assessment Unit - a six - bedded unit designed to rapidly assess, treat, and discharge patients that are primarily referred from the Emergency Department or GPs.

- High Dependency Unit - a four-bedded unit for patients requiring complex high dependency care.

- Paediatric Day Unit - an eight -bedded elective ward for patients requiring surgery, scans, medication, and tests.

- Oncology Shared Care - a 4 bedded oncology area that forms part of the South West Regional Paediatric Oncology Service

- Outpatient Department - a busy outpatient setting that has 15 clinic rooms.

Job responsibilities

To select and plan a wide variety of play activities to suit the individual capabilities of a child within a challenging and changing clinical environment including the ability to record daily play activity within the child's individual record and report any comments/concerns to the health play specialist/medical/nursing team.

To advise the health play specialists of any equipment that requires replacement or repair. Ensure play area and equipment are safe and clean to prevent cross infection and accidents.

To communicate effectively, especially where child's ability to do so is compromised. On occasions, the job holder may be exposed to distressing or emotional circumstances.

Meeting the needs of parents/carers, acting professionally, compassionately and consistently in day to day and sensitive situations.

Ability to communicate, engage children's interests and facilitate their learning through fun play activities.Actively promote diversity both in relation to the children and their families/carers, generally on the ward ensuring that culturally sensitive environment is maintained.

Work independently and use own initiative within their remit but also be a kind, supportive and approachable team member.

Review and reflect on own practice and performance through the effective use of supervision and appraisal.

Comply with the trust's policies and data protection act.

Basic IT skills.

Create an interesting and stimulating environment where sick children and their siblings can play normally to fulfil their emotional, social and developmental needs.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Minimum of 4 GCSE's (or equivalent) including English, Mathematics and preferably a Science, Physical Education or Health and Social care based subject
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office Word and email programmes
• First Aid Training
• NVQ level 3 in childcare or equivalent (NNEB, Cache L3)

Experience

• Experience (through placement or employment) of working with children and young people
• Previous experience in a healthcare environment

Knowledge

• A desire to work in a hospital environment caring for acutely unwell children with kindness, compassion and with dignity and respect
• Ability to work on own initiative, independently and as part of the wider play team
• Clear communication skills; verbally, in writing and the use of IT
• Good interpersonal skills to convey information and work effectively with patients, and maintain good working relations with other healthcare staff
• To get on well with people at all levels, communicate and work effectively as a team member
• Be courteous when talking to colleagues, patients, their families and visitors on the ward and to treat everyone with dignity and respect
• Have and describe an understanding of confidentiality
• Awareness of Safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of prevention of cross infection
• Ability to plan, organise and supervise play activities suitable for the age, ability and medical condition of the child

Qualities

• Be both enthusiastic and self-aware
• Creative and Flexible
• Resilient under pressure, whilst understanding own limitations
• Team focused
• Reliable, Adaptable and Dependable

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 name

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust