Job summary
- Main area
- Paediatrics
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 2
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- 37.5 hours per week (2 full time positions but open to flexible working hours to suit ward/individual candidate)
- Job ref
- 345-WOM6344455
- Employer
- North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- University Hospital of North Tees
- Town
- Stockton-on-Tees
- Salary
- £22,383 pro rata per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 05/07/2024 23:59
- Interview date
- 17/07/2024
Employer heading
Play Therapy Worker
NHS AfC: Band 2
We are on a continuous journey of improvement and transformation , however our main priority is, and always will be, providing safe and high quality care to our patients every day; the kind of care we would want for ourselves and our loved ones. If you share our passion then apply for this opportunity and help us make our patients’ experience the best it can possibly be.
With a budget of around £365m, three hospitals and 5,500 staff, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital-based services to the population of Hartlepool, Stockton on Tees and parts of East Durham and Sedgefield as well as community, therapeutic and screening to a wider population across Durham and Teesside.
Job overview
Do you want to make a difference to children and their families in hospital ? Do you want to be part of the paediatric team at North Tees who work tirelessly to provide family centred care ? The paediatric service adopts a holistic approach to care and quality improvement. Patient safety and service improvement is at the forefront of our philosophy and we seek to recruit team members who are motivated, promote high standards of patient care and work effectively as part of the multi-disciplinary team.
The paediatric children's team consists of a Ward Matron, Team Leads, Nurses, Health Care Assistants, and Hospital Play Specialists who are driven to ensure all care we deliver is patient and family centred, high quality and compassionate. You will see Multi-disciplinary team working at its best within our unit as we involve all allied health professionals to ensure the child receives the most appropriate care including medical staff, physiotherapists, dieticians and speech and language therapists. The post holder will work collaboratively with members of the multi-disciplinary team utilising a family centred approach to care.
The Paediatric Inpatient Unit includes a 26 bed inpatient ward (20 beds in the summer).
Main duties of the job
The role of Play Support Worker has been developed to provide support for our Hospital Play Specialists whose role it is to provide play therapy and distraction for children within the department requiring investigations and surgery. They promote the importance of play within the paediatric team and plan for events and occasions throughout the year. You will assist our Hospital Play Specialists in organising play activities within the unit appropriate to a child's age and development, and, be an advocate for patients and their families during their hospital stay. As a team you would be expected to cover a 7 day service and daily hours are flexible depending on ward/candidate.
Our ideal candidate will have knowledge of child development, play and recreational activities appropriate to age, and safeguarding children. You would have experience of working with children and families, possess good communication skills, work well in a team and bring ideas to develop play within our unit
Working for our organisation
At North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust our main priority is, and always will be, to provide safe and high quality care to our patients every day; the kind of care we would want for ourselves and our loved ones. We want our organisation to be the best place to work with the right staff, in the right roles, at the right time, to ensure we deliver exceptional patient care and experience.
We will support staff through providing an inclusive and supportive workplace with health and well-being initiatives, staff benefits and opportunities for personal and professional development. Staff recognition is very important to us; as well as performance reviews and appraisals, we recognise staff through Star and Team of the month, colleague recognition – a note of thanks, Managers Awards, Shining Stars and Service Awards.
We support the Making Every Contact Count approach to behaviour change in the promotion of health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.
We recruit for values and “Together we are North Tees & Hartlepool”
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Applicants should have NVQ Level 2 Caring for Children and Young People or Early Years Care or Play Work Qualification.
- Acts as a communication link with the other team members, including MDT, between the child and parents/carers.
- Work with the Hospital Play Specialists to implement and oversee the provision of daily activities, which stimulate and provide distraction for the children whilst encouraging learning and development through play.
- Create an attractive child-orientated environment in which play occurs naturally at all times, by providing appropriate activities for normal social, physical, cognitive and emotional growth. Set up play areas and clear away.
- Form supportive relationships with the family members and encourage them to participate in play.
- Assist the family to adjust to the hospital environment by explaining ward routines etc.
- Liaise with the Ward Matron or team lead on duty with regards to the needs of children and significant developments in play.
- Make and report relevant observations (development, emotional and anxieties) to appropriate ward staff.
- Responsible for maintaining play equipment with regard to safety and infection control prevention.
- Teaching the value of play for normal development and the significance of play in hospital to student nurses, medical students, other hospital staff and their students, students on work placement and parents.
Person specification
shortlisting criteria
Essential criteria
- NVQ LEVEL 2 CARING FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE OR EARLY YEARS CARE OR PLAY QUALIFICATION
- EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH CHILDREN
- KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE OF PLAY
Desirable criteria
- EXPERIENCE WORKING IN A NURSERY SETTING
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Alyson Thompson
- Job title
- Ward Matron
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01642 382915
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