Health Play Specialist-Paediatrics

Job description

Be part of our BHT family

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (BHT) is an integrated provider of acute hospital and community services for people living in Buckinghamshire and the surrounding area.

We care for over half a million patients every year:

• Provide specialist spinal services at our world renowned National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, the birthplace of the Paralympics
• Nationally recognised for urology and skin cancer services
• Regional specialist centre for burns, plastic surgery, dermatology, stroke and cardiac services
• Deliver community services in health centres, schools, patients' own homes, community hospitals and community hubs.

More than 6,500 people from different nations, cultures and backgrounds work for us.

We would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options. We strive to be a family friendly, inclusive employer.

If you require any assistance in making this application, please contact [email protected] or phone 01494 734868.

We pride ourselves in being a great place to work and invite you to join our BHT family.

Job overview

As the play specialist, you will help to provide high quality, holistic play service for all children, young people and their families within the Children's inpatient ward and outpatient area, enabling them to feel safe and at ease within the hospital environment. Use play as a tool to communicate and build a rapport with children and young people whilst attending hospital which in turn will create a positive environment and patient journey. You will provide interesting and stimulating play for children, young people and their families and highlight the importance of play in assisting an atraumatic experience and aiding distraction to all health professionals and students. You will use your knowledge of child development; plan, initiate and supervise play activities for children in hospital, appropriate to their age, development, medical condition and background, in order to meet their social, emotional and developmental play needs.

Main duties of the job

If you are interested in striving to deliver excellence in paediatric care and working in a friendly and welcoming team please do contact us. We welcome a fun, enthusiastic & dedicated Healthcare Play Specialist to join our team.

• To manage and be responsible for the assessment, implementation and the evaluation of play strategies which encompass the developmental and emotional needs of the children and their families and or carers within the hospital environment.

• To apply a high level of understanding of the psychological effects of hospitalisation and long-term chronic illness, providing training and advice to members of the multi-disciplinary team

• To carry out play activities on a one-to-one basis with a child and/or a group of children and their families and or carers

• To observe for the signs of anxiety in children at all times, and if necessary, report to paediatric nursing team.

• To create an attractive child orientated environment that encourages play, and helps parents/carers and members of staff to participate in these activities

• To be responsible for ensuring that a whole range of toys and equipment is available for clinic use, being age appropriate whilst also maintaining safety and hygiene standards.

• To have a working knowledge and be able to carry out diversionary techniques as is appropriate for the child and procedure

Working for our organisation

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