Play Facilitator

South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust are looking for a dedicated and forward-thinking Play Facilitator to join our Acute Paediatric Team based at Warwick Hospital. The applicant will have a childcare qualification with experience of working in a Clinical Environment.

The purpose of this role is to create a positive, welcoming environment for children of all ages by identifying the child’s emotional and developmental needs. The Play Facilitator will arrange play interventions on the ward and throughout the Trust as required. This will include distraction and preparation techniques for healthcare interventions.

It is a really exciting time to join our Paediatric Team as we redesign and create a brand new the Play Team for the service. The Play Team will be made up of the Play Specialist and Play Facilitator(s). The Play Facilitator post holder will be crucial in helping develop the team. The Paediatric Department is within the Family Health Division. The Paediatric Unit is comprised of MacGregor Ward, a Paediatric Outpatient Area, and a Paediatric Assessment Unit (PAU). In the Emergency Department, there is a dedicated Children’s area.

The post holder will be a qualified childcare professional with knowledge and experience of play and recreation with the well child.

The post holder will be responsible for providing play opportunities and activities, providing normal play and distraction therapy for children of all ages, working independently whilst liaising closely with the senior members of the play team.

The post holder will assist in creating a positive, welcoming environment for children of all ages and adapt the way they work to the age they are working with. They will identify the child’s emotional and developmental needs and develop play plan interventions that will be beneficial during the child’s care pathway.

The post holder will assist in promoting the benefits of play throughout the Trust.

Demonstrate empathy and sensitivity whilst also prioritising their own workload effectively and portraying a professional image at all times.

The post holder will be working independently/autonomously and at times without direct supervision, accountable for their own professional actions.

Come and join a Trust rated Outstanding by the CQC. South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust have been rated as outstanding following our latest inspection by the CQC and we are recruiting new staff to come and help us improve even further.

We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the county. We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity.

Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are ‘Trusted to provide safe, effective and compassionate care’. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn’t matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.

Clinical/Therapeutic

To devise play programmes for children and young people in hospital, according to their individual needs as part of the overall plan of care.

To plan and implement individual play programmes to include preparation for invasive and non-invasive procedures, distraction therapy and post procedural play.

To use a range of hospital play therapies, tools and equipment in preparation for hospital procedures, distraction therapy and post procedural play under the indirect supervision of the senior play team.

To support all children and especially young people in crisis, those with mental health problems, eating disorders to engage with short term play therapy / distraction therapy whilst in the acute hospital under the indirect supervision of the senior play team.

To lead group play activities as directed by the senior play team for children and young children.

To provide support to families under stress and in crisis.

To establish effective communication, both verbal and written with all members of the multidisciplinary team, parents/carers and the child themselves.

To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team.

To liaise and support a variety of non-hospital professionals including visiting teachers and other visiting agencies.

To provide play-based observations to influence and support the overall assessment of the child.

To ensure that up to date written records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Trust standards.

To encourage and extend play activities in other areas of the hospital and offer advice relating to play and play facilities / resources.

To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of patients and their families, and contribute to the provision of a service se