Hospital Play Specialist

Job overview

Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust invites applications for the post of Hospital Play Specialist based at Moorfields, City Road.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to recruit a full time Play Specialist within the team in the Richard Desmond Children Eye Centre (RDCEC). The hospital is the largest in the world dedicated to the prevention, treatment and cure of children’s eye diseases.

This position will involve caring for children and their families with a wide range of ophthalmic diseases and will give you the opportunity to develop your skills working alongside the nursing team in this busy environment. The post holder will have the opportunity to further develop play skills, provide support, distraction for the child and family and liaise with members of the multi-professional team.

This position will include being a link with research, supporting patients in the clinical research facility as well as all other clinical and waiting spaces for children and young people at Moorfields.

Main duties of the job

To foster an environment conductive to development and expression of feeling of all children in his/her care through the use of play and stimulation within limits of the child's capacity.

To provide support to the child and family and make every effort to maintain family centred care.

The successful candidate must have a Play Specialist qualification

Flexible in your approach to working Forward thinking A team player Have excellent communication skills.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

MAIN RESPONSIBILTITES

Create a suitable environment with the co-operation of other staff in which play occurs naturally for children and young people participating in research and the clinical areas they move through: the Clinical Research Facility, the 2nd floor research area, the Day Ward area, Theatres, Paediatric Accident and Emergency and Paediatric Outpatient Clinics.

To supervise play environment in the satellite locations as directed by the Paediatric & Research Service, as required.

Participate in the assessment of play development needs of individual children.

Provide organised play and/or stimulation within the restrictions of the environment and the individual child's condition.

Participate in the provision of play preparation and distraction for clinical procedures and for children undergoing surgery.

Be responsible for the selection of materials, toys and play equipment and see that the equipment and toys are safe, clean and maintained in good order.

Liaise with multi - disciplinary team with regard to appropriate play and observe and report on individual children's response to play.

Participate in safeguarding children and young people within the Trust to ensure their safety and to adhere to the safeguarding policy.

Supervise students undertaking childcare courses from educational Institutes.

Welcome and make each family as comfortable as possible in the waiting and play areas. Communicate to parents in a manner that they understand with regards to their child. Provide support to families under stress and in crisis.

Devise individual play programmes for children and young people in the hospital and provide play and distraction within clinics and satellite clinics.

Respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of the child and their families and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.

Keep abreast of trends by attending study days and conferences at the discretion of the Senior Play Team staff and senior Paediatric and Research Nursing staff.

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

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.