Play Assistant - Liverpool, United Kingdom - Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Verified Company

Liverpool, United Kingdom

2 weeks ago

Posted by:

Tom O´Connor

beBee Recruiter

Description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Play Assistant to join our Therapeutic and Specialised Play Service at Alder Hey Specialist Children's Hospital.

This post is advertised as Band 3, 22.5 hours per week, on a fixed term contract for 10 months to cover a maternity leave.

You must be able to demonstrate excellent communication skills and have the ability to support others.

It is essential that you can prioritise and manage your own workload whilst supporting your colleagues and the multi-disciplinary team.

Excellent knowledge of child development is essential, as is experience of working with a wide range of ages.

Applicants will need to possess a childcare qualification level 3 or equivalent, this is an essential criteria for this post.

At all times ensure that the needs of the patients are placed at the centre of care delivery.

The post holder will work practically within their clinical area/team, taking responsibility for the provision of play on a day-to-day basis.

The post holder will be expected to work closely with the Senior Healthcare Play Specialist and Play Specialist to ensure that service provision meets service needs.

The Play Assistant will use play effectively to alleviate the effects of hospitalisation contributing to the holistic care of the child or young person.
The Play Assistant will contribute to creating a warm, welcoming, caring and safe child friendly environment for the patients & their families.
The Play Assistant will implement devised individual play programme's fulfilling developmental/recreation needs, when appropriate, including equality and diversity for all children and young people and their family, (CYPF) needs.
The Play Assistant will lead group play activities for CYPF when required.
The Play Assistant will assess the needs and views of CYPF to provide developmental/recreational play activities in the ward or department creating an age-appropriate environment both comfortable and stimulating and including equality and diversity.
With the co-operation of staff, create conditions in which play and recreation occurs naturally both in and out of the Play Leader's presence.
Form supportive relationships with family members and encourage them to participate in play and recreation assisting the developing needs of the CYP and aiding their recovery and psychosocial needs.
Provide play and recreation and psycho-social support for siblings when required.

As one of Europe's biggest and busiest children's hospitals, at Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, we treat everything from common illnesses to highly complex and specialist conditions.

In addition to our main hospital site, we offer paediatric services at a number of community sites and hold local clinics across Merseyside, Cumbria, Shropshire, Wales and the Isle of Man.

We also provide specialist inpatient care for children with complex mental health needs in our recently relocated and newly opened state of the art facility.

Alder Hey has a thriving research portfolio and leads research into children's medicines, infection, inflammation and oncology. We are becoming recognised as one of the world's leaders in children's healthcare and research. We contribute to public health, lead cutting-edge research and teach the next generation of children's specialists.

Alongside this is our Innovation Hub, a dedicated space where clinicians and industries can come together to create new products and technologies.

We know that a children's hospital is different and that our job is more than just treating an illness. To us, every child is an individual.

As well as giving them the very best care, we set out to make them feel happy, safe and confident as they play, learn and grow.

At Alder Hey we are here to look after a child and their family and that includes mums, dads, brothers and sisters.

The Play Assistant will ensure effective communication to healthcare professionals sharing knowledge of play and recreation. Inform your Line Manager of any issues/developments positive or negative about any aspect of play/recreation provisions and service.
To provide & establish effective communication both verbal & written with all members of the multidisciplinary team.
To ensure accurate documentation using Meditech, relevant to the therapeutic play intervention and recreational provision

provided to the child or young person.

The Play Assistant will use play as a tool to communicate, build a rapport and engage with the children and young people attending the hospital.
The Play Assistant will ensure accurate documentation of play interventions carried out with the patient in a timely manner.
Ensure up to date trust and play service records and activity data are maintained and stored appropriately in accordance with professional and trust standards.
Attend case conferences and appropriate meetings with ward members when necessary.
The Play Assistant will provide pla