Play Specialist: Sponsorship Available

The Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust

Job Summary

Working in a busy Regional unit for children with burn injuries can be both challenging and highly rewarding. We cover a population of over 5.5 million. This specialised setting presents unique demands, including managing acute burn care, complex emotional support, and long-term rehabilitation for young patients. The environment can be fast-paced due to the urgency of burn treatments and the need for multidisciplinary care. Children often face physical pain, trauma, and psychological distress, which requires not only medical expertise but also compassion and a strong therapeutic approach.

The Health Play Leaders role is pivotal in helping to provide this care and the rewards stem from the positive impact you can have on the lives of these children and their families. The resilience and progress seen in young patients, as they heal physically and emotionally, are deeply fulfilling. The role allows professionals to witness life-changing recoveries and play a part in a child’s journey back to normalcy.

An excellent team dynamic is crucial in this setting. Effective teamwork fosters an environment of shared knowledge, emotional support, and innovation in treatment. The high level of coordination and mutual respect within the team helps to ensure that every aspect of the child’s care is addressed, making the experience both professionally and personally satisfying for those involved.

Main duties of the job

In our Regional Children’s Burns Unit, a Play Leader plays a vital role within our team to support the emotional, psychological, and developmental needs of children undergoing treatment for burn injuries. Their main duties involve using play and therapeutic activities to help children cope with the stress, pain, and trauma associated with their condition, which can help children express their emotions, fears, and anxieties related to their injuries and treatment. Play helps children process difficult experiences and offers a sense of normalcy. The use of distraction techniques during medical procedures, such as using toys, games, and interactive activities can help to divert the child’s attention away from pain or discomfort.

Play leaders assist with physical therapy and supporting transitions by integrating play into rehabilitation exercises. This makes it more enjoyable and engaging for the child, and encourages children to participate in activities that help them regain motor skills and build strength, supporting their recovery and helping them feel more confident in their physical abilities, and prepare for home.

The play leader will help our psychologist to support siblings and families, providing resources or offering play opportunities that involve the family.

The play leader will document progress or any observations that could be useful for the child’s ongoing care and recovery process.

Person Specification

Personal Attributes

Essential

  • Team player Willingness to gain and develop professional knowledge Good attendance record To be enthusiastic, creative, caring and friendly Understand how to provide compassionate care to families in cases of severe trauma

Qualifications

Essential

  • NNEB/ National Diploma in Nursery Nursing Childcare level 3 Certificate and Diploma, or equivalent which includes a child development module.

Desirable

  • Hospital Play Specialist B-Tec Foundation Degree in Healthcare Play Specialism Early Years Status Paediatric First Aid

Experience

Essential

  • Post qualifying work experience with children of all ages Recent experience working with groups of children Experience of supporting staff

Desirable

  • Experience of working/volunteering in a health care setting Experience of working with children with complex health needs

Skills and abilities

Essential

  • Ability to communicate in a variety of settings with children/young people and their families, respecting their cultural and developmental dimensions Creativity in providing children’s play activities Can communicate with children/young people and their families Ability to present and document factual information Is able to adapt play activities to meet children’s needs

Desirable

  • IT skills Ability to manage difficult/distressing situations Awareness of Family Burns Club

Other attributes

Essential

  • Physical ability to meet the job Advocacy ensuring the child’s voice is heard during treatment planning

Knowledge and Awareness

Essential

  • Knowledge of play and distraction therapies To have an awareness of psychological effects of hospitalisation on the child and their family Awareness of trauma-related stress, low mood and body image concerns in children and young adults Knowledge of the play role within pain management

Desirable

  • Knowledge of child safeguarding awareness Awareness of the hospital play specialist educational trust standards Awareness of the Trust core values and behaviours

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Closing Date: 14 February 2025

To apply for this job please visit www.jobs.nhs.uk.