Play Worker - Haemodialysis

This role will involve working collaboratively with the Haemodialysis and Renal Unit to meet the play, recreational and leisure needs of children and young people receiving haemodialysis.

The post holder will create a positive, compassionate environment through play, facilitating age-appropriate activities that promote normal development, provide distraction during lengthy treatments, support emotional wellbeing and enhance the overall experience of patients and their families.

The post holder will facilitate age-appropriate play, recreational and leisure activities for individual children and young people, as well as groups, according to their individual needs and agreed plan of care.

 Working collaboratively with the Haemodialysis and Renal Unit, they will assess, plan, implement, record and evaluate a flexible programme of activities that promotes normal development, provides meaningful distraction during lengthy treatments, supports emotional wellbeing and helps reduce anxiety and fear.

The post holder will create a safe, caring and welcoming environment for children, young people and their families, communicating effectively and sensitively with families and members of the multidisciplinary team. They will recognise when children and young people require additional support or have difficulty understanding their treatment or procedures and ensure timely referral to appropriate services, including the Specialist Play and Youth Service, ward Buddies or Health in Mind.

• NVQ level 3 in Child Health and Social Care or equivalent
• 5 GCSE’s A-C grade including English and Maths
• Previous relevant experience, especially in the care of children/young people aged 0-19 years
• Knowledge of the importance of play and how development can affect this
• Knowledge of development
• Knowledge of issues relating to consent and confidentiality
• Knowledge and understanding of issues relating to safeguarding and cultural and diversity awareness
• Knowledge/experience working with children/young people with additional needs – Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Learning Disability
• Effective written, verbal/non-verbal communication skills
• Enthusiastic and self-motivated
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to meet the play and recreation needs of individuals and groups of children/young people and their families
• Basic IT skills or be prepared to undertake training identified by the Trust
• To be professional and non-judgmental
• Knowledge of Child Development and Play in children/young people aged 0-19 years
• Awareness of the needs of the hospitalised child/young person and family
• Experience of working with children/young people with learning disabilities including those with challenging behaviour
• Good understanding of Health & Safety issues relating to children/young people and Play
• Enthusiastic in all aspects of professional and personal development
• Able to work as part of a team
• Able to liaise with professionals at all levels
• Able to seek and act upon advice
• Have resilience to work with sick and terminally ill children/young people
• To have stamina to work with children and young people
• Team working
• Demonstrate alignment with the values and beliefs of the Trust
• Demonstrate an understanding of the practices of equality and inclusion in the delivery of this role
• Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required

• Making Every Contact Count (MECC) training or willingness to undertake.
• Able to evaluate and reflect on own practice

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.

Occasionally we receive a large number of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment.