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Job summary

Main area
Acute Child Health Directorate.
Grade
Band 3
Contract
Permanent
Hours
37.5 hours per week (Full Time 37.5 hours per week. Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm)
Job ref
001-ACS056-0625
Employer
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Employer type
NHS
Site
Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales, University Hospital of Wales
Town
Cardiff
Salary
£24,433 - £26,060 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
18/06/2025 23:59

Employer heading

NHS

Play Worker

Band 3

WHO WE ARE:

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is one of the largest Integrated Health Board in the UK, employing over 16,000 staff and providing over 100 specialist services. Serving a population of around 500,000 people living in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, we are focussed on the health and care needs of our local population whilst also working with our partners to develop regional services. Together we are committed to improving health outcomes for everyone and to delivering excellent care and support.

Our mission is “Living Well, Caring Well, Working Together”. We have recently refreshed our strategy, Shaping Our Future Wellbeing, which sets out the Health Board’s Vision for improving the health and wellbeing of the populations we serve by 2035 through the delivery of our strategic objectives; Putting People First, Providing Outstanding Quality, Delivering in the Right Places, and Acting for the Future. We have challenging times ahead, but we are confident that by tackling these challenges together, we can support people to live healthier lives and reduce the unfair differences in the prevalence of illness and health outcomes we see in our communities today. We aspire to deliver outstanding care and treatment for people when they need it, where they need it; care that compares well with the best in the world, but to do so, we need to transform how we deliver services over the next decade and beyond.

We are a values-driven organisation and out goals will only be realised if our values are at the heart of everything we do. Created by colleagues, patients and their families and carers, our values are:

·         We are kind and caring

·         We are respectful

·         We have trust and integrity

·         We take personal responsibility

OUR REGION:

Wales has much to offer with miles of stunning coastline, UNESCO world heritage sites and beautiful countryside. Cardiff, the thriving Welsh capital, has something for everyone. It is a fantastic city to live and work in with an abundance of sports, arts and cultural attractions. Situated to the west of Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan offers a combination of beautiful Welsh countryside and a dramatic natural coastline, as well as charming towns including Penarth and Cowbridge. Those seeking more culture may find themselves drawn to the National Museum, St Fagan’s Museum of Welsh Life or the Millennium Centre, home of the Welsh National Opera. Whether city life or rural living, Cardiff and the Vale offers the best of both worlds.

Please be advised that there is a temporary top up for Bands 2 and 3 to reflect the incorporation of the top up to the living wage of £12.60 per hour - £24,638 per annum.

This temporary top up will be in place until the annual pay uplift for 2025/26 is confirmed


 

Job overview

We are looking for TWO enthusiastic, motivated Play Workers to join our busy Therapeutic Play Department working within the Acute Child Health Directorate at Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales. 

The roles will primarily be based on our acute wards, but will be expected to work flexibly across the hospital to support the wider service to meet the needs of patients as they arise. 

The Therapeutic Play Department is currently going through an exciting period of change and development which means it is a great time to join us as you can help shape the vision of the service. 

Main duties of the job

The post holder must possess a minimum of level 3 childcare qualification.

This position is full time (37.5hrs).

Experience of working with babies, children and young people (BCYP) from 0-16 is essential, as is an understanding of child development and how this is impacted by hospital admission. 

The successful candidate will work as part of the wider play team but also alongside other members of the MDT to provide the best care, planning and support for individuals throughout their hospital journey.

The role will involve delivering normalizing, general and developmental play.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Working for our organisation

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is one of the largest Integrated Health Boards in the UK, employing over 17,000 staff, providing over 100 specialist services.   Working across 6 hospital sites, we have a diverse range of career opportunities to offer. Serving over 500,000 people living in Cardiff and the Vale, we are focussed on the health and care needs of our local population whilst working with our partners to develop regional services. Together we are committed to improving health outcomes for everyone, delivering excellent care and support.

Our mission is “Living Well, Caring Well, Working Together”, and our vision is that every person’s chance of leading a healthy life should be equal. Our 10-year transformation and improvement strategy, Shaping Our Future Wellbeing, is our chance to work collaboratively with the public and our workforce to make our health board more sustainable for the future.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click "Apply now" to view in Trac

 

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Level 3 Diploma in Child’s Care, Learning and Development (Wales and Northern Ireland) QCF or CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Child Care & Education or CACHE Extended Diploma in Children’s Care, Learning and Development or Open University (OU) Level 4 Certificate in Early Years Practice or Edexcel BTEC Level 3 National Certificate/Diploma Children’s Care, Learning and Development – CCLD
  • Basic Secondary Education up to 5 GCSE level or beyond, including English and Math’s (GCSE Grade A* - C)
Desirable criteria
  • Evidence of continuous professional development (CPD)
  • Further units from the Level 3 Diploma in Children’s Care, Learning and Development (Wales and Ireland) QCF
  • An awareness of the Children Act 1989 / Children’s rights (UNCRC,1990)
  • Knowledge of typical child development milestones and how this is impacted by hospitalisation
  • Knowledge of the SoHPS professional standards and code of conduct
  • Knowledge of the Foundation Phase and Birth to Three Matters
  • Training in Makaton or alternative communication method

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of working with babies, children and young people (BCYP) from 0 – 16yrs.
  • Experience of observing & recording children’s progress.
  • Awareness of confidentiality.
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of working in a hospital setting with babies, children and young people (BCYP)
  • Experience of working with babies, children and young people in another setting, such as, education, care or community settings.
  • Experience of working with babies, children and young people who have specific medical and education needs, for example, Profound Medical and Learning Disabilities (PMLD), Learning Disabilities (LD) or those with a Neurodivergent (ND) Diagnosis.

Other

Essential criteria
  • Ability to work with and provide creative activities to individual and groups of babies, children and young people (BCYP)
  • Enhanced communication and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to work as part of a team
  • Patient and understanding
  • Caring Nature
  • Trustworthy
  • Able to work flexibly
  • Ability to withstand the physical demands of caring for young children
Desirable criteria
  • Welsh Language Skills are desirable levels 1 to 5 in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing in Welsh
  • Ability to play a musical instrument
  • Computer skills
  • Good organisation skills

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareApprenticeships logoAge positiveDisability confident leaderhyderus o ran anableddAccredited Living Wage EmployerDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - GoldArmed Forces CovenantDFN Project Search LogoStonewall Top 100 Employers in 2023Stonewall Top 100 Employers in 2023Core principles

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.

Welsh language skills are desirable

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Lowri Morris
Job title
Play Service Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
02920743680
Additional information



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