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Job summary

Main area
Childrens
Grade
Band 6
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
213-CAX-7351652
Employer
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
King's College Hospital
Town
London
Salary
£46,419 - £55,046 per annum including HCA
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
30/07/2025 23:59
Interview date
14/08/2025
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust logo

Health Play Specialist Team Coordinator/Leader

Band 6

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1.8 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across 5 main sites in South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local hospital services across its different sites, and specialist services from King’s College Hospital (KCH) sites at Denmark Hill in Camberwell and at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) site in the London Borough of Bromley.

We encourage all our staff to have a healthy work/life balance. In doing so, you can apply for flexible working from the beginning of your employment. We offer a range of options which are designed to suit different circumstances and priorities in line with service requirements. 

flexible-working

Job overview

This post is open to new applicants only.

Your base will be on the Denmark Hill site but you will also have cross-site responsibilities at the Princess Royal Hospital.  We have a range of services and specialities for children and young people at local, regional and tertiary levels. These include medicine, surgery, trauma, neurosurgery, liver, critical care centre, neonates, medical day care and outpatients. Many of the admissions to the hospital come in via the ED. 

The job purpose is: -

1. Be responsible for the management of staff within the Play Service taking an active role in improving care pathways for patients and their families within their hospital journey.

2. Work as an advanced practitioner in clinical areas providing leadership to junior staff through role modelling, teaching and management.

3. Participate in the assessment, planning, development and evaluation of play services within all areas where children and young people are seen, holding responsibility for service development and defined projects.

4. Supervise HPS and degree level students on practice placement as well as students from other members of the MDT.

5. Provide complimentary support to children and young people seen outside of paediatric setting and 16 - 18 yrs. old admitted onto the adult wards.

6. Actively work to improve the safety and quality of services for children, contributing to safeguarding and sourcing funds for environmental improvements and building partnerships with external funders

Main duties of the job

*    To work within  and manage the Play & Youth service to deliver a high standard of service to promote play activities, therapeutic play sessions in the preparation of patients for procedures, examinations and/or inventions
*    To ensure that all Children and Young People (CYP) have appropriate access to play and recreation resources whilst at the hospital. 
*    To manage and be responsible for the assessment, implementation and the evaluation of play strategies which encompass the development and emotional needs of the CYP and their families or carers within the trust.
*    To participate in safeguarding children CYP within the Trust to ensure their safety and to adhere to the safeguarding policy. 
*    To provide high quality, holistic play service for all children / young and their families across the Trust, enabling them to feel safe and at ease within the hospital environment. (In line with the national service framework for children and young people.)
*    To lead on the teaching of the importance and impact of therapeutic play intervention has on CYP and to the multi-disciplinary team. (MDT) 
*    To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of patients and their families, and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.

Working for our organisation

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1.8 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical

* To use play as a tool to communicate and build a rapport with CYP attending the hospital.
* To manage and be responsible in use theoretical knowledge and evidence-based practice to assess, plan implement and evaluate therapeutic play interventions in hospital, including distraction and preparations techniques. 
* To take individual referrals for CYP and their family members experiencing difficulty in managing hospital admissions/procedures.
* To document and keep up to date therapeutic interventions and outcomes on electronic patient’s records. Activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards. (EPR)
* To use skills, knowledge and experience to work as independent practitioner.
* To promote awareness of the emotional needs of CYP in hospital and the importance of play within the multi-disciplinary team through teaching and presentations.
* Attend MDT meeting and contribute to treatment and care plans.
* To manage and be responsible for the assessment, implementation and the evaluation of play strategies which encompass the development and emotional needs of the CYP and their families or carers within the hospital setting
* Devise play programmes for CYP in hospital, according to their individual needs and as part of the overall care plan.
* To plan and implement individual therapeutic play programmes to include preparation for invasive and non-invasive procedures, distraction therapy and post procedural play. 
* To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions using reflective practice to achieve best outcomes. 
* Support and involve parents in their CYP distraction and play plans.
* To empathise with and provide and/or facilitate emotional support to families during times of stress or crisis, such as at a time of bereavement.
* To create a welcoming, caring and safe play environment for the children / young people and their families.
* To establish effective communication, both verbal and written, with all members of the multi-disciplinary team.
* To establish communication links with other agencies / hospitals involved with the CYP.
* To work as a member of the multi-disciplinary team, contributing to patient treatment/care plans. 
* To provide play-based observations and therapeutic interventions to influence and support the overall assessment of the child. 
* To lead on working closely with the Hospital School to minimise the interruption and disruption to CYP education so that academic progress and an interest in learning will continue, as far as medical circumstances permit.
* To contribute and provide expert knowledge when involved in specific projects, audits and plans sharing at a local level.
* To lead in creating and development protocols, standards, guidelines and competencies for the department and devise standards for Play service
* To be responsible for mentoring and clinically supervising, Play Specialists,  Play Workers and Youth Workers in your team and help them to achieve core competencies and placement learning objectives.
* To attend and facilitate as appropriate CYP service user groups to ensure the safe, meaningful and ethical participation of children and young people within the delivery of quality CYP services
 
Training and Education.
* To manage and participate in the departments in-service training programmes. 
* Plan, organise and implement team days.
* Where appropriate represent King's trust and the Play Service at conferences and meetings presenting case studies and best practice. 
* To participate and lead in the orientation, training and supervision of students and Volunteers. 
* To deliver teaching session and participate in the training and education of other health care professionals to promote awareness of the therapeutic benefits of play in hospital, both internally and externally. 
 
People management and performance.
 
* To manage own time to ensure balance between clinical and administrative activities. 
* To work within the Trust’s clinical governance and quality processes by having knowledge and awareness of the organisation’s reporting and recording system for accident/incident involving staff, patients and visitors
* To contribute and lead in the planning, evaluation and audit of practice, care pathways and protocols to ensure a consistent and high-quality service. 
* In conjunction with Senior colleagues identify and address the  implications of audit findings and clinical incidents
* To make an active contribution to producing and/or reviewing play-led clinical guidelines.
* To produce appropriate play and youth work data or reports requested by management.
* Complete risk assessments for Play areas and staff.
* To attend CYP service user groups to ensure the safe, meaningful and ethical participation of children and young people within the delivery of quality child health services
* Participate in performance appraisals and ensure each team member has a set of objectives and development plan.
* To meet with Play & Youth team on a monthly basis to discuss working patterns, problem-solve and cascade information to promote a culture of openness and team working.
* Manage team absences including sickness in line with the trusts policies.
* Supervise and manage staff wellbeing  and signpost to trusts wellbeing resources as well as supporting and improving the morale of the team.
* To contribute to business plans as they pertain to the delivery of the play youth Services. 
* To meet with your line manager on a monthly basis for supervision and to share information about Trust, team / department developments. 
* To attend  department meetings to share relevant information related to the Trust and the play department. 
* To oversee the selection, ordering and monitoring play resources to reflect the needs of the patient group, Specialist resources for the use in preparation and distraction will be ordered by the HPS. 
* To be responsible for maintaining the services play resources, in accordance with Trust health and safety infection control standards. 
* To manage Play & Youth Service charity account and work more widely 
* Liaise with charitable organisations, establishing good working relationships I identifying funding and support in identify for resources and opportunities for play and youth service.
* Manage, implement the entertainment events programs for the in service.
* To ensure compliance with the Trust's Equality and Diversity Policy, supporting the delivery of the Trusts Race Equality Scheme and the Trust's duty to positively promote race equality and equality of opportunity for disabled people ensuring services are responsive to the needs of equality groups
 
 
Personal and Professional Development.
* To be actively involved and lead in relevant special interest groups. 
* To participate in relevant internal learning opportunities, including the in-service training programme. 
* To keep records of training attended as part of Personal Development Plan and reflective practice. 
* To review and reflect on own practice through the effective use of clinical supervision and appraisal. 
* To comply with the NAHPS Code of Professional Conduct. HPSET standards and Trust policies. 
* To be pro-active in updating knowledge and understanding of current research and best practice. 
* To maintain a continuing professional portfolio in line with HPSET recommendations for re-registration, recording learning outcomes from practice and participation in internal and external development opportunities. 
 

 

Person specification

Essential and desirable

Essential criteria
  • Foundation degree in Health Care Play Specialism or equal equivalent
  • Edexcel Certificate in Hospital Play Specialism (HPSC/HPSEB)
  • Recent post qualification experience of working with children/young preferably 2 years of which is in a hospital setting
  • Sound knowledge of health legislation and NAHPS guidelines for professional practice
  • Knowledge of current best practice
  • Experience in managing risk
  • Effective verbal and written (including IT) communication skills
Desirable criteria
  • Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development,
  • Staff management training or willingness to complete an appropriate programme of training.
  • Health Play Specialist Mentor with demonstrable experience
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Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

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.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Joan Walters
Job title
Lead Nurse Education and Practice (CYP)
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
020 3299 4399
Additional information

Jackie Ambrose.
Health Play Specialist Team Coordinator/Leader (Current)
Tel: (020) 3299-5958
email [email protected]

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