Skip to main content

This site is independent of the NHS and the Department of Health.

Please wait, loading

Job summary

Main area
317 Paediatric Outpatients - FH
Grade
Band 4
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Part time - 16 hours per week
Job ref
317-2024-16-30-DR
Employer
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Freeman Hospital
Town
317 01 Freeman Hospital
Salary
£25,147 - £27,596 pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
09/05/2024 23:59
Interview date
21/05/2024

Employer heading

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Health Play Specialist / Nursery Nurse

Band 4

Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest, largest and most successful teaching NHS foundation trusts in the country, with around 16,000 staff and an annual income of £1 billion.

We have a long history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally.

We’re also proud to be the second largest provider of specialised services in the country. This means we support people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.

Our staff oversee around 1.84 million patients ‘contacts’ each year, delivering high standards of healthcare.

We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.

Newcastle Hospitals are proud to be one of the exemplar organisations across the NHS on sustainability, with a long history of delivering Sustainable Healthcare in Newcastle (Shine) and the first healthcare organisation in the world to declare a climate emergency. Our strategy includes commitments to being Net Zero by 2030, for our direct carbon footprint, and Net Zero by 2040 for our footprint plus. Delivering these ambitions will not be possible without the help, support and action of every single member of our team.

Job overview

We are thrilled to be able to offer a exciting opportunity for an experienced enthusiastic Nursery Nurse / Health Play Specialist to come and join our friendly team.

This role will be provide excellent care to our children and  young people  who  come into Clinic E within the children's heart Unit.

Clinic E is our  outpatient department where a number of consultant and nurse led clinics and procedures are undertaken 

  • Interview date: 21st May 2024
  • 16 hours /week
  • You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.

Main duties of the job

The main aspects of the role will be to provide -

  • A warm and friendly welcome to children , young people and their families  into the department . 
  • Be a effective communicator for all our service users
  • Reduce fear and anxiety for procedures through innovative ways to distract
  • Understand and support the team in understanding developmental needs of a broad range of children including those requiring adjustment and support 
  • Provide, purchase and organise entertainment through  play and materials in a organised, systematic  way
  • Undertake bespoke age appropriate pre admission and procedure  support including preparation for surgery , unit tours
  • Work seamlessly as part of a multi disciplinary team supporting a positive experience for all.

Working for our organisation

Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest, largest and most successful teaching NHS foundation trusts in the country, with around 16,000 staff and an annual income of £1 billion.

We have a long history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally.

We’re also proud to be the second largest provider of specialised services in the country. This means we support people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.

Our staff oversee around 2 million patients ‘contacts’ each year, delivering high standards of healthcare.

Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust.

We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Health Play Specialist:

  • The Health Play Specialist role will, under the accountability of the Ward Sister/Charge Nurse to offer normalising and specialised play for children and young people with complex healthcare needs and their families, considering age, stage of development, medical condition and background to promote emotional health and optimal development, this will include the effects of hospitalisation, ill 
    health and treatments required. 
  • The Play Specialist is required to have knowledge and experience of 
    developmental, emotional and social play for all age ranges and abilities of children in hospital. 
  • Inform, educate, support and advise other healthcare specialists, nursing staff, and families in the role of play. 
  • Use play to help and assist in alleviating anxieties, pain, or emotional trauma caused to the child, young person and their families, which can often occur in the unfamiliar hospital environment, aiding them to engage in hospital life, promoting their understanding of their healthcare needs, investigations and treatments.
  • The post holder is expected to be a fully integrated member of the department team.
  • Contribute to the maintenance, consistency and development of the play service throughout the Trust. 
  • Receive requests from relevant healthcare professionals and other HPS for a patient to be seen following a referral to a medical consultant and his team. 
  • To escort children and young people to theatre (where appropriate) in line with Trust policy, to aid and promote understanding and coping mechanisms.

Nursery Nurse: 

  • To assist in therapeutic assessments and carry out play programmes for children and young people in hospital, according to their individual needs and as part of the overall care plan.
  • To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of play using reflective practice to achieve best outcomes.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first month’s pay.

Person specification

Health Play Specialist

Essential criteria
  • Health Play Specialist (HPS) qualification at Diploma level, recognised by the Health Play Staff Education Trust (HPSET).
  • Registered with HPSET
  • Evidence of on-going professional development.
  • Able to work effectively as part of multi-disciplinary team, as well as on own initiative within scope of practice, with effective time management
  • Good communication skills
  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Good organisational skills
  • Basic IT skills
Desirable criteria
  • Previous experience in co-ordinating and providing a play service in a healthcare setting
  • Experience of working with children and young people with complex health needs and disabilities
  • Advanced IT skills
  • Able to mentor HPS students and provide support to junior staff

Nursery Nurse

Essential criteria
  • NVQ Level 3 in Childcare or equivalent (e.g. NNEB BTEC Nursery Nurse qualification)
  • Ability to work effectively under direction or part of a team
  • Ability to work independently
  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Good communication skills
  • Good organisational skills
Desirable criteria
  • Evidence of on-going professional development
  • Previous work in health care setting
  • Experience of caring in a personal or professional setting
  • Able to manage time
  • Basic IT skills

Employer certification / accreditation badges

We are a Living Wage EmployerVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveInvestors in People: GoldArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardRIDI Awards Finalist 2021Mindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStonewall Gold 2022Better Health at Work Award - Maintaining ExcellenceDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - Gold

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.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
David Derry
Job title
ward manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01912139640
Apply online nowAlert me to similar vacancies