Play Service Manager

Job summary

We are seeking to appoint a dynamic and enthusiastic candidate to the role of Play Services Manager, based at our North Middlesex University Health Unit.

This role is offered at part-time working 30x hours per week with the rota pattern being agreed upon appointment.

The appointed candidate will provide a high-level play service to all areas within the Babies, Children's, & Young People division to ensure all visitors to our services have a positive experience. The postholder may be required to provide support to other Health Units in their role.

Please note:

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role.

Main duties of the job

The job purpose is:

• Be responsible for the management of staff within the Play Service.
• Take an active role in improving care pathways for patients and their families within their hospital journey.
• Work as an advanced practitioner in clinical areas.
• 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.
• Provide leadership to junior staff through role modelling, teaching and management.
• Supervise HPS and degree level students on practice placement as well as students from other members of the MDT.
• Provide complimentary support to children seen outside of paediatric setting and 16 - 17 yrs. old in Paediatric Emergency Department as required and or admitted onto the adult wards.
• 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.

About us

North Mid is part of North Central London integrated care system - consisting of the NHS and Local authority organisations in Camden, Islington, Barnet, Enfield and Haringey. As with other ICS's, we are working increasingly closely with partners and indeed many of our financial and performance objectives are measured at this system level. Whilst all organisations remain as standalone, statutory bodies we have an ICS infrastructure for making shared decisions and agreeing shared approaches.

We are proud of our staff and want to ensure their training allows them to provide excellent clinical care. We are also a training unit for medical students from UCL and St George's University Grenada, and for nursing and midwifery students from Middlesex and City Universities.

Take a tour of our hospitalhere

Job responsibilities

A full list of duties and responsibilities will be found within the job description and requirements for the role can be found within the person specification.

Person specification

Knowledge & Qualifications

Essential

• Registered & qualified Health Play Specialist holding the Foundation Degree in Health Care Play Specialism or previous HPSC/HPSEB, Edexcel PDC/HND in Hospital Play Specialism or oversees equivalent.
• Further training in child protection.
• Management training modules
• Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development For example; Counselling Skills certificate, Supervisory Skills Training, Presentation skills., Published articles, Conference Presentations
• Comprehensive knowledge and application of therapeutic assessments and interventions relevant to patient group and treatment plan.
• Specialist knowledge of the effects of hospitalisation, treatment and long term chronic and life-threatening illness on children and young people and their families.
• Knowledge and awareness of the emotional and personal impact of the work and the ability to self-manage or seek help appropriately.
• Detailed knowledge of current health legislation and NAHPS Guidelines for Professional Practice.
• Detailed knowledge of the principles and application of clinical governance.

Desirable

• Bachelor's Degree (or overseas equivalent) in a subject relevant to work with children and/or young people.
• Training in ;Guided Imagery, Adolescent Development, Teaching adults

Experience

Essential

• Extensive post qualifying, comprehensive experience of working with children and/or young people in a health care setting, in a variety of clinical areas and/or vast experience in specialised field, including individual and group work.
• Project leadership experience.
• Participation in recruitment and selection procedures
• Experience of audit procedures
• Experience of regularly supporting, teaching, training, assessing and supervising students and/or volunteers.

Desirable

• Management of junior staff, undertaking annual appraisals and PDP.
• Participation in recruitment and selection procedures
• Experience of working with children and/or young people with special needs including those with challenging behaviours

Skills & Aptitudes

Essential

• Able to communicate complex, information sensitively and effectively with patients, families and staff, in written, verbal and non-verbal forms.
• Advanced theoretical understanding of and ability to manage & apply therapeutic play interventions for children and young people experiences difficulties during their
• Hospitalisation on specialised areas including preparation, distraction therapy and post procedural play.
• Supervision and training skills.
• Ability to provide clinical supervision to peer group.
• Ability to analyse professional and ethical issues, including professional boundaries, clinical governance.
• Word processing, Excel and internet search skills.
• Ability to build effective working relationships within multiple professional teams and across hospital locations.
• Ability to organise and respond efficiently to complex information and comprehend difficult technical and medical information

Desirable

• Training and presentation skills.
• Counselling skills

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Enthusiastic and motivated.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Professional approach to work.
• Accountability - Takes responsibility for own actions and promotes good team working.
• Openness - Shares information and good practice appropriately.
• Mutual respect - Treats others with courtesy and respect.