Play Leader (XR04)

Job Summary

Leeds Childrens Hospital is one of the largest childrens hospitals in the UK and is part of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Based in one of the fastest growing and most vibrant cities in the UK, we provide secondary and tertiary care to children, young people and their families from Leeds, Yorkshire, and the North of England.

At Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, we have defined a culture based on values and behaviours known as the Leeds Way - Patient Centred, Fair, Collaborative, Accountable and Empowered. We have recently been assessed as a Good Hospital by the CQC. The Leeds Childrens Hospital is Aiming High; Delivering the Best. We strive to be a place where staff are proud to work and children, young people and their families feel welcome.

We are looking for a Play Specialist / Play leader to work over Paediatric Wards /settings to work as part of a team of Hospital Play specialists/ Play Leaders to provide high quality, holistic play service for children and their families. To ensure all children have appropriate access to play whilst in hospital, plan play programmes enabling children and young people to understand, accept and co-ordinate with treatment.

You would need to show an enthusiastic manner, be dynamic, while motivated, at all times.

Expected Shortlisting Date
03/04/2025

Planned Interview Date
16/04/2025

Main duties of the job

Working as part of the play team and service you will ensure planned and supervised play/activities are provided for children and young people on the wards, clinic, and other environments where children are treated. Consider the complex needs of children within the hospital environment.

1. Prepare children for treatments and procedures.
2. Alleviate anxiety related to clinical procedures or situations through diversional occupation.
3. Ensure toys and play equipment are safe and appropriate for the age/developmental stage of each child/young person and appropriate stock is maintained.
4. Ensure the ward environment is child friendly and stimulating.

About Us

Leeds Childrens hospital offers a wide range of treatment and care for children from birth to young adulthood and beyond. Our ambition is to be a globally recognised, leading provider of healthcare for children and young people; engaging with our patients and their families to make our services and their experience the best they can be. Our holistic approach focuses on ensuring that children receive the best possible clinical care whilst supporting them to live their best life and to achieve their key milestones.

Leeds Childrens Hospital operates 27 highly specialist services, which constitutes around 67% of the hospitals total activity. More than 62,000 outpatient appointments are held each year and there are approximately 22,600 inpatient episodes. As a specialist centre, the Childrens Hospital also runs outreach clinics at 22 hospitals across the North of England.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.

Date posted
13 March 2025

Pay scheme
Agenda for change

Band
Band 4

Salary
£26,530 to £29,114 a year

Contract
Permanent

Working pattern
Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number
C9298-CHI-0353

Job locations
Leeds General Infirmary
Great George Street
Leeds
LS1 3EX

Job Description

Job responsibilities

1. To lead, plan and provide therapeutic and specialised programmes of play in the hospital setting.
2. To assess the child's emotional and psychological well-being and work as part of a multidisciplinary team to meet their individual needs.
3. To work with children and their families and help them understand their medical and nursing treatment.
4. To alleviate anxiety related to clinical procedures or situations through the use of preparation and distraction techniques to facilitate coping mechanisms and emotional well-being.
5. To design tools and techniques for preparation or distraction to prepare individual children for a range of procedures; evaluate their effectiveness, and change where necessary.
6. To document observations of play, and the effectiveness of interventions.
7. To provide supervision and support to Play Leaders working across the children's hospital and ensure that programmes of play are consistent across the hospital setting while leading in developing a variety of good practice within the specialty.
8. To liaise lead and develop resources to help best meet the needs of individual children.
9. To ensure toys and play equipment are safe, well maintained, and appropriate for the age/developmental stage of each child/young person and appropriate stock is ordered and maintained.
10. To clean and maintain play equipment and activities before and between use.
11. To set up activities in the play room, and assist the physical moving of children where required to engage in play activities.
12. To document family dynamics, and escalate any concerns appropriately if they arise.
13. To work with siblings through planned play activities & support the sibling group.
14. To contribute to the learning environment for students and provide mentoring when required.

Person Specification

Qualifications Essential

• Childcare/play work qualification level 3 and above

Desirable

• Foundation degree in healthcare play specialism or hospital play specialist qualification (Professional Diploma BTEC level 4) registered with the Society of Health Play Specialist

Skills & behaviours Essential

• Team working
• Good communication written and verbal skills
• Experience working with children

Experience Essential

• Insight into roles responsibilities of post
• Child development and related play development

Additional Requirements Essential

• Able to fulfil Occupational Health requirements for the post (with reasonable adjustments if necessary), including clearance on blood borne viruses in compliance with Trust Policy

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name
Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Address
Leeds General Infirmary
Great George Street
Leeds
LS1 3EX

Employer's website
https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/