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Hospital Play Specialist
Hospital play specialists plan and supervise activities with children in hospital and help them express their feelings through play. They encourage children to develop their creative skills to show their thoughts and worries relating to hospital. They try to help them adapt to any restrictions they may have resulting from hospitalisation.
Play specialists work with children of all ages. Their work involves:
- using play to welcome children to hospital
- preparing them to cope with surgery or other procedures
- enabling them to manage fears about separation from parents
- encouraging children to keep up their usual interests
- using specific play techniques to minimise stressful events by acting them out in advance.
They use play as a means of communication with young children, keeping them in touch with their community, teaching them facts regarding their illness and correcting any misplaced worries they may have in order to reduce anxiety.
Hours and Environment
Hospital play specialists may work full or part-time. They work during the day, at weekends and during school holidays - children may be in hospital all year round.
Hospital play specialists are based in special paediatric wards and other departments where children are admitted. Their work may involve physical activity such as bending and light lifting.
Skills and Interests
To be a hospital play specialist, you should:
- have an interest in children and their development
- be able to build good relationships with children, their parents and carers
- understand the needs of children and young people
- have strong communication skills and be good at listening to children
- have good organisational skills, able to plan activities with children
- be creative, versatile and flexible, able to adapt to the needs of individual children
- work well as part of a team
- be patient and tolerant
- have stamina
- be aware of health and safety issues
- be aware of equal opportunities issues
Entry
It is possible to work in the field of hospital play in Britain without qualifications. However, in practice many specialists are working towards professional registration with the Hospital Play Staff Education Trust (HPSET).
To be considered a qualified hospital play specialist within the NHS, you need to achieve the Edexcel Level 4 BTEC Diploma in Specialised Play for Sick Children and Young People, and then register with the HPSET.
To satisfy the entry requirements for the diploma you will need:
- a minimum of three years experience of working with healthy children in a group setting such as a nursery, school, or a youth club – paid or voluntary experience in a hospital working alongside a play specialist would be particularly useful
- a relevant qualification, for example, a CACHE Diploma in Child Care and Education or NVQ Level 3 in Children's Care, Learning and Development – some candidates have a professional qualification and background in, for example, social work, teaching, or drama therapy
- to be at least 20 years old
- to be successfully selected for the course, following an interview.
For an up-to-date list of course providers, contact HPSET; see Further Information.
It is possible to begin working in this area as a hospital play assistant and with experience and further training, which includes achieving the BTEC Diploma mentioned above, progress into the role of play specialist. Play assistants are required to have experience and a qualification in a relevant field; for further details and information on opportunities, check with your local NHS trust.
There is no upper age limit for this type of work. A mature attitude is essential.
Training
To achieve professional registration as a hospital play specialist you need to complete the Edexcel Level 4 BTEC Diploma in Specialised Play for Sick Children and Young People. This course is open to existing hospital staff working in the field of play, as well as those with a relevant background who wish to enter the profession and work in the NHS (see Entry section for details on course entry requirements).
During the course you will attend lectures, seminars and tutorials, as well as practical work placements in a number of play units. The course focuses on the developmental, educational, diagnostic and therapeutic needs of children in hospital.
If you are not already working in a hospital setting you will need to complete a minimum of 200 hours practical work. You are assessed on a continuous basis during both college and work placements.
With two years post-qualifying experience you may be able to progress into a more senior role.
Opportunities
Hospital play specialists are employed by the NHS. They can work in a variety of settings such as:
- hospital wards
- outpatient departments
- accident and emergency departments
- child development centres
- hospices
- in the community with community paediatricians.
With further experience and training, there may be opportunities for progression to team leader or team manager.
Annual Income
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
A hospital play assistant can earn between £12,000 and £15,000 a year.
A basic grade hospital play specialist can earn up to £19,700.
Senior hospital play specialists can earn between £19,000 and £25,000.
A team manager can earn up to £31,000.
Further information
Bristol
BS99 3EY
Tel: 0845 606 0655
Email: learning@nhscareers.nhs.uk
Forty Green
Beaconsfield
Bucks
HP9 1XS
Stockport
SK7 1FR
Tel: 0161 439 5800
One90 High Holborn
London
WC1V 7BH
Tel: 0870 240 9800
Stockport
SK7 1FR
Tel: 0161 439 5800
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Site Disclaimer
The information contained in our Career Profiles Database was correct at time of publishing, but since publication certain details may have changed so please use this section as a research tool and in some cases further research may be required.
Careers Database Information By Learn Direct Advice