Would you like to meet with other hospital and community play staff in your area to share views and ideas?

There are many groups of hospital and community play staff across the country that meet regularly.

Normally these groups meet about 3 to 4 times a year, and take place at the hospitals of each of the members of the group, in turn. These groups are a good place to exchange ideas and gain support from other play staff. Recently topics that have been discussed at group meetings include; Agenda for Change, KSF, the National Service Framework for Children and the Healthcare Commission Report. Some groups invite outside speakers or provide presentations themselves to make it a study day and give attendance certificates. For some these meetings take place all day and others are for just a few hours. The groups mainly take place on a workday, but some do take place at weekends, it is up to your group to decide these details.

Play specialists, play assistants, play leaders, student play specialists, play team volunteers as well as any play staff who are currently not working in the profession and want to keep their skills up to date.

I have recently had several play specialists enquiring about setting up a networking group for London and the surrounding areas. If anyone is interested in being involved in a group in this area, please do let me know. Also, please let me know if you are trying to set up a group in another area of the country and would like help or if you are already running a group not listed here.

Also I am hoping to visit some of the groups around the country to offer support and find out how I can best support you. If you would like me to attend any of your meetings please do contact me via email.

Thanks

North East Benchmarking Group
Group Contact -Rosemay Hagreen - rosemary.hagreen@cht.nhs.uk

London & South East Play Managers Forum
Group Contact - Judy Walker judith.walker@uvlh.nhs.uk

NAHPS holds contact details of hospital play staff in many countries around the world. If you are visiting another country or would just like to make contact with play staff in other countries, please contact Harriet Harris.