Regional Networking Groups

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.

What happens at these group meetings?

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.

Who are these groups for?

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.

For more information about any of the groups for hospital and community play staff or if you are interested in setting up a new group, please contact NAHPS Branch Liaison Officer Harriet Harris via [email protected]

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

Regional Branch Groups

Network South West
Group Contact - Suzanne Heayns
[email protected]

Network South East
Group Contact - Sam Sumner
[email protected]
(The Sussex Play Specialist Group has now merged with Network South East)

Networking Group- Scotland
Group Contact - Ishbel Proctor I
shbel.Proctor@luht.scot.nhs.uk

NAHPS Welsh Branch
Group Contact -Jan Williams
[email protected]

Oxford Group
Group Contact - Christine Turner
[email protected]

North East Benchmarking Group
Group Contact -Rosemay Hagreen - [email protected]

North West Benchmarking Group
Group Contact � Frances Binns �
[email protected]

East Anglian Play Staff Group
Group Contact � Judy Holland
[email protected]

Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Benchmarking Group
Group Contact - Christine Baines
[email protected]

London & South East Play Managers Forum
Group Contact - Judy Walker [email protected]

International Organisations

Irish Association of Hospital Play Staff

Contact � Veronica Mills [email protected]

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.

Harriet Harris (HPSET)
NAHPS Branch Liaison Officer