Health Play Specialist Career Information
Introduction
Play is accepted as vital to healthy growth and development and a natural part of childhood which enables children to explore and make sense of the world they live in. For children and young people who undergo medical and surgical procedures, access to play carries greater significance.
Health play specialists use play as a therapeutic tool for children and young people who are in-patients or out-patients in hospitals, hospices and other community settings. The title, Hospital Play Specialist was coined in the 1970’s to define to the role of a group of staff who supported children through the use of play in hospital. Today, qualified, registered play staff hold the professional title of Health Play Specialist (HPS) in order to reflect the broader role of health promotion and maintenance. Play has a special function in the healthcare environment, however play specialists are neither play therapists nor play leaders.
Play specialists work with children and young people of all ages and conditions and their work involves:
- organising daily play services in the playroom, at the bedside, in isolation cubicles, clinics and any other area where a sick child may require treatment
- providing play to maintain developmental goals and avoid regression
- helping children deal with fear and anxiety by making sense of frightening and unfamiliar experiences
- using play to prepare children for invasive or painful procedures
- helping children cope with pain
- using play and alternative focus activities to help distract and calm children during procedures
- helping children regain skills lost through the effects of illness or hospitalisation
- supporting families including siblings through a family centred approach to care
- contributing to clinical judgements through documentation and through their observations
- advising parents, carers and staff on appropriate play for sick and injured children
Health play specialists are part of a multi disciplinary team including speech therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists, dietitians, doctors and nurses.
Hours and environment
Working hours vary and Health play specialists may be full or part-time. They may work over weekends and public holidays. Health play specialists may work in all departments where children are receiving treatment
Salary and Job Description
In 2005, the NHS introduced a new salary structure under Agenda for Change. Play specialists have a set of national profiles which recommend the banding for play staff. These are as follows:
- Play Assistants and newly qualified play specialists-Band 4
- Qualified and experienced play specialists-Band 5
- Team leaders/professional leads- Band 6
- Play service managers/clinical specialists in play- Band 7
- Please see www.nahps.org.uk for examples of job descriptions and person specifications
Skills and personal qualities
A health play specialist should have:
- patience, empathy, tact and sensitivity
- a warm and caring personality
- the ability to communicate with children
- the ability to motivate children who are shy or unhappy
- energy, enthusiasm and a sense of fun
- the resourcefulness to adapt activities to meet individual needs and abilities
- organisational skills
- the ability to cope emotionally with difficult situations.
- the ability to work alone or in a team
Job Vacancies
Some jobs may be advertised locally or through the NHS website www.nhs.uk/jobs or through this website.
Training and Entry Requirements
Anyone wishing to train as a health play specialist must:
- hold a recognized and approved Full Level 3 childcare qualification.
- have GCSE Maths and English or level 2 Numeracy and Literacy equivalency
- identify and confirm the name of a mentor who is a qualified and registered HPS
- be employed or volunteering (for a minimum of 200 hours) in a health setting under the supervision of a registered HPS
- have at least 2 years experience of working with healthy children
To become a qualified and registered health play specialist all applicants must apply to train at a validated institution which is recognised by the professional body – National Association of Health Play Specialists (NAHPS) and the registration board – Health Play Staff Education Trust (HPSET).
Currently, Cardiff and the Vale College, Bolton College and Stanmore College are delivering the Foundation Degree in Healthcare Play Specialism which is validated by the University of West London.
Any other institution offering a variant of this training is NOT recognised by the profession.
For more information about training please visit www.hpset.org.uk
