Specialist

Description:

Play Specialists work as integral members of the paediatric medical team with responsibility for the social and emotional welfare of the child. Play Specialists have the remit to promote play throughout the hospital and to encourage and guide nursing staff, volunteers, and parents to participate in play. Play Specialists work alongside the medical team to create a positive healthcare environment while minimizing the distress of hospitalisation through play based techniques including but not limited to developmental play, therapeutic play, medical play, post-procedural play, preparation play, and distraction or redirected play. It is the belief of the CHI Play Department that all children who come into the hospital are entitled to access to play as it provides a way for children to learn, understand, and cope with their medical experience. It is the role of the Play Specialists to create play opportunities and encourage positive coping for children and their families who attend Children’s Health Ireland.

Essential Criteria:

• Third level qualification in children’s health, health or community and social care.

• Have a minimum of three years’ experience working with children is a group setting.

• Commitment to undertake Foundation Degree in Healthcare Play Specialism within first year of employment. Successful completion of the programme leads to registration with the Healthcare Play Specialist Education Trust (HPSET)