Duties
My role is to provide structured support to individual children referred to the department who have been identified as having specific problems.
Once a patient has been referred, I assess their needs before devising a treatment plan. This will be provided through preparation, and/or post- procedural support, specialised therapeutic play, support for siblings and support for children undergoing procedures.
I provide emotional support for children and young people of all ages and their families. I support them throughout the hospital process, from their admission to their discharge. When required, I accompany a specialist nurse on home visits to prepare children who are coming into hospital for a bone marrow transplant. An important part of my role is attending multi-disciplinary team meetings to discuss patients in our care. I work closely alongside other professionals such as clinical psychologists and physiotherapists to achieve the patient care plan. I also advise parents and carers on suitable play materials and activities.
Additionally, as a department we undertake teaching of other professionals.
We often have medical, physiotherapist, psychology and trainee play specialist students shadowing us so they can understand and promote our role.
Start date
I started with the department in July 2005 as a trainee play specialist. I qualified in December 2005.
Likes/dislikes
I enjoy the specialism I work in and every day is different. I work alongside a multidisciplinary team who understand the role of a play specialist. I have great support from my management team in the play department.
Best achievement
I am most proud of qualifying as a play specialist and having the opportunity to work in a children's hospital, as this has been my ambition since I was ten years old.
Training
I have a nursery nursing qualification and many years experience of working with well children. The one- year play specialist course provided training in specialised play with sick children and young people.
On completion I gained a BTec level 4 Professional Diploma in Specialised Play for Sick Children and Young People.
Career path
After qualifying as a nursery nurse I worked for ten years as both a live-in and live-out nanny. I then moved on to working in a private day nursery, as I wanted experience with groups of children and as a team member. After two years, I felt I had enough experience of working with well children to embark on the play specialist course.
At first I worked for my local health authority as a community nursery nurse caring for ventilated children. I learned basic nursing skills, and about playing with sick children. If there were not enough hours in the community, I worked with the play specialist on the ward.
Eighteen months later I began working at Birmingham Children's Hospital, initially as part nursery nurse and part healthcare assistant on a general medical ward with children aged nought to seven. I got a place on the play specialist course in January 2005 which my ward manager funded. I then applied for a new role, to be a trainee play specialist working with the specialised play team.
Career progression
Our specialised play department comprises a head of service, three senior management play specialists, 12 play specialists, one adolescent play specialist, one trainee play specialist and two part-time youth workers.
Oncology is a very in-depth area to work in. I am fortunate as my management team is very supportive and encourages career progression. In five years time I would like to think I was still at the hospital but well established within the play service.
Advice
My advice to anyone wanting to follow this career path would be to gain a childcare qualification. They should then work with healthy children as this is vital before going on the play specialist course.
Working in a hospital is an advantage. If you don't, voluntary work on a paediatric ward is good experience.
Although the course only lasts a year, there is a lot of work involved and you have to be prepared to do some of it in your free time.
The job can be emotionally draining and very stressful. It is vital that you are the type of person who can see past a child's machines, injuries and disabilities. However, it is an immensely rewarding job and you feel like you have made a difference.
Interest/ hobbies
I enjoy watching musical theatre, reading, socialising and cooking.
I continued to use my basic nursing skills but was able to build a link with the play specialist who visited the ward.
Further information
* www.nahps.org.uk
