Children's hospitals in the UK often have large play departments, employing up to 40 HPSs. Play specialists may work at children's bedsides, in ward playrooms, outpatients' clinics, A&E Departments, Intensive Care Units, Adolescent Units and in Community Paediatric Teams. Some general hospitals employ small teams of play staff.
The Hospital Play Staff Education Trust (HPSET) holds the register of qualified HPSs. The organisation is dedicated to the advancement and improvement of the profession, sets the qualifying standards, and monitors continuing professional development.
HPSET sets out the role of the HPS as follows:
- provide play to achieve developmental goals
- use play to prepare children for hospital procedures
- lead distraction and alternative focus activities for children during procedures
- help children to master and cope with anxieties and feelings
- provide recreational outlets and fun activities in the clinical environment
- support families, particularly siblings
- contribute to clinical judgements through their play-based observations of children
- teach the value of play for the sick child to staff and students
- advocate for the emotional developmental needs of children, babies and young people throughout the hospital journey.
The National Association of Hospital Play Specialists (NAHPS) provides professional support and information for practitioners. It works to improve the quality of play services for children in hospital and holds conferences, study days and other member events.
HPSs may work full-time or part-time and sometimes work over weekends and public holidays. A practitioner may progress to be a play specialist professional lead or a play services manager.
QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING
The University of West London has recently validated a pilot Foundation Degree in Healthcare Play Specialism, offered at Bolton College and Stanmore College.
The entry requirements are a professional childcare qualification at Level 3 or above and two years post-qualifying experience working in a childcare setting. Candidates should also have key skills at Level 2 or equivalent in literacy and numeracy. They should be employed in a health care setting at the time of undertaking the course for a minimum of 200 hours per year, in either a paid or voluntary capacity.
For the duration of the course, candidates must also have an experienced and qualified HPSET registered HPS to act as their workplace mentor/supervisor.
For professional registration with HPSET, candidates must successfully complete both the practical and academic requirements of the two-year course. Both the qualification and registration with HPSET form the recognised NHS qualification and standard for the profession.
Prior to September 2010, the Level 4 Diploma in Specialised Play for Children and Young People or Edexcel Certificate in Hospital Play Specialism were the recognised qualifications.
Practitioners should have patience, empathy, tact and sensitivity, and a warm and caring personality. The HPS needs to be resourceful, have good organisational skills, and the ability to cope with difficult situations.
The NHS provides additional in-service training on safeguarding, radiation protection, traumatic events, and guided imagery and distraction techniques.
FURTHER INFORMATION
- Stanmore College, Middlesex. ishah@stanmore.ac.uk
- Bolton College, Linda.Shuttleworth@boltoncc.ac.uk
- National Association of Hospital Play Staff. www.nahps.org.uk
- Hospital Play Staff Education Trust. www.hpset.org.uk
CASE STUDY: PENELOPE HART-SPENCER
I am a hospital play specialist and paediatric support co-ordinator, working with oncology at The Christie Hospital, Manchester. Together with the wider team, I work closely with each family, including siblings, to give tailor-made support and ensure their treatment journey runs smoothly.
Paediatric patients usually attend the hospital as day case patients. I help them to understand their treatment and the different procedures they may face, such as cannulation (inserting a small, flexible tube into a body cavity to drain off fluid or introduce medication) or procedures for radiotherapy. I attend each radiotherapy session to keep the children motivated and make the session fun for them.
We make immobilisation devices for the specific part of the body that is to be treated with radiotherapy. For a brain tumour, an immobilisation mould is made of the head and the shoulders. This can be very scary for children. I introduce them to the materials and base the play preparation around a familiar theme or character like Spiderman, Power Rangers or a princess theme. Then, we design a mould that the children can feel proud of. They enjoy wearing the mask and it aids compliance during treatment.
I usually schedule my play preparation sessions in the afternoon. This is when I use my therapeutic and imaginative play skills to explain the radiotherapy process to the children. It helps them to understand and feel at ease. We also make adventure maps and explore the hospital. The children see the scanning equipment and radiotherapy department - it makes the process less daunting.
I devise and record play programmes, and talk to parents to gain an insight into their children's ability to cope with different situations.
My role can be difficult at times and requires a lot of emotional strength, but it is extremely fulfilling.
