Play Worker

Main area: Acute Child Health Directorate.

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 37.5 hours per week (Full Time, Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm)

Site: Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff

Salary: £24,433 - £26,060 per annum

Closing date: 18/06/2025 23:59

We are looking for TWO enthusiastic, motivated Play Workers to join our busy Therapeutic Play Department working within the Acute Child Health Directorate at Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales. The roles will primarily be based on our acute wards, but will be expected to work flexibly across the hospital to support the wider service to meet the needs of patients as they arise.

The post holder must possess a minimum of level 3 childcare qualification. This position is full time (37.5hrs). Experience of working with babies, children and young people (BCYP) from 0-16 is essential, as is an understanding of child development and how this is impacted by hospital admission. The successful candidate will work as part of the wider play team but also alongside other members of the MDT to provide the best care, planning and support for individuals throughout their hospital journey. The role will involve delivering normalising, general and developmental play. The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Qualifications:

• Level 3 Diploma in Child’s Care, Learning and Development (Wales and Northern Ireland) QCF or CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Child Care & Education or CACHE Extended Diploma in Children’s Care, Learning and Development or Open University (OU) Level 4 Certificate in Early Years Practice or Edexcel BTEC Level 3 National Certificate/Diploma Children’s Care, Learning and Development – CCLD
• Basic Secondary Education up to 5 GCSE level or beyond, including English and Maths (GCSE Grade A* - C)
• Evidence of continuous professional development (CPD)
• An awareness of the Children Act 1989 / Children’s rights (UNCRC,1990)
• Knowledge of typical child development milestones and how this is impacted by hospitalisation
• Knowledge of the SoHPS professional standards and code of conduct
• Knowledge of the Foundation Phase and Birth to Three Matters
• Training in Makaton or alternative communication method

Experience:

• Experience of working with babies, children and young people (BCYP) from 0 – 16yrs.
• Experience of observing & recording children’s progress.
• Awareness of confidentiality.
• Experience of working in a hospital setting with babies, children and young people (BCYP)
• Experience of working with babies, children and young people in another setting, such as education, care or community settings.
• Experience of working with babies, children and young people who have specific medical and education needs, for example, Profound Medical and Learning Disabilities (PMLD), Learning Disabilities (LD) or those with a Neurodivergent (ND) Diagnosis.

Other:

• Ability to work with and provide creative activities to individual and groups of babies, children and young people (BCYP)
• Enhanced communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Patient and understanding
• Caring Nature
• Trustworthy
• Able to work flexibly
• Ability to withstand the physical demands of caring for young children
• Welsh Language Skills are desirable levels 1 to 5 in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing in Welsh
• Ability to play a musical instrument
• Good organisation skills

We are committed to promoting inclusion, where all staff have a sense of belonging. We welcome applications from everyone and recognise the need for our workforce to represent the diversity of the population we serve. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment where staff treat one another with dignity and respect and where diversity is celebrated.