Play and Activity Assistant

About the role

Acorns Children's Hospice is looking for a Play & Activity Assistant to support children, young people and families in engaging and participating in play and activities that enhance their quality of life in our Three Counties Hospice, Worcester. The role involves providing high quality, holistic therapeutic play for children and young people across Acorns, enabling them to feel safe and at ease both within the hospice environment and in the community.

Job responsibilities

• Use knowledge of child development theories to support open ended play and adapt activities for each individual patient.
• Encourage children and young people to engage in a wide range of stimulating and creative activities, both indoors and outdoors, and to use local community facilities where appropriate.
• Ensure the child's or young person's psychological, social and physical needs are met and contribute to the development of the service.
• Organise and support family splash, play and group activities within the hydrotherapy pool.
• Empower children, young people and their relatives to make decisions about their care and to exercise choice.

About you

• Experience of delivering play based activity to children and young people.
• Experience of working with children with complex health needs.

What we offer

• £27,000 to £27,540 per annum
• 37.5 hours per week
• Based in our Three Counties Hospice, Worcester (WR5 3EZ)
• Employee discounts from leading retailers, including the Blue Light Card
• Discounts on refurbished tech
• Health cash plan
• Gym membership and equipment discount scheme
• Bike2Work scheme - save up to 42% on bikes and equipment
• Well being, legal and financial support
• Generous contribution to group personal pension plan (7.5%) or continuation of current NHS pension scheme
• NHS pension scheme life assurance or Acorns group life assurance scheme

Person specification Qualifications

• Standard general level of education
• Play and activity related qualification

Experience

• Experience of delivering play based activity. Working with children with complex health needs
• Working in a palliative care setting. Delivering group activity sessions

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

You need to be eligible to work in the UK to be considered for this role. Successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check for children and will be asked to provide two satisfactory references. Candidates will also be asked to provide evidence of immunisation against specific diseases or confirm their willingness to receive the necessary vaccinations.

Legal and safeguarding statement

We are committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. Any successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check for children and to the requirements for evidence of immunisation.