Play & Activities Co-Ordinator

Job Description
Job summary
There is an exciting opportunity to join our play team!
As part of the play team, the post holder will organise, initiate, provide, and supervise play and activities. They will create play and activity opportunities as part of a holistic approach to care.
The post holder will be based in the in-house play team and will also have the flexibility to cover play wherever it is required (e.g. Claire House Wirral, Claire House Liverpool, events, groups, sibling events etc).
Play and activities will be provided to children and young adults who attend the Hospice, their siblings, and also provided for bereaved siblings.
Main Purpose of Job
As a Play & Activities Coordinator, the post holder will work alongside other members of the Play Team and Volunteers, in being creative and engaging in generating a stimulating environment in which children and young people can fulfil their psycho-social, spiritual and cultural needs.
As a Play & Activities Coordinator, the post holder will organise and provide a high quality and effective play service.
Position of the role in Claire House
The post holder is directly line managed by the Play & Activities Team Leader
Main duties of the job
Scope of Job
To organise and provide play & activities for Children and Young People (CYP) accessing the Hospice. This includes in the Claire House Wirral building, Claire House Liverpool building, Hospital, Home or Community
To work collaboratively with all members of the play team to provide individual and group activities for children and young people accessing Hospice care and support
The post holder will work collaboratively with the wider care services teams to provide play and activities for children and young people
To support the induction & orientation of new members of staff, students & volunteers within the play department
To share responsibility within the Hospice to maintain a safe but homely environment taking account of health and safety, including infection control and risk assessments
To be competent in identifying own scope of practice and referring to clinical staff appropriately, to maintain safety and well-being of the children/young people
Ensure the smooth running of the play department on a daily basis, referring to line manager for further guidance and support where required
About us
The individual needs to be enthusiastic and flexible, and has the ability to devise, plan and organise play, activities and events. You will be helping to create an environment where play is enabled for everyone and be part of producing some fabulous memories for individuals.
Are you able to switch personality hats? Be fun and inviting but also serious and listen well when needed. Whether this be story reading with spontaneous voices, crafting with our mini artists or simply being present and on hand to support children/young adults/siblings that are going through more than most, if you think this is a skill you could provide then please apply!
Should you require any further information or want to discuss the role please contact: Lawren Harris, Play and Activities Team LeaderLawren.harris@clairehouse.org.uk
Interview date: Tuesday 8thApril 2025
This organisations recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to equal opportunities and safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
Registered Charity No. 1004058
Job responsibilities
Dimensions and Limits of Authority
Work involves both reactive and proactive elements of play and activities
Personal accountability is ensured through adherence to the Safer Working Practice for Children and Vulnerable Young Adults
Able to support induction for new staff, students & volunteers in own area of competence
To refer to clinical staff for advice/ guidance should they be concerned about a child whilst carrying out play/activities
Able to carry out extended competencies i.e. employing the use of specialist equipment within play and activities
Able to instruct staff members on the use of specialist equipment within the Play Department
Safe handling of money in the form of a pleo card, responsible for ensuring correct documentation of money spent and sending receipts to Team Leader to evidence
Qualifications and skills level
Minimum functional skills level 2 in English & Maths
Minimum Level 3 qualification in one of the following: Play Work/Play Specialism/NNEB/ Youth Work or relevant other
Proven experience of working with children and young people with complex health needs
Effective interpersonal and intermediate communication skills
PART 2: MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Play Service operates a 7-day service and as such, this role requires working flexibly as required
To organise and provide all play and activities within the Play Department across the in-house Hospice and the community
To ensure all play and activities are responsive to a childs/young persons individual developmental, social, spiritual and cultural needs
To have an awareness of play activities within schools and other care settings and to be able to use such awareness to link with themes and activities within the play service
To offer support to siblings visiting or residing in the hospice
To liaise with the fundraising and communications teams, and the administration team in relation to all external requests for information, external visits and activities that will involve children and young people
To support the Play & Activities Team Leader in conjunction with the administration team in coordinating all in-house visits by external individuals/performers or companies providing entertainment for the CYP
To have knowledge of the specialist equipment used with CYP in play and activities and can provide instruction on the use of such equipment
To share responsibility within the Hospice to maintain a safe but homely environment taking account of health and safety, including infection control and risk assessments
To be aware and working to Safeguarding and Prevention of Children and Vulnerable Young Adults policies and procedures
To comply with moving and handling policies and procedures
To participate in hospice special interest groups
To be able to undertake the mental, physical and emotional demands of the role, whilst at the same time taking care to safeguard their own health and safety as well as fellow care team members, children, young people and their family
To have responsibility for liaison with the communications and care admin teams to update the Parents and organisation Facebook page with relevant updates, information and activities
1. Responsibility for Clinical Governance and Quality
To actively complete clinical incident documentation in accordance with no blame and whistle-blowing policy
To carry out and update risk assessments including undertaking risk reviewer training
To adhere and comply with all Hospice policies and procedures
2. Personal Professional Development & Responsibilities
To take responsibility for maintaining his/her own professional development, meeting with the line manager for regular appraisals, identifying and agreeing personal targets
To be proactive in identifying ways of improving practice and developing new ideas
To participate in hospice special interest groups and assists in the organisation of relevant activities
To ensure the economical and appropriate use of all resources within the play department
To maintain appropriate client records, ensuring they are stored securely and confidentially
To be fully involved in the process of preventing and controlling infections
3. General Claire House Requirements
Adhere to and comply with organisational policies, procedures and guidelines at all times
Implement risk management strategies (including reporting, registering risk and learning), taking all reasonable steps to manage and promote a safe and healthy working environment which is free from discrimination
Implement Health and Safety regulations through risk assessment. Maintain a constant awareness of health, welfare and safety issues affecting colleagues, service users, volunteers, visitors and themselves, reporting any accidents or faults in line with organisational policy.
Participate fully in Health and Safety training
Comply with the organisational policy on confidentiality and the Data Protection Act 1998 relating to information held manually or on computerised systems
Respect the confidentiality and privacy of children, young adults, volunteers & staff at all times
Participate in personal training, development and appraisal, and attend all ...