Play Specialist

Hospital Play Specialist (Core), Starship Children's Health Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders. About the role This is a permanent, part‑time position in the Hospital Play Specialist Team and the position can work across all wards, but the current need is in the Childrens Emergency Department at Starship for 2 days per week, 10am to 10pm . The Hospital Play Specialists work with all age groups supporting infants, children and young people to become confident and competent learners within the context of their hospital experience. With a strong educational and psycho‑social framework that supports whānau involvement, we facilitate childrens continued development and their ability to cope successfully with challenges related to their hospital visit. You may find us normalising the hospital visit in a play space, familiarising children with medical equipment or procedures, supporting children during procedures such as blood tests, or developing and practicing coping strategies to manage tough times. This role is challenging but very rewarding when working with children, their whānau and our wider multidisciplinary team. Training will be providing for clinical aspects related to this role. About the Service The Starship Hospital Play Specialists are an essential part of the child healthcare team at Starship and yes, their role is about fun and games, but also, so much more! Hospital Play Specialists use a variety of techniques to help children understand medical procedures, prepare them for hospital and help manage any fear or worries about their treatment. The Starship play specialists, who are highly‑trained education experts, work alongside nurses, doctors and allied health professionals (such as OTs, physios and psychologists) as part of a multidisciplinary team. About you Experienced Hospital Play Specialist preferred Experience working as a teacher or support worker within the health or education sectors. Registration and certification with the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand Current professional registration or eligibility to gain registration with the Hospital Play Specialist Association Registration Council. Please note that while we work with all age groups, these roles are related to hospital-based Early Childhood Services and a recognised early childhood teaching qualification or equivalent required Experience supporting children and whānau managing stress, complex care preferred Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities. Starship Child Health is a dedicated paediatric healthcare service and major teaching centre, providing family centred care to neonates, children and young people throughout New Zealand and the South Pacific. Starship is a part of Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora and is the only comprehensive childrens hospital in New Zealand serving a population of approximately 1 million children. Job details Job Reference: ADHB24563 Location: North Island - Auckland - Central Auckland Job type: Expertise Expertise: Clinical - Allied Health - Play Specialist #J-18808-Ljbffr