JOB DESCRIPTION

Playmaker Co-ordinator

DATE UPDATED January 2018

AUTHORISEDAli Acaster

DATE FOR REVIEWJanuary 2019

Job Title: Playmaker Co-ordinator

Responsible to:Family Support Services Manager

Line Management Responsibility:Playmaker Assistants

Volunteers

Overall Objectives :

  • To develop and manage a team of Playmaker Assistants and volunteers to provide a holistic play service which enables the children to reach their full potential through play.
  • Demonstrate strong leadership skills and ensure Playmaker assistants fulfil their duties in line with the values and standards of Julias House.
  • Support the Playmaker Consultant to assess, devise and develop therapeutic play plans for our children with the most complex needs.
  • Oversee and support the Playmaker assistants in their ongoing planning of activity sessions, both for the Hospices and the Community supporting the Playmaker assistants to plan adequate time for preparation and delivery of specific play sessions.
  • Liaise with all other agencies involved in the child’s care
  • To be involved with the strategic planning for the team including the development and monitoring of the service budget.
  • Develop and implement audit tools to monitor the effectiveness of the service and measure the progress of the child’s development and client satisfaction levels.
  • Undertake/be involved in research where required to support development and upskill team
  • Assist the families and care team to deliver and engage in play according to the individual capabilities of the child.
  • Take a proactive role in professional training, support the playmaker assistants, volunteers, multi disciplinary team and families by providing training on play and activity which allows them to effectively use the individualised play / activity programmes.
  • Enable the Playmaker Consultant, Playmaker Assistants and Volunteers to create a supportive clinical and professional relationship with the families, using the holistic approach Julia’s House has to care which promotes positive use of play techniques allowing the child to achieve their potential.
  • Promote and maintain close relations and liaison with allstaff at Julia’s House and all other agencies involved in the care of the clients we support.
  • Work within the Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulations and other relevant national standards; help maintain accurate records of methods, evidence of policies and the monitoring of procedures for inspection.
  • Arrange and chair, with input from the Playmaker Consultant, the Play team meetings in accordance with the terms of reference.
  • Ensure the Playmaker Assistants carry out regular audits of the toys kept and required in both hospices / Wimborne toy storage and order according to budget and funds for new equipment / toys required.

Area of Responsibility / Key Tasks
Planning, Organisation and Service Development /
  • Support the playmaker assistants to plan and prepare relevant and appropriate play for sessions in both the hospice and community.
  • Ensure delivery, sustainability and management of appropriate budgets
  • Monitor and Review plans as required by the child’s changing medical condition and developmental stage. Minimum review annually.
  • Oversee the Support and training to families and staff for the individual child to enable them to utilise the plan effectively.
  • Audit of all documentation to ensure accurate and up to date
  • Audit equipment e.g. toys to ensure they are fit for purpose
  • Oversee and co-ordinate the Play team aspects that contribute to the Family Support Services team’s input to family events.

Activity /
  • Adhere to the Julia’s House core values
  • Overseeand co-ordinate therapeutic, physical, emotional and recreational support for the Julia’s House child/young person and members of their family.
  • Enable team to maintain accurate records of all types, written and electronic.
  • Liaise with the playmaker team and the named nurses for children to identify priorities / changes in their needs, reporting any changes in the child/young person’s or family’s behavior to the Session Lead Nurse on duty and Named Nurse or On call Nurse.
  • Enable the whole play team to contribute positively to the creation and sustaining of a caring, friendly and professional environment, informal in nature and minimising institutional practices whilst with the child and family.
  • Enable play team to work as part of the multi – disciplinary team within Julia’s House to support the child and their family in the way that best suits their needs e.g combining music and play.
  • Coordinate and manage the Play Team to ensure that the activities planned for the hospice and community reflect the abilities and needs of the child and there is continuity between the hospice and community services.
  • Ensure the team is able to provide professional support and advice and assist with the delivery of the family and children groups e.g. Housemates and Minimates.
  • Ensure all play team members are aware of the health and safety needs of children, siblings, families and Julia’s House staff and adopt a preventative safety approach at all times. Report all accidents and incidents accurately and promptly.
  • Manage, monitor and audit to ensure practice complies with all policies and procedures especially those regarding confidentiality and Safeguarding.
  • Raise awareness of the Play Team to colleagues and other practitioners.
  • Ensure the play team is proactive in sharing information and knowledge informally and within formal training sessions on therapeutic play and Playmaker skills for all Julia’s House care staff on a regular basis.

Training and Personal Development /
  • Provide positive line management in a caring and supportive environment.
  • Train and support line managees. Promote and maintain an ethos of lifelong learning in identifying desirable and appropriate training resources. Establish and maintain regular supervision and support mechanisms.
  • Ensure all play team training is up to date and refreshed on a regular basis.
  • Participate in the induction and training for all new staff and volunteers.
  • Undertake a Personal Development Programme to enhance own existing skills and develop new skills appropriate to the role; actively participate in appraisal system and attend training programmes. Participate in learning opportunities across different Julia’s House teams.
  • Ensure that own statutory professional updating and educational requirements are maintained and provide proof of renewed registration when it is due, if appropriate, to the HR Department.
  • Enable and ensure that play team act as a resource for all staff providing them with individual training to allow them to fully utilise the play / activity plans for clients and to enable them to link these into the care they deliver.
  • Manage and coordinate a group providing formal training sessions on child development, portage style skills and play skills for all care staff on a regular basis.
  • Evaluate the impact of own work and that of the play team critically to improve effectiveness by adopting reflective practiceAttend clinical professional supervision on a regular basis.

Quality Assurance /
  • Monitor, review and audit to ensure that all play/ activity plans are recorded accurately and clearly and that they are updated on a regular basis and all changes are communicated to staff involved in providing care.
  • Ensure play team liaise with other Multi-Disciplinary teams involved in supporting the child/young person to ensure continuity of care, e.g. named nurse, physiotherapy and portage programs.
  • Manage , maintain and monitor professional calendars, records and evaluation systems and to follow administrative procedures and systems.
  • Manage and ensure the play team are aware of the need to use the resources of Julia’s House wisely and effectively to meet the needs of the children and their families whilst complying with budgetary constraints.
  • Support and monitor that the play team contribute positively to the cohesion and well-being of the Julia’s House Care team.
  • Regularly attend team meetings and participate in shared decision making.strategies provided.

Health & Safety /
  • Monitor and manage to ensure that Julia’s House Guidelines are adhered to at all times by the play team
  • Under line management guidance, regularly update and maintain own knowledge of safety rules, lone working guidance, fire drills, internal security and accident procedures and adhere to these at all times.
  • Monitor, manage and audit to ensure that all safety information required for activities is available for all staff.
  • Monitor , manage and audit to ensure that all risk assessments are completed prior to activities and updated on a regular basis.

Commitment to Julia’s House Team /
  • Represent positively the work of Julia’s House.
  • Contribute positively to good teamwork and uphold team values.
  • Act as an ambassador for Julia’s House and support events for fundraising as appropriate.

This job description provides the main requirements of the post but is not exclusive. The Board of Julia’s House Trustees reserves the right, after due consideration, to indicate a requirement to develop the services where appropriate.

This post will be evaluated and the post holder appraised at regular intervals, when objectives will be set and monitored.