Do you know about hospital play specialists?

Do you know about hospital play specialists?

by: hatthar - 24-10-06 13:54

As a qualified hospital play specialist(HPS) I am wondering how many people in the early years sector know what our role involves?

Also are there any HPS's or hospital play workers out there who would like to get in contact?

by: Rose

Hi, I read about the HPS a few years ago and wanted to train for it, but it was too far for me to travel to the University that ran it.

Do you know about hospital play specialists? - 27-10-06 14:30

by: hatthar

Hi rea4

Thats such a shame, as the profession needs people who are excited about the role. Maybe it is worth you sending an email to the Hospital Play Staff Education Trust (HPSET) who validate the training, i think a distance learning option would be useful to many people. You can find email details on their website which is: www.hpset.org.uk

Good Luck

Do you know about hospital play specialists? - 27-10-06 21:07

by: kw2006

I'd love some info on HPS, as a lecturer in Early Years, we try to give career advise to the students. So what qualifications did you take, and how long did it all take.

Do you know about hospital play specialists? - 27-10-06 21:13

by: Rose

Thanks for the info hatthar. Going to the link now.

Do you know about hospital play specialists? - 27-10-06 21:38

by: Rose

I've followed the link and also done a search on google. This site has some good information about courses and colleges that provide it. Unfortunatly Warwick is still the closest I can get and its still too far. Hopefully the information will be helpful to someone else.

http://www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u/jobfamily/healthcare/hospitalplayspecialist.cfm?id=1244

Do you know about hospital play specialists? - 28-10-06 13:47

by: hatthar

Hi kw2006

In order to train to be a hospital play specialist you need to have completed a two year level 3 qualification in a child related subject such as the Diploma in Nursery Nursing, have 2-3 years post qualifying experience with children and young people in a group setting and be over 20 years of age. Some experience with children with special needs is useful.

Edexcel Level 4 Professional Development Diploma in Specialised Play for Sick Children and Young People

Do you know about hospital play specialists? - 28-10-06 13:53

by: hatthar

Sorry didn't finish the message above.

The qualification is one year and includes a 200 hour placement along side an hps, one day per week in college, several block weeks and lots of projects and assignments.

If you are interested in the profession you could join the play specialist chatroom

http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/Hospitalplayspecialists/

Do you know about hospital play specialists? - 04-11-06 17:13

by: Harriet Harris

Hi

Couldn't get the address of the play specialist chatroom to work, is it the site address right?

Do you know about hospital play specialists? - 04-11-06 17:20

by: hatthar

Sorry i typed the address in wrongly, here is the right address:

http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/Hospitalplayspecialists/

The site is for anyone who is interested in therapeutic play with children & young people or interested in a career in this area of work. The site is free to join and use.

Do you know about hospital play specialists? - 07-11-06 16:44

by: colum

Ihave recently graduated with an Advanced Diploma in Childcare and Education.My dissertation was on the role of the playspecialists.I found whilst researching for my dissertation that hardly anyone new what a play specialists role was and were they worked.Hopefully all the parents and carers i spoke to will havea better understanding of the role of the playspecialists.And the great service they provide.

Do you know about hospital play specialists? - 18-11-06 17:13

by: hatthar

Hi Everyone

Does anyone have profesional contact with their local hospital play specialist(hps)?

If you have a child in your nursery, school or any other setting, who is going into hospital for a procedure or some treatment, you could contact the hps at your local hospital to ask about how best to prepare them.

If you feel a child is particularly worried about going to hospital you could talk to the hps about this and maybe the hps could offer the child and parent a therapeutic play session at the hospital to help.

Do you know about hospital play specialists? - 20-11-06 16:11

by: EMILLYBABES

HI IM STUDYING FOR A FOUNDATION DEGREE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD STUDIES, IM STILL UNSURE OF A CAREER PATH AT THE MO. I DONT THINK EARLY YEARS STUDENTS OR WORKERS ARE MADE AWARE ENOUGH OF THE MANY DIFFERENT JOBS AVAILABLE. WHAT DOES A PLAY SPECIALIST DO, AND WHAT QUALIFICATIONS WOULD YOU NEED? THANKS EMILLY REILLY

Do you know about hospital play specialists? - 20-11-06 21:01

by: hatthar

Hello Emilly

I think your are right, not very many people know about the work of the hospital play specialist(HPS)and that it is a career option if you want to work with children.

HPS's provide therateutic play for children and young people who are sick or recieving medical treatment/interventions. This can be in the community, based with the community nursring team,in an A&E dept, outpatients dept, x-ray dept, hospice or on a children's ward.

To practice as a HPS you need the Professional Development Diploma in Specialised Play for Sick Children & Young People. It is a Level 4 qualification so is equivalent to the first year of a degree. The course is one year part time and you can work part time with children while doing the course.

Do you know about hospital play specialists? - 26-11-06 10:17

by: Harriet Harris

It is a shame that so few people have heard about the work of the hospital play specialist.

Has anyone met a hospital play specialist when visiting the hospital, either with their own child or a child in their care?

Would you ask for the child you were with, to see the hospital play specialist?

Do you know about hospital play specialists? - 02-12-06 17:03

by: hatthar

I'm really sorry that i haven't had any response from any hospital play specialist or and hospital play workers.

Are there any out there who would lkie to share experiences?

It would be great to hear from you.

by: Desi

Hi at the momment i'm studying my NVQ3 in Childcare and hopfully do my level 4 in becoming a Hospital Play Specialist but i don't no were to study this course could you please help me thank you sareeka

by: hatthar

Hi Sareeka

 I'm really glad you know about the role of the play specialist and are considering training for this profession.

 The best place to look for information about training and the qualification is the Hospital Play Staff Education Trust (HPSET) www.hpset.org.uk

You may also find it useful to visit the National Association of Hospital Play Staff (NAHPS) website www.nahps.org.uk

Details of colleges that offer the course should be listed on the HPSET website.  If you are very interested in the profession you may like to consider joining NAHPS as an Associate Member which I think is just £25 per year and gives lots of information including magazines, newsletter, discounts on NAHPS study days & conferences, details on hospital play specialist and hospital play worker/assistant jobs posted straight to your home etc.

 Please do let if there is anything else you would like to know about the profession.

 :-)

RE: RE: Do you know about hospital play specialists? - 22-09-08 19:37

by: Lucy2806

Hi,

I amcurrently looking into training as a hospital play specialist and wondered if you could help. I have always been interested in therapeutic play and have attended a short course on the subject. I am really interested in gaining a post as a hospital play assistant and training 'on the job'. Is this is right way to go about training? I am only concerned that I would need to be in full time employment while gaining the qualification. 

Any advice would be grately appreciated. Many Thanks