My life at work

Duties

My role is to provide structured support to individual children referred to the department who have been identified as having specific problems.

Once a patient has been referred, I assess their needs before devising a treatment plan. This will be provided through preparation, and/or post- procedural support, specialised therapeutic play, support for siblings and support for children undergoing procedures.

I provide emotional support for children and young people of all ages and their families. I support them throughout the hospital process, from their admission to their discharge. When required, I accompany a specialist nurse on home visits to prepare children who are coming into hospital for a bone marrow transplant. An important part of my role is attending multi-disciplinary team meetings to discuss patients in our care. I work closely alongside other professionals such as clinical psychologists and physiotherapists to achieve the patient care plan. I also advise parents and carers on suitable play materials and activities.