Martin House has been caring for babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions from West, North and East Yorkshire for more than 30 years. Every year we care for more than 420 families at our hospice in Boston Spa, in hospitals and in their own homes. We also support more than 150 bereaved families each year.

We’re looking for a talented Play Specialist who wants to spend more time with the children and parents/carers they look after. You will hold a Health Care Play Specialist or Play Therapy qualification and be a Registered member of the National Association of Health Play Specialists or the British Association of Play Therapists.

You’ll be based in the Hospice which is currently being extended and renovated into a new building, set in the beautiful Boston Spa countryside. It’s a place of hope, joy, play and connection, with care delivered by a multi-disciplinary team that are both supportive and inclusive. With talented individuals who share a passion to improve the lives of children with life-limiting conditions, their families, and those who are bereaved: we are striving to develop the very best in holistic wrap-around family support to families.

As part of our specialist palliative care team, you will care for children, young people and their families who are staying with us at Martin House, and support those visiting us for day care. Increasing our reach across our community and providing families with choice is central to our model of care, so you will also support children and young people in their family homes and out into hospital settings.

ABOUT YOU

You will be an experienced Play Specialist looking to develop your skills and expertise in the hospice sector. You will have excellent clinical and communication skills, be creative and want to make a positive difference to children, young people, and their families, to the team you work with and for the charity.

Please note all applicants must already hold the legal right to work in the UK.

Our ideal candidate will

• Be dedicated, compassionate, work in collaboration, be open, honest, flexible, caring and deliver high standards in everything you do.

• Want to work in a well-established, award-winning hospice, working as part of the multidisciplinary team to support the children, young people, and their families from the time of their referral through to end of life care and into bereavement.

• Provide holistic care: assessment, planning and treatment to children/young people with emotional support needs based on theoretical knowledge and evidence-based practice. Including caring for families with a palliative care diagnosis and providing sensitive emotional care after death for siblings.

• Offer therapeutic intervention to the child or young person under the care of the hospice or their family member through face-to-face sessions, over Microsoft teams or via the telephone or in community settings.

• Support the creation and maintenance of a holistic plan of care for each child/young person and their family.

• Work autonomously and collaboratively within the multi-disciplinary team providing consultation for other professionals and external agencies, sharing own knowledge to contribute to the development of others and always working in an integrated way with the clinical care team.

• Provide line management support and supervision to the Family Support Practitioner (activities, arts and play) within the team.

• Promote the emotional wellbeing and safeguarding of children and young people.

• Provide therapeutic play interventions on an individual and group basis contributing towards the holistic care of children and young adults.

Martin House places families at the heart of all that we do and this is reflected in the amazing benefits we offer our valued team members. • Annual Leave – 8 weeks per year including bank holidays • Sick pay – six months full pay and six months half pay following successful completion of probationary period. • Recognition of NHS pension scheme for candidates who are currently in the scheme and up to 10% contributory AVIVA scheme. • Enhanced Maternity and Partners leave to exceed the NHS entitlement • Health and wellbeing programme including access to free of change Employee Assistance Programme for employees and their families • Accredited Menopause and Mindful employer • Life insurance – two times annual salary • Free parking at our Boston Spa Children’s Hospice

If you want to be part of an exciting new journey within the Charity and are seeking a new challenge, we would love to hear from you… Please complete an application form, referring to the Job Description and Person Specification which can be found here or for further information contact Emma Taylor, Head of Family Support and Transition by email e.taylor@martinhouse.org.uk or by telephone on 01937 845045 The closing date for applications is midday 31st January 2025. Interviews will take place on 14th February 2025. If you have not heard from us by 10th February 2025 please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. Please note all applicants must already hold the legal right to work in the UK.