Is anyone on here a Hospital Play therapist?

[sleepismysuperpower1]

Hi,

My dd has been looking into possible career choices so that she has an idea of what A-Levels to pick, and she came across a hospital play therapist job description which interested her (she wants to work in a job that 'helps people' and likes children). She was asking me about it but I don't know much, so I was wondering if anyone could tell me about their day to day in this role?

Thank you so much x

She could look at Health and Social care. It is a Cambridge Technical level 3 qualification.

@Hattie78 (sorry in advance for sounding stupid, i really don't know anything about this area of work!) do you do that qualification at a university? she does want to go to uni but could potentially look at doing it after a degree if its a different course

We have a play therapist in our mainstream primary school. She works with kids who are struggling for whatever reason, giving them a bit of a break and helping them with strategies to cope. She also does stuff with kids who find social interaction hard, building up their social skills. It's an amazing thing to have on site.

@sleepismysuperpower1 I didn't do sciences, I am an NNEB qualified nursery nurse, all of my colleagues held some kind of childcare qualification. We weren't able to administer medications on the ward (but we did when working in the family homes).

We have perinatal nursery nurses at work. They are invaluable and support mums and young babies in attachment, baby massage, baby yoga and parenting as well as caring for the babies when mums aren't well enough. They either work in the secure mum and baby inpatient unit or the community. Might that be an option for her?

Play therapist is different to a health play specialist in a hospital or community setting.
If she wants to work with sick kids in hospital it's the specialist title. I think if you look on NHS jobs plenty of jobs in the south come up more frequently in London etc but job vacancies come up less in the north. It's now a level 5 course. Band 4/5. Someone already posted links.

I have just completed my psychology degree and thought about doing a postgrad to become a play therapist (but have since found a job I enjoy and I don't want to go back in education yet!)

"To get a place on a (postgrad) course you'll need a degree in a subject related to child development, such as psychology, teaching or social work, as well as at least two years direct experience of working with children in a developmental role."

www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/play-therapist

This website can be useful! As for A levels I would suggest psychology and child development (if her college offers it, I know many rarely do).

@bloodywhitecat that's great to know, thank you

@Snazzygoldfish oh that might interest her, I'll pass that info on, thanks!

@SisterSistine it's good to know that she would have the option of working within schools too, not just the medical setting

@bananastrawberry thanks for the links! I'll pass them on to dd

We've had involvement with play therapists and they have been amazing for my DD, the ones in hospital are fab too!

We also had support from Portage which might be worth looking up, they come to into the house and spend some time with children with extra needs who have qualified for the help. We had them in my DD's life for a year and I mean this when I say she would not be where she is now without the support and opportunities and play they gave her, as well as the advice they gave to me about how to help her best.

@sleepismysuperpower1 the level 3 course is equivalent to an a level.

Just want to say the play therapists in hospitals are amazing!!!!! Kept me sane when I was in with my DS for over a week. Just did fun things with the kids an they all loved him
Your DD has made a good career choice. Must be very rewarding ! Xx

@Hattie78 ah ok, she is fairly set on doing a levels so would she be able to do the course after?

@FlowerTink i'm glad they helped your dd, I will look into Portage as i think that would interest her x

@Sweetpeach3 I'm glad they helped you and your dc x

@sleepismysuperpower1 depending on availability then there would be no reason why not. There are different types of qualifications depending on the number of hours a week you spend doing the course. The reason I mentioned the level 3 is because you can do it alongside a levels which is what many of my students do (I teach HSC btw).

@Hattie78 brilliant, thank you so much!