About the Role

We are looking for a candidate who is passionate about play and has experience with working with children with PMLD and complex needs. To provide therapeutic interventions to children from 0-18, through specialised mediums where needed, in both the hospice and community settings as part of the professional delivery of a paediatric palliative care service, facilitating meaningful sensory play and creating cherished memories.

The role will be based at the hospice and in the community.

Hours for the role are 18.75 hours. Applicants will be required to work flexibly, occasional weekend and evenings as and when required. 

Our new enhanced benefits package include:

• Holiday entitlement of 30 days (rising to 32 days with service) plus Bank Holidays (pro-rata to hours)
• The ability to continue an existing NHS pension or to enrol in our Group Personal Pension Scheme with an employer contribution of 5%
• Investment in your professional development with allocated time for training opportunities.
• Life assurance (death in service benefit)
• Wellbeing support and clinical supervision available both on site and through external providers
• Employee assistance program, which provides a range of free services including counselling, financial and legal support.
• Unlimited access to a 24/7 online GP as well as a range of other health experts
• Healthcare Cash Plan – claim back the cost for appointments and treatment such as dental, optical or physio
• Employee complementary therapy and yoga sessions offered regularly.
• Cycle to work scheme, discounted gym membership and shopping discounts
• Subsidised meals prepared onsite
• Free on-site secured parking. 

About You

We’re looking for an individual who can bring energy and enthusiasm to a fast-paced paediatric palliative care environment. You’ll be a team player who collaborates well with others but is also confident working independently and using your own initiative to deliver meaningful play and therapeutic interventions.

You’ll have experience supporting children and young people, ideally including those with complex medical needs, and hold a minimum of an NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent) qualification in a relevant discipline.

Strong organisational and communication skills are essential, enabling you to build trusted relationships with children and families. You’ll feel confident assessing play needs and adaptable in your approach of delivering focused therapeutic interventions to children across a wide range of abilities. A good working knowledge of different communication methods and an understanding of the additional developmental needs of children with complex conditions is vital. Experience of working in multi-sensory environments will also be key.

About us

Tŷ Hafan ambition is that when a child's life will be short, no family should have to live it on their own. Sadly, we know that thousands of families in Wales are struggling alone through fear, exhaustion and uncertainty that comes with caring for a child whose life will be short. We believe that no family should have to live this on their own and we are determined to walk alongside every family through life, death and beyond.

At Tŷ Hafan we are experts at caring for children with life-shortening conditions and our services support families in our hospice, in community settings, local hospitals and in families' homes. We understand that needs of each child and their family are unique, and we know that caring for a child with life-shortening condition is often extremely demanding. Our aim is to make sure that no one is doing this alone. Our colleagues, volunteers and supporter are crucial in the delivery of our ambition - we know that everyone plays a huge part in making sure that no family faces their child's short life alone.

Our Vision A Wales where every child with a life-shortening condition lives a fulfilling life, supported with the compassion and specialist care they and their family need.

Our Purpose No family should have to face the unimaginable loss of their child alone. With children and families at the heart, of all we do, at end of life, through bereavement and beyond.

Our Values Demonstrating compassion, Providing excellent service, Working together and Taking ownership.

At Tŷ Hafan our team is very supportive and inclusive, we value individual differences, and understand experience can come from many avenues, therefore it is not essential to have previous experience working in a palliative care environment. Palliative care is defined as the total care of individuals from diagnosis of a life-shortening condition, beyond transition into adult services, or in providing extensive bereavement support. It is important to remember that paediatric palliative care is so much more than just end of life care, Tŷ Hafan holds enhancing quality of life at its very core.

Further information

Please see the full job description and person specification or email [email protected].

Additionally, you are welcome to contact Heather Roberts, Senior Play Practitioner ([email protected]) or Lynne Phelps, Head of Family Wellbeing and Outreach Services ([email protected]) for an informal and confidential conversation.

Tips for candidates

All applications and interviews will be assessed using the person specification included within the job description.

Please note that our recruitment system will automatically time out after 120 minutes of inactivity. To ensure your application is submitted successfully, we recommend either saving your progress as you go or preparing your responses in a Word document and copying them into the application form. This will help you avoid losing any information in case of an unexpected timeout.

Additional Information

Successful applicants must be UK residents and we do not offer sponsorships at this time. You will be subject to the outcome of an enhanced DBS (Disclosure and baring service) check and two satisfactory references.

Tŷ Hafan is an equal opportunities employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all.