October 2024
What is your current role?
I am a health play assistant at Evelina London and have just completed my first year in the role in the hospital's therapeutic play service. Children and young people can get scared or anxious waiting to be seen or to have a procedure and we can help. I provide what's known as normalising play for children, young people and their families. This might involve preparing activities for children and young people while they wait for their procedure or are waiting be seen by a medical team. These activities can put them at ease.
Could you describe your career journey?
My career journey has been very varied. It started with me training to be a fitness instructor and while doing that I had the chance to do volunteering work raising money for children with sickle cell and blind children. I enjoyed it so much that I just wanted to work with young people.
Once I’d finished my college course, I applied for a job as a play worker at a primary school while also working at an adventure playground to gain some experience. I did both of these roles for about 10 years. I worked as a volunteer youth worker for over 2 years, then moved on to be a teaching assistant at a primary school. I worked there for around 8 years supporting children aged 4 to 11 with 1 to 1 sessions and on school trips. I worked as a learning support assistant at a special educational needs school for secondary age pupils for over 7 years. I also have experience working at residential homes and providing outreach support to young people.
When I was told about a health play assistant role in Evelina London Children’s Hospital I was intrigued, because I did not know what this role in the hospital was and how they engaged with children and their families. It sounded like a role I would enjoy doing because I wanted to do something different, while still working with children and making a difference to their lives.
Tell us about a typical day
Every day is different, and can vary from therapeutic play, organising and facilitating activities, interacting with young people and their families before and after their procedure, talking and listening to young people and their families and supporting my colleagues.
What's the best thing about your job?
The best thing about my job is meeting all the lovely patients and their families, interacting and supporting them while they are on the ward. Working alongside an amazing team, seeing patients overcome their fear of procedures and needles from the help of the play team and to see relief and happiness on the patients' and their families' faces when they are allowed to go home after their time in the hospital
What is your proudest moment?
There are so many proud moments I could share, from my career journey to where I am right now and still enjoying what I do for young people and their families. I am immensely proud of the work that I do here at Evelina London. Spending time playing and setting up activities for our young patients, their siblings and involving families. I am so proud when I am able to help make children smile and feel relaxed and comfortable despite what they are going through. It brings me so much joy when families are so grateful for my assistance and time. This make me feel proud to work in a place that supports patient and their families.
Tell us one fun fact about your job
I really enjoy doing things that help others have fun. Such as, planning patients' birthdays, taking them out of their wards for activities on Evelina London's atrium, playing different games, talking and listening and also learning new things from them. I love to cater for each child, as well as gathering resources for patients and showcasing their artwork on the atrium.
Watch 'The power of play' on YouTube to find out more about how our play team help children in hospital.
Thank you to the children and young people who have so brilliantly illustrated our blog pages.