Thank you to the Lister Hospital for a stunning and dynamic launch of the Society of Healthcare Play Specialists, Play in Healthcare Week 2024.
NAHPS launched Play in Hospital week in 1995 and each year they have set a theme which has been embraced by play teams with fun activities, educational events and sharing of our roles. We celebrated the work and success of Healthcare Play Teams throughout the four Nations. We have enjoyed your photographs published on our Facebook page. Please continue to send them to us and we will add them to the collection.
I am taking the opportunity this week to share and celebrate the work of the Society of Health Play Specialist. NAHPS and HPSET merged this year; this is a joyful statement and one that always brings a smile to my face. The merger was a challenging and complex set of tasks with many uncountable hours of research, questionnaires to complete and detailed discussions on the wording of the Deed of Trusts with the support of a company of solicitors.
Other numerous tasks have been completed, the closing of both charities, new bank accounts, the new website with our name and logo. The publication of new Standards with Steph and Lynn responsible for their development
We have ensured that the best practices of both organisations has been retained and new and challenging goals have been set for the short, medium and long term. We have established subgroups – which we will share the membership and work streams with you on Facebook and the Webpage over the next few weeks in more detail.
Governance & Finance – Lead Lynn Randall
The governance of the Society and its Charity Commission requirements are the responsibility of this group
Registration – Lead Tracy Sutherland
The registration group has been established for many years and this year has conducted a registrants survey and as a result changes to the audit profile.
Continual professional development – Lead Pen Hart-Spencer
A first successful conference in London in the summer and the well-being workshop in Leeds last week. The Hugh Jolly Memorial Lecture is next month with a workshop and evening lecture. We are also going to be working on a project to re-introduce snapshots of good practice to give guidelines to various procedures, all created Health Play Specialists.
Education & research and Innovation
This new group is working on the revalidation of the apprenticeship pathway and investigating and developing new pathways to registration
Workforce – Lead Irene O’Donnell
This group are working to ensure that the contributions to the Starlight/NHS England taskforce are delivered to the best of our abilities and that we provide strong and focused leadership. Irene O’Donnell, Norma Jun-Tai, Penelope Hart-Spencer, Margaret McEwan, Catherine Gardener, Lynn Randall, Steph Fairbain Julia Whittaker and I all attended the work streams, we are grateful to the 60+ registrants who also contributed their knowledge and skills.
Mentor training continues with the online mentor drop in sessions as it is essential that we provide as many training opportunities as we can to be able to provide professional robust and safe health play specialist to fill the gaps in provision.
Professional Standard Authority – Lead Tina Clegg
This new group has meetings with PSA representatives and is mapping out the tasks required for our application
A small band of 15 volunteers undertakes all these work streams with pride and enthusiasm; we are supported by Julia Whittaker, Registration Coordinator, Margret McEwan, Administrator and Tom Merriman, Webmaster.
Kind regards
Tina Clegg
Chair, The Society of Health Play Specialists