Foundation Degree Health Play Specialism

Ready for a rewarding career using play specialism to support sick children? This course will provide you with all of the knowledge needed to use play to aid with children’s cognitive understanding and to minimise trauma. Health play specialists can gain progressional registration with Hospital Play Staff Education Trust (HPSET).

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About this course

Blending theoretical knowledge, practical experience and reflective practice, our foundation degree will teach you to effectively use play as a therapeutic tool in hospitals, the community and home-based settings. Our extensive support and specialist mentoring will prepare you for a challenging yet rewarding career. You will gain a broad understanding of play and recreation as well as relevant policies. In addition, you will explore child development while learning how to enhance resilience in children and young people among other important topics relevant to this field of study.

This course is validated by Luminate Education Group

Fee

£3,975 (per academic year)

Location

University Centre

Start Date

September 2023

Duration

2 years

Course Code

72678-10

Study Mode

Part-time

What you learn

Modules may include:

Year 1 (Level 4)

Skills for Academic Study (20 credits)
Developmental Approaches to Play (20 credits)
Developing Professional Practice (Professional occupational standards) (40 credits)
Communication and Interpersonal Skills (20 credits)
Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Young People (20 credits)

Year 2 (Level 5)

Critical Reflection on Practice (Professional occupational standards) (40 credits)
Therapeutic Play Interventions (20 credits)
Ethical Working Practices in Healthcare (20 credits)
Work Based Project (20 credits)
Supporting Emotional Health and Wellbeing of the Sick Child (20 credits)

Benefits/ skills you will develop

This course supports the development of professional competencies in the field of therapeutic play for children and young people in hospital and community healthcare settings.

Successful completion of the programme leads to registration with the Healthcare Play Specialist Education Trust. (HPSET).

Some of the skills you will develop include:

Employability skills
Research skills
Reflection and critical thinking skills
Teamwork skills
Creativity

You will have developed academic writing skills and gained confidence in accessing and using evidence to support you as reflective practitioner. Develop skills of inclusive developmental play and professional competence in the field of therapeutic play and this will lead to successful registration as a HealthCare Play Specialist.

Assessment

Entry requirements

A typical offer would consist of:

BTEC/CACHE Level 3 Diploma: A full and relevant Level 3 qualification in childcare or health and social care. MP, MPP grade.

GCSE English: Minimum Grade C or equivalent

GCSE Maths: Minimum Grade C or equivalent

Work experience: Minimum of two years employment working with children, after gaining the level 3 qualification.

HPS registered mentor: Mentor must have HPS registration and have undertaken mentor training

Work placement: A work placement in a clinical setting must be arranged prior to commencing the course. This requirement will be discussed during the admissions process. Support and guidance are available from the course team and HPSET should it be required. HPSET has a directory of all registered health play specialists and will support pre-entry students to contact them to arrange potential placements.

DBS: Students will also be required to complete the Disclosure and Barring Service process (DBS) prior to commencement on placement. The department will cover the cost.

References: An appropriate reference required.

IELTS: IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any component.

International qualifications: International qualifications will be assessed against these criteria

Mature applicants: A full and relevant Level 3 qualification in childcare or health and social care, GCSE English or equivalent minimum grade C. Alongside the additional entry requirements stated below.

RPL claims: The course structure actively supports claims for Accreditation of Recognition of Prior Certified Learning (RPL).

What’s next

Programme Specification

Course Handbook

Leeds City College Regulations

Additional Costs

A fee will be required to register as a Healthcare Play Specialist with HPSET on successful completion of the course. New registrants do not have to pay a re-registration fee in the year following graduation because their first fee payment is covered by the £100 indexation fee which is paid at the start of the course. Thereafter, all registrants need to renew their registration annually by submitting the online renewal form and paying a fee of £30.00.

Please note students will need to hold a live enhanced DBS which may incur costs.