FdSc Health Care Play Specialism Foundation degree at Southampton Solent University

The syllabus for this module will reflect the developmental journey that underpins the world of direct practice within the Health Play Specialist environment. This module will directly draw upon your practice experiences through Work-Based Learning: subject to an agreed contract of learning. This contract will recognise, encourage, and embrace the true potential of your professional aspirations at this stage in your development.

You will learn from this module skills in investigating therapeutic play and recreation in healthcare. This will include investigating the appropriateness of different activities and resources used in play and recreation. To enable this, you will develop study skills relating to Information gathering, locating sources of evidence, and critically evaluating evidence.

The module will provide you with a theoretical perspective on play and recreation. It will explore the historical development of play and recreation within hospitals and the valuable role of therapeutic play and recreation in healthcare settings. You will learn how therapeutic play can be used to help children understand their illness better and how you can help prepare them for treatment. You will also explore the right of the child to play for its own sake and how to provide an environment con

Students on this module will acquire theoretical knowledge of the relevant policy, guidelines, legislation and codes of conduct necessary for effective practice in the provision of therapeutic and recreational play as a healthcare play specialist.

In this module you will get the opportunity to learn about the stages of child development with a focus on cognitive development, psycho-social and emotional theories, mental health, and the interaction between the environment and a child's development.

In this module, you will learn about what leadership means in the HPS role, to prepare you for practice in the provision of therapeutic and recreational play. You will learn to think as a leader, integrating this with other aspects of your practice. Topics covered in the module will include, management theory and models, organisational structures and culture. Leadership styles and how to manage change. Effective communication and information management. How to facilitate decision making and prob

Through this module you will develop a theoretical understanding of the experience of healthcare for children and young people, the importance of resilience in healthcare settings and the factors that affect resilience. You will explore emotional wellbeing and how using play will enhance emotional wellbeing, emotional intelligence and providing emotional and psychosocial support.

During this module you will explore key themes such as how children are socialised and how social influences impact upon them. You will consider how childhood has been constructed, how this has changed over time, and how it differs across cultures. We will also look at the extent to which children and young people are protected or allowed independence. How government interventions are targeted to address societal issues affecting children including poverty and deprivation as well as the provisio

This module will cover basic concepts of anatomy, physiology and common interventions used in the management of a variety of childhood and adolescent conditions. You will study the broader concepts of health and wellbeing and the importance of health promotion and adopting healthy lifestyles.

This module will draw directly upon your practice experiences through Work-Based Learning: and will be subject to a new, agreed contract of learning. This contract will extend opportunities for you to engage with the "macro" impact of your increasingly sophisticated professional role.