The project is being implemented with the support of UNICEF Ukraine and with financial support from the Government of Norway.
Implemented by: Partner:
PLAY THERAPY IN HOSPITAL SETTING
Promote care through creative and musical expression
Dr Lucia Celesti
Responsible Public Relation Office and Accoglienza UOC
Medical Direction
Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital
Italy, EU
Part 1 General background and reference context
Part 2 Play as a right and therapy
Part 3 Specific activities
WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT PLAYING?
Because
• The hospital is an environment filled of anxiety , fear and separation feelings
• Play represents for the child a way to adapt and build resilience
• It is a universal language that restores normality and continuity to daily life
The education Value of Play
• Play supports cognitive , emotional and social development
• It allows children to express emotions that are hard to put into words
• Play can help the child make sense of the hospital experience
The world around the Child
Hospital Professionals
Medical Doctors/Surgeons
Nurses
Technicians
Psychologists
Counselors
Social workers
Professional Educators and
Play workers
Administrative personnel
Additional Support Staff
Volunteers
Clowns
Art Therapist, other therapeutic staff
Parents associations
Parents and families
Child Life Specialist main professional roles
• A. Preparation of children for medical procedures or treatment using a language that children understand
• B. Introduce coping strategies to help reduce children’s anxiety and enhance their cooperation with health care team
• C. Provide support and distraction during medical procedures
• D. Offering opportunities for play and expressive activities, to encourage normal development and a sense of fun during challenging circumstances
• E. Promote family-centered care by providing information, advocacy and support to families of pediatric patients
International Summit on Pediatric Psychosocial Services
Importance and role of other professions in providing pediatric psychosocial care
New Orleans, Louisiana, May 25, 2014
Lucia Celesti, Italy, European Union
Bambino Ges˘ Pediatric Hospital
Development goals for CL program in Italy
• EPC role Professionalization
• International consensus program
• Master in CLP in Italy
• Specific education requirements
Professionalization
International consensus Master
The Professional/Health Educator (EP) in Italy
Strengths
• 1997: a Ministerial Degree establishes the role of the ‘’ community Professional Educator and Health Educator (PE)’’ as a University degrees
• Many Universities in Italy offer a 4 years bachelor degree programs generally in Medicine and Surgery Faculty. The educator must have specific Pedagogical, Sociological, and Anthropological skills.
Examination subjects in general are: Psychology, Sociology, Neuroscience, Law, Languages, Techniques of professional activities and experiential laboratory .
Challenges
• Each program offers a different experience. It is a very broad and general field of study that gives access to many different professions such as: community educator, kindergarden teacher , ….
• There is NO obligation and NO economic convenience for Hospitals to employ Professional Educators in any positionand many regions, especially in the North, organize regional courses – some are set
The Community Professional Educator, as part of a treatment plan developed by a multidisciplinary team:
• organizes, manages and checks educational interventions aimed at the recovery and development of the potential of disabled pupils to achieve higher levels of autonomy
• promotes and organizes social and health facilities and resources in order to achieve educational integrated plans
• Oversees professional activities in a coordinated and integrated way , with the direct involvement of stakeholders and their families
• Works on families and on the social context of patients, in order to facilitate the reintegration into the community
• Consistent study, research and documentation is required .
Child life’s professional framework in Italy
Professions training in psychosocial care
Support during procedures
Other professions tasks in psychosocial care
Strengths Challenges
Medical Doctors/Surgeons
Knowledge of illness
Lack of specific training
No time
Pride
Limited time
Nurses
Technicians
Excellent specific training
High workload
Involved in procedures
Limited time
High workload
Involved in procedures
Psychologists
Counselors
Social workers
Play workers
Good specific training
Low number
Good specific training ?
Low number
Knowledge of Law ?
Low number
Personal feeling and approach
Not trained ?
Administrative personnel ? ?
Voluntary and other
personnel
Personal feeling and approach
Not trained
Working on integration
A model for cooperation
Volunteers
Patient
Counselor Administr ative
Psychologist
A model for cooperation
A model for cooperation
OPBG Family Services model
OPBG Family Services
President
Medical
Direction
Family Services
• Psychologist
• Social Workers
• Counselors
• Administrative Personnel
• Professional Educators
Play Workers
Every specialist in the Hospital MUST be able to play his professional role and play with children at the same time
Vite che aiutano la Vita
Il presente documento Ë stato elaborato in n.xx slide da Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Ges˘ il xxxxxx.
I contenuti sono strettamente riservati; Ë vietata la riproduzione e la divulgazione, anche solo parziale, senza il benestare scritto di Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Ges˘.
Grazie!