Enhancing emotional and psychological safety within TPCH Paediatric Emergency department - the introduction of a Child Life Therapist

Strategies that successfully mitigate the potential stress for children and families in the ED through the use of developmentally appropriate approaches are an essential element of holistic high-quality care. Child life therapy aims to combine the biomedical model of care with the developmentally tailored, individualised, play-based psychosocial model of care, to minimise the negative impact of potentially painful and anxiety-provoking healthcare procedures. The Child Life Therapist (CLT) role was introduced as a pilot project at The Prince Charles Hospital (TPCH) Children's Emergency Department (CED) in July 2022 to integrate a developmentally sensitive play-based approach to the clinical care of paediatric patients from infants to 16 years of age. The aim was to facilitate inclusive opportunities for ALL children to play, learn and participate in their health care. While the project is still in its early stage, positive outcomes have been highlighted by the service users. Feedback from the multidisciplinary team highlighted the contribution of the CLT in supporting clinical efficiency and patient flow.