Play Specialist

Overview

Go back Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 19 February 2026

The post holder will be one of a team of play specialists.

You will work to ensure high quality play provision for patients and siblings. Prepare the child and family for treatments and procedures.

Facilitate emotional support and help to establish coping strategies.

The post will be predominantly in the children's unit, but also you may be required in other areas of the hospital where children are cared for.

Main duties of the job

A Play Specialist's main duties include providing therapeutic and developmental play to help children cope with illness and hospitalisation, preparing them for medical procedures through age-appropriate explanations and play techniques, and supporting their emotional well-being by reducing anxiety and distress. They also work to maintain cognitive, social, and physical development during hospital stays, collaborate with families and healthcare teams to improve communication and involvement, and advocate for the child's needs to ensure a positive, child-centered care experience.

About us

Our STAR values - Service, Teamwork, Ambition and Respect - are a golden thread running through everything we do. These values serve as a guiding principle, driving us towards our vision of delivering great joined up services to our local community. Whether at home, in the community, or within the hospital, our goal is to empower individuals to lead independent and healthier lives.

Job responsibilities

1. To act as an advocate for the child and family
2. Encourage and support parents to participate in play with their children
3. To provide preparation for children undergoing treatment and medical procedures
4. Explain reasons for treatment or the nature of the illness on a level that the child can understand
5. Ensure that information given to the child/family is consistent and presented in a professional manner
6. Educate and empower parents as necessary on the benefits of play and how to facilitate appropriate play to enhance the childs development and recovery
7. To work in conjunction with the Play Specialist team and Co-ordinator to develop the provision of play
8. To apply evidence-based practice to areas of your work
9. To use knowledge to select and apply appropriate techniques to facilitate children and young people to overcome difficulties with hospital admission and procedures
10. Assess, plan and implement play programmes for a varied client group
11. Select monitor and advise on play resources required to reflect the need of the client group
12. To provide emotional support for families when in crisis or under stress
13. To establish and maintain effective communication both verbal and written with all members of the multidisciplinary team throughout the hospital
14. To ensure all toys, play equipment and facilities are clean and safe, maintained to comply with Trust policies, and stored safely.
15. To attend clinics as requested to prepare the child psychologically for procedures and provide distraction therapy
16. Provide teaching sessions to other staff and students as required to promote an awareness of the therapeutic benefits of play and the effects of hospitalisation
17. Through play provide support to assist children in understanding and coping with serious illness, disability or death.
18. To demonstrate and apply knowledge of the effects of hospitalisation and illness on the child/family
19. To review and reflect on your own practice and attend an annual appraisal.
20. Recognise and respond appropriately to emergency situations
21. To provide supervision and support to junior team members

Person Specification Qualifications

• Professional Childcare Qualification level 3 or equivalent with a commitment to train as HPSET Play Specialist
• HPSET Qualified Hospital Play Specialist or 2nd year Trainee Hospital Play Specialist

Experience

• Evidence of personal or professional development
• Understanding of family centred care and able to deliver play in a holistic child/family focused manner
• Knowledge and understanding of confidentiality
• Understands the importance of child protection and safeguarding children
• Experienced at working in a hospital setting with children and families

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

£27,485 to £30,162 a year per annum pro rata