• Job Description

  Req#: C9176-25-0337?language=en&page=384&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  Transform Hospital Stays for Children - Join Our Dedicated Play Team!

  Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of children during their hospital journey? Do you have the skills and enthusiasm to create a positive, playful environment that supports emotional and physical recovery? If so, we want you to join our expandingPlay Team at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust!

  About Us

  Our Play Service is integral to the holistic care we provide for children and young people aged 0-17 years across two sites. We strive to create an environment where play is not just an activity but a vital component of healthcare, supporting developmental, therapeutic and recovery needs.

  With recent developments in our Trust, we are placing an even stronger emphasis on play as an essential part of a child's care journey.

  Why Join Us?

  • Be part of a passionate team that puts children's well-being at the heart of everything we do.
  • Work in an environment where your skills are valued and your contributions make a real impact.
  • Help shape the future of play as an essential part of care within our Trust.

  Apply Now!

  If you're ready to bring your skills and passion for play to our team, we'd love to hear from you. Make a difference in a child's hospital journey--apply today!

  Together, we can transform care through play.

  Main duties of the job

  The Opportunity

  We are looking for enthusiastic and registered Healthcare Play Specialists to join our team. You'll play a pivotal role in using evidence-based practice to assess, plan, and deliver therapeutic play interventions tailored to individual needs.

  What We're Looking For

  • A Healthcare Play Specialism qualification (Foundation Degree or equivalent).
  • Registration as a Healthcare Play Specialist.
  • Proven experience working with children in a healthcare setting.
  • Strong communication, time management, and leadership skills.
  • Ability to work both independently and as part of a team across sites

  What You'll Bring

  Your creativity, compassion, and expertise will help bridge the gap between hospital and home, creating a positive and memorable experience for children and their families.

  As a qualified and registered Play Specialist, you will:

  • Work collaboratively within the Play Team and the wider multidisciplinary team.
  • Use therapeutic and developmental play techniques to meet the emotional, physical, and social needs of children and young people.
  • Support families in engaging with their child's play and recovery journey.
  • Facilitate distraction and preparation techniques for invasive or painful procedures.
  • Develop individual play programs for long-term or specific needs patients.
  • Act as an advocate for the importance of play within the hospital setting, showcasing its value to the wider healthcare team.

  About us

  Priority will be given to colleagues identified as at risk through the Trust's redeployment process.

  Details

  Date posted

  15 July 2025

  Pay scheme

  Agenda for change

  Band

  Band 4

  Salary

  £27,485 to £30,162 a year pa pro rata

  Contract

  Permanent

  Working pattern

  Full-time, Part-time

  Reference number

  176-F-7238022-A

  Job locations

  Peterborough City Hospital

  Bretton Gate

  Peterborough

  PE3 9GZ

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  Please refer to the attached job description for a comprehensive list of duties, responsibilities, and expectations.

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  Please refer to the attached job description for a comprehensive list of duties, responsibilities, and expectations.

  Person Specification

  Education/Knowledge and Qualifications

  Essential

  • Registered & qualified Health Play Specialist holding the Foundation Degree in Healthcare Play Specialism, Edexcel /BTEC in specialised play for sick child or the previous HPSC/HPSEB or international equivalent
  • Knowledge of recent, relevant health policy & guidance and NAHPS Guidelines for Professional Practice
  • Knowledge of professional and ethical issues including professional boundaries, clinical governance and safeguarding children policies and practice
  • Knowledge and understanding of therapeutic play and child development

  Experience

  Essential

  • Experience of working with children and/or young people and their families in a health care setting
  • Experience of effective working as a team member within an MDT
  • Experience of working with children and/or young people with special needs including those with neurodiversity or challenging behaviours
  • Experience leading play/recreation activities for babies, children and/or young people

  Skills and Abilities

  Essential

  • Up to date registration with HPSET

  Person Specification

  Education/Knowledge and Qualifications

  Essential

  • Registered & qualified Health Play Specialist holding the Foundation Degree in Healthcare Play Specialism, Edexcel /BTEC in specialised play for sick child or the previous HPSC/HPSEB or international equivalent
  • Knowledge of recent, relevant health policy & guidance and NAHPS Guidelines for Professional Practice
  • Knowledge of professional and ethical issues including professional boundaries, clinical governance and safeguarding children policies and practice
  • Knowledge and understanding of therapeutic play and child development

  Experience

  Essential

  • Experience of working with children and/or young people and their families in a health care setting
  • Experience of effective working as a team member within an MDT
  • Experience of working with children and/or young people with special needs including those with neurodiversity or challenging behaviours
  • Experience leading play/recreation activities for babies, children and/or young people

  Skills and Abilities

  Essential

  • Up to date registration with HPSET

  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.

  UK Registration

  Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

  Additional information

  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.

  UK Registration

  Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

  Employer details

  Employer name

  North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust

  Address

  Peterborough City Hospital

  Bretton Gate

  Peterborough

  PE3 9GZ

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.nwangliaft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

  Employer details

  Employer name

  North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust

  Address

  Peterborough City Hospital

  Bretton Gate

  Peterborough

  PE3 9GZ

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.nwangliaft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

• About the company

  National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.

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