Health Play Specialist

Hywel Dda University Health Board; Carmarthen; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 31,000; Part time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare institution in Carmarthen is seeking a passionate individual for a therapeutic play specialist role. You will provide individualized therapeutic play interventions to support the emotional and developmental needs of children and young people in healthcare settings. Your responsibilities include collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and promoting the importance of play in recovery. The position requires a background in healthcare play specialization and offers a part-time schedule with competitive pay.

Qualifications

• Registered Health Play Specialist with Society of Health Play Specialists.
• Experience in working with children with complex medical needs.
• Knowledge of safeguarding issues and child development.

Responsibilities

• Provide therapeutic play support to children in healthcare settings.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.
• Organize fundraising events for play services.

Skills

Therapeutic play interventions

Team collaboration

Child development knowledge

Education

FdA Healthcare Play Specialism

Registered Health Play Specialist

Basic Secondary Education (GCSE)

Job description

Utilise clinical skills, experience and knowledge to assess patient needs allowing for appropriate prioritisation of therapeutic playpreparation, distraction, and emotional support for babies, children and young people (BCYP), seeking advice from manager when necessary.

Provide developmental, therapeutic and specialised play techniques creating individual play programmes for all ages and diversities in an effort to fulfil emotional, social and developmental needs and help alleviate emotional trauma within families.

Support the development and management of systems to ensure smooth transition of care for BCYP from one area of the hospital to another, and from other health settings/community care providing age-appropriate information about the patient's care and treatment.

Actively contribute to elements of projects and health board events as delegated, whilst ensuring time is managed effectively to maintain clinical responsibilities.

Help to organise and participate in fund raising events.

Participate in the development and promotion of therapeutic play services throughout Hywel Dda and more widely.

Main duties of the job

We are looking to appoint a dynamic, innovative and passionate individual who has the ability to both work in partnership with our families and colleagues.

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

Providing a comprehensive programme of therapeutic play interventions through one to one sessions or group work.

Providing specific therapeutic play and support to children and young people in health care settings

Providing expertise underpinned by theory, education and training in therapeutic play to members of the Multi-Disciplinary Health, Social Care team and third sector agencies.

Maintaining, developing, and evaluating the therapeutic, play service to create a service that remains fit for the future.

The ability to travel between sites in a timely manner is essential as this post will cover three counties. The post will be based in the Children's Centre, Glangwili General Hospital, Carmarthen.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Interviews will be held on 02/03/2026

About us

Hywel Dda University Health Board plans and provides NHS healthcare services for people living in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and bordering counties.

We have over 13,000 staff and together we provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services.

We work in partnership with the three local authorities, as well as public, private and third sector colleagues, including our valued team of volunteers.

Our services are provided in:

• Four main hospitals: Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth; Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen; Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli; and Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest
• Five community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery hospitals in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron Hospital in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire hospitals in Pembrokeshire
• Two integrated care centres: Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion, and several other community settings
• 47 general practices (six of which are health board managed practices); dental practices (including four orthodontic); 97 community pharmacies; 43 general ophthalmic practices; and 8 ophthalmic domiciliary providers
• Numerous mental health and learning disabilities services

Job responsibilities

Applications are welcome from students due to qualify in 2026. Appointment will be subject to successful completion of professional registration with Society of Health Play Specialists which must be confirmed as part of preemployment checks. The successful candidate will not be able to commence in post until registration has been obtained.

You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents.

The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.

The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Person Specification

Qualifications and knowledge

• FdA Healthcare Play Specialism, Edex / BTEC in Specialised play for the sick child (previous HPSC/ HPSEB), or international equivalent
• Registered Health Play Specialist with Society of Health Play Specialists (SoHPS)
• Knowledge and Understanding of the SoHPS Code of Professional Conduct and Professional Standards and its application in practice
• Knowledge and understanding of child development.
• Knowledge of the value of play for sick children and young people.
• Sound knowledge of safeguarding issues
• Demonstrable CPD in line with expectations of SoHPS registration
• Basic Secondary Education up to 5 GCSE level or beyond, including English and Math's (GCSE Grade A* - C)
• NVQ, CACHE, NNEB (Level 3) in Child Care/Play Work or Diploma in Children and Young Peoples Workforce or Early Childhood Studies (BA) Training in counselling skills
• Sign Language

Experience

• Experience in working with children and young people with complex, medical and psychological needs, in health, social care or educational setting
• Documented evidence of continuing professional development.
• Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team
• Welsh speaker (Level 1)

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.

The Children's Centre, Glangwili General Hospital

£27,898 to £30,615 a yearper annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

100-ACS024-0226

Job locations

The Children's Centre, Glangwili General Hospital