Health Play Specialist

NHS; Carshalton; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

The NHS is seeking a Health Play Specialist (Band 4) for a full-time position at St Helier Hospital. The role focuses on supporting children through therapeutic play in a healthcare setting. Ideal candidates will have relevant qualifications and experience working with children aged 0-18. The position offers both full-time and part-time options and contributes to the development of a critical Play service.

Qualifications

• Registered Health Play Specialist required.
• Experience with children aged 0-18 years is essential.
• Knowledge of hospitalisation effects on children and families.

Responsibilities

• Organize play activities for children preparing for clinical procedures.
• Support families in understanding hospital experiences through play.
• Implement and evaluate therapeutic play programmes.

Skills

Child development

Therapeutic play intervention

Understanding of child safeguarding processes

Ability to deal with conflict

Education

Foundation Degree in Healthcare Play Specialism

NNEB/NVQ Level 3

Tools

Word

Excel

Job description

Job summary

Health Play Specialist- Band 4

Full time and part time options are available

Would you like to work in a local district general hospital? Are you thinking of returning to practice as a HPS? Or considering a move into Health Play Specialism and would like the opportunity to start here and build on the Play service that is developing. Are you already newly qualified and looking for experience or still studying and wanting a step in the door to working within the NHS. If so, then this post is for you.

Main duties of the job

Full time and part time options are available

You will be working to organise play activities to help children prepare for clinical procedures , surgery and to work through their concerns and worries through a range of techniques suitable.

The work that you will be doing will be supported by a combination of evidence based practice and theoretical knowledge which will enable you to be able to plan, implement, review and evaluate therapeutic play programmes that support children (from birth) and young people emotionally and developmentally.

You will also be providing support to parents, carers and the wider family, including siblings, and will offer advice on how they can use play to help their children make sense of what's happening to them.

The Foundation degree in Healthcare Play Specialism, Edex /BTEC in Specialised play for the sick child or the previous HPSC/HPSEB, or international equivalent, is required for this post along with current registration with HPSET. Students currently undertaking the FdA Healthcare play specialism are welcome to apply or those working towards the registration.

About us

Welcome to Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust

Thank you for showing an interest in working with us at Epsom and St Helier - a family of more than 7,000 colleagues.

We are truly an integrated health and care Trust. In simple terms, that means that as well as the services we provide at our acute care hospitals (Epsom in Surrey and St Helier nearby in south west London) we work with local GPs, mental health services, community providers and local authorities, with the joint aim of preventing local people from becoming unwell, and when they do, that they receive the right care, in the right place, with the right support.

So, as well as great hospital care, together we offer an increasing range of services.Theseincludeadult community health, sexual health and children's therapies. Many of these community services are run by thepartnerships we host, Surrey Downs Health and Care and Sutton Health and Care.

Details Date posted

02 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£31,081 to £33,665 a year pa incl HCAS Outer pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

343-7094407-FM-NP-S

Job locations

St Helier Hospital

Wrythe Lane

Carshalton

SM5 1AA

Job description Job responsibilities

Please see the attached supporting Job description/Person Specification documents which contains more information about the role

Job description Job responsibilities

Please see the attached supporting Job description/Person Specification documents which contains more information about the role

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Registered and Qualified Health Play Specialist holding the Foundation Degree in Healthcare Play Specialism
• NNEB/NVQ Level 3 or equivalent training involving normal childcare development

Experience Essential

• Experience of working with children aged 0 -18 years and understanding their developmental process.
• Experience leading play / recreation activities for babies, children and young people
• Experience of working with children in a healthcare setting

Desirable

• Ability to deal with conflict in a professional manner.
• Supervisory Skills/ Mentoring students

Knowledge and Skills Essential

• Knowledge of child development and the ability to apply therapeutic play intervention for children
• Recognition of the effects of hospitalisation on the child and family
• Awareness of child safeguarding processes
• Knowledge of professional and ethical issues, including professional boundaries

Desirable

• Knowledge of current best practice in clinical area
• Basic competency of Word andExcel

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Registered and Qualified Health Play Specialist holding the Foundation Degree in Healthcare Play Specialism
• NNEB/NVQ Level 3 or equivalent training involving normal childcare development

Experience Essential

• Experience of working with children aged 0 -18 years and understanding their developmental process.
• Experience leading play / recreation activities for babies, children and young people
• Experience of working with children in a healthcare setting

Desirable

• Ability to deal with conflict in a professional manner.
• Supervisory Skills/ Mentoring students

Knowledge and Skills Essential

• Knowledge of child development and the ability to apply therapeutic play intervention for children
• Recognition of the effects of hospitalisation on the child and family
• Awareness of child safeguarding processes
• Knowledge of professional and ethical issues, including professional boundaries

Desirable

• Knowledge of current best practice in clinical area
• Basic competency of Word andExcel

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.

Employer details Employer name

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

St Helier Hospital

Wrythe Lane

Carshalton

SM5 1AA

Employer's website

https://www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk/work-for-us (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

St Helier Hospital

Wrythe Lane

Carshalton

SM5 1AA

Employer's website

https://www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk/work-for-us (Opens in a new tab)