Health Play Specialist

Imperial College Healthcare Nhs Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust is seeking a dedicated Play Specialist to join the central London children’s department. You will introduce play as a communication tool and deliver tailored interventions for babies to teens, while collaborating with families and the multi-disciplinary team to support care plans.

Join a supportive, dedicated team within a specialist hospital and London trauma hub, offering opportunities to develop across oncology/haematology, transplant, and other

Qualifications

• Foundation degree in Healthcare Play Specialism is required.
• Edexel/Hospital Play Specialism certificate or overseas equivalent.
• Current HPSET registration or overseas equivalent.
• CPD portfolio up to date and documented.

Responsibilities

• Introduce play as a tool to communicate and support BCYP (babies, children and young people).
• Assess, plan and deliver specialised play interventions.
• Build partnerships with families and siblings.
• Contribute to multi-professional team care.
• Support team referrals.
• Document play input.
• Share important information with other professionals.
• Create a welcoming, safe and age-appropriate environment for BCYP.

Skills

Stress recognition

Workload prioritisation

Diplomatic communication

MDT relationships

Education

Foundation degree

Hospital Play Certificate

HPSET registration

CPD portfolio

Job description

Job summary

Come and join us in a bustling central London children's department, with lots of opportunity to grow as a qualified play specialist. Some shifts will be faster paced and others will focus on longer term input with patients and families. Each day is unique!

Key Highlights

• Use your skills to offer specialised play from birth to teens.
• Your input matters - be part of exciting developments for our babies, children and young people (BCYP), including those with additional needs.
• Help families to celebrate key events and milestones.
• Be part of a friendly, thriving team of play specialists, play workers and volunteers.
• Come and enjoy a central and accessible location.
• Children's health and wellbeing is at our core and your contribution will make a real impact within a team who value play.

Why join us?

• We are specialist hospital and London trauma hub.
• There's variety to grow within your role - our many specialities include oncology/haematology, transplant, children's intensive care, diabetes, allergy, among others.
• It's a rewarding place to work, alongside an amazing team of professionals.
• Strong support from within the team and charity partners.

Main duties of the job

• Introducing play as a tool to communicate and support BCYP (babies, children and young people).
• Assess, plan and deliver specialised play interventions.
• Building partnerships with families and siblings.
• Contributing to multi professional team care.
• Supporting team referrals.
• Documenting play input.
• Sharing important information with other professionals.
• Creating a welcoming, safe and age-appropriate environment for all BCYP.

About us

At Imperial College Healthcare you can achieve extraordinary things with extraordinary people, working with leading clinicians pushing boundaries in patient care.

Become part of a vibrant team living our values - expert, kind, collaborative and aspirational. You'll get an experience like no other and will fast forward your career.

Benefits include career development, flexible working and wellbeing, staff recognition scheme. Make use of optional benefits including Cycle to Work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities.

We are committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and will consider applications to work flexibly, part time or job share. Please talk to us at interview.

Details

Closing date: 10 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 4
Salary: £34,186 to £37,389 a year pa inclusive
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 290-WLCH-48

Essential Education and Qualifications

• Foundation degree in Healthcare Play Specialism
• Edexcel Certificate in Hospital Play Specialism or HPSC/HPSEB or overseas equivalent
• Current registration with HPSET or overseas equivalent.
• Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development (up to date professional portfolio)

Desirable Education and Qualifications

• Additional training relevant to role
• Communication strategies e.g Makaton

Essential Experience and Knowledge

• General and current working knowledge of children's legislation
• Good foundation of clinical experience with a wide range of children and families in the hospital setting and/or community.
• Experience with children with additional needs - such as challenging behaviour, neurodiversity disabilities and multiple health needs
• Specialist knowledge and application of therapeutic assessments and interventions relevant to patient group and treatment plan

Desirable Experience and Knowledge

• Experience of audit procedures.
• Experience and confidence working with adolescents
• Experience working with a multi-professional team

Essential Skills and Abilities

• Ability to recognise stress in self and others and take appropriate action.
• Ability to motivate and prioritise workload for self and others in the team
• Ability to use a diplomatic approach with both practice and management issues.
• Ability to build effective working relationships at MDT levels.

Desirable Skills and Abilities

• Ability to contribute to teaching programmes for students and affiliated staff about the profession
• Ability to apply and evaluate independent projects within the workplace

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. Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Applicants must have current UK professional registration.