Health Play Specialist-Paediatrics

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust; Aylesbury; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Learning and development opportunities

Flexible working options

Generous annual leave

NHS pension

Discount schemes

Health and wellbeing services

Job summary

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust in Aylesbury is seeking a Play Specialist for the Children's inpatient ward and outpatient area. You will plan, initiate and supervise play activities, using knowledge of child development to meet social, emotional and developmental needs while ensuring a safe environment.

The role requires a Hospital Play Specialist Diploma or equivalent, with a minimum of two years' experience with children, and the ability to work within a multi-disciplinary

Qualifications

• B.T.E.C. Hospital Play Specialist Diploma or equivalent.
• Membership of a professional body (NAPHPS or CLC) desirable.
• Child protection training and related safeguarding knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Assess and implement play strategies for children and families within hospital settings.
• Apply understanding of hospitalisation effects and provide MDT training and advice.
• Carry out one-to-one or group play activities with children and families.
• Observe anxiety signs and liaise with paediatric nursing team accordingly.
• Create a child-friendly environment and maintain safe, age-appropriate play equipment.

Skills

Health and safety

Distraction techniques

Child development knowledge

Effective communication

Team collaboration

Education

Hospital Play Specialist Diploma

Professional body membership

Child Protection training

Job description

Main area Paediatrics Grade Band 5 Contract Permanent Hours

• Full time
• Part time

37.5 hours per week (flexibility from 0730-1700 around patient need) Job ref 434-SCS8134205-B

Site Stoke Mandeville Hospital Town Aylesbury Salary £32,073 - £39,043 per annum pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 04/11/2026 23:59

Be part of our BHT family

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (BHT) is an integrated provider of acute hospital and community services for people living in Buckinghamshire and the surrounding area.

We care for over half a million patients every year:

• Provide specialist spinal services at our world renowned National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, the birthplace of the Paralympics
• Nationally recognised for urology and skin cancer services
• Regional specialist centre for burns, plastic surgery, dermatology, stroke and cardiac services
• Deliver community services in health centres, schools, patients’ own homes, community hospitals and community hubs.

More than 6,500 people from different nations, cultures and backgrounds work for us.

We would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options. We strive to be a family friendly, inclusive employer.

We pride ourselves in being a great place to work and invite you to join our BHT family.

Job overview

As the play specialist, you will help to provide high quality, holistic play service for all children, young people and their families within the Children's inpatient ward and outpatient area, enabling them to feel safe and at ease within the hospital environment. Use play as a tool to communicate and build a rapport with children and young people whilst attending hospital which in turn will create a positive environment and patient journey. You will provide interesting and stimulating play for children, young people and their families and highlight the importance of play in assisting an atraumatic experience and aiding distraction to all health professionals and students. You will use your knowledge of child development; plan, initiate and supervise play activities for children in hospital, appropriate to their age, development, medical condition and background, in order to meet their social, emotional and developmental play needs.

Main duties of the job

To manage and be responsible for the assessment, implementation and the evaluation of play strategies which encompass the developmental and emotional needs of the children and their families and or carers within the hospital environment.

To apply a high level of understanding of the psychological effects of hospitalisation and long - term chronic illness, providing training and advice to members of the multi-disciplinary team

To carry out play activities on a one -to- one basis with a child and/or a group of children and their families and or carers

To observe for the signs of anxiety in children at all times, and if necessary, report to paediatric nursing team.

To create an attractive child orientated environment that encourages play, and helps parents/carers and members of staff to participate in these activities

To be responsible for ensuring that a whole range of toys and equipment is available for clinic use, being age appropriate whilst also maintaining safety and hygiene standards.

To have a working knowledge and be able to carry out diversionary techniques as is appropriate for the child and procedure

What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?

• As part of our BHT family, you’ll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.
• We offer flexible and agile workingopportunities,alongside your NHS benefits ofgenerous annual leave entitlement, pension andaccess toNHS discount schemes.
• We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.

Why work for us?

• We’re committed to promoting inclusion and making sure all colleagues feel they belong. We encourage new colleagues from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply.
• As an employer, we aim to create a workplace where differences are valued and colleagues treat one another with dignity and respect.
• Greater diversity withinourBHT familyimprovespositive outcomes for the people and communities we serve.
• A keen supporter of the Armed Forces Community who know the value of employing a service leaver/veteran and their families.

What do we stand for?

• Our vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.
• Our mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.
• Our care values are collaborate, aspire, respect and enable.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For a comprehensive list of responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to the Job Description and Person Specification by downloading the JD and PS attachment in the advert.

If you are an internal applicant there is the option for secondment, all applicants must have the endorsement/support of their line manager prior to application.

Education, Qualifications & Training

• B.T.E.C. Hospital Play Specialist Diploma or equivalent.
• Additional training relevant to role
• Membership of Professional Body (NAPHPS or CLC)
• Child Protection training
• Other relevant child care training

Special Circumstances

• Able to work shift patterns which support the provision of a full play service

Experience

• Minimum of two years recent and relevant experience working with children or young people.

Skills, Abilities & Knowledge

• Sound knowledge of health & safety issues in relation to maintaining a safe environment for children.
• Sound knowledge of play and distraction techniques appropriate to children in hospital
• Sound knowledge of children’s development and needs
• Ability to communicate effectively and clearly with all members of multi-disciplinary team and children of all ages and their families in English.
• Ability to function effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Ability to communicate effectively and clearly with all members of multi-disciplinary team and children of all ages and their families in English.
• Ability to function effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Ability to write legible, accurate and concise reports in English.
• Ability to supervise students.
• Organised, punctual, self- motivated and positive approach to work.
• Ability to teach others
• Sound knowledge of child protection responsibilities and procedures.

PPE requirements: Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust requires all colleagues to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with our infection prevention and control procedures.

Flu vaccinations remain the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the viruses when working in our healthcare settings. We encourage our staff to be vaccinated when recommended.

Application deadline: This post will close on the closing date stated at midnight, however if we receive a large number of applications or there is a change in circumstance, we may be required to close a job before the advertised date.

Contacting you: We will contact candidates through the email address supplied on their application form. Please make sure you check this regularly.

Application information: If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records (ESR) system.

Shortlisting: The monitoring and safeguarding sections are not made visible to the shortlisting panel. The safeguarding section may be made visible to the interview panel, dependent on the role being recruited into.

Travel expenses: It is Trust policy that travel expenses for interviews will not be reimbursed.

Smoking: All Trust sites are NO SMOKING. Smoking in all areas of the buildings and premises is prohibited.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.