Hospital Play Specialist

University Hospital Southampton NHS FT; Southampton; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust in Southampton is inviting applications for a Hospital Play Specialist. You will create positive, child-centred experiences across the children’s hospital, supporting procedures and easing anxiety through therapeutic play.

Working with a multidisciplinary team, you’ll mentor colleagues, develop play programmes, and help families navigate hospital journeys with warmth, imagination, and confidence.

Qualifications

• Foundation Degree in Healthcare Play Specialism required.
• Registration with HPSET or NAHPS/SoHPS is required.
• Experience with therapeutic play interventions in hospital settings.
• Excellent written and spoken English and ability to support families.

Responsibilities

• Create a child-centred play environment in hospital.
• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapeutic play interventions.
• Promote emotional well-being of children within the multidisciplinary team.
• Plan individual therapy for invasive and non-invasive procedures.

Skills

Excellent communication

Therapeutic play interventions

Patient/family engagement

Planning and coordination

Education

Foundation Degree in Healthcare Play Specialism

Level 4 Diploma in Specialised Play for Children and Young People

Registration with HPSET/SoHPS/NAHPS

Job description

Job Overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Job Title: Hospital Play Specialist

Contract Type: Permanent

Main duties of the job

This is an exciting opportunity to join our team as a Hospital Play Specialist at UHS. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of children, young people and their families during their hospital journey.

In this role, you’ll be at the centre of creating positive, meaningful experiences for children across the entire children’s hospital. Working closely with our multidisciplinary team, you’ll use specialised play techniques to support children through procedures, reduce anxiety, and help them feel safe, understood and empowered.

You’ll bring warmth, imagination and confidence to every interaction — whether you’re leading engaging distraction activities during treatments, transforming clinical spaces into welcoming child‑friendly environments, or supporting families as they navigate challenging moments. Your ability to connect with children and young people of all ages will be key to helping them feel at ease and in control.

As a valued member of our team, you’ll also play an active role in mentoring and supporting colleagues, helping to shape a vibrant, collaborative and child‑centred play service.

If you’re enthusiastic, flexible, and committed to delivering exceptional care through therapeutic play, we’d love to hear from you. This is your chance to bring joy, comfort and creativity to children when they need it most — and to be part of a team that truly makes a difference.

Working for our organisation

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.

We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 30% lower than London and 17 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

In this role, your key responsibilities will include managing and maintaining a child focused environment where play occurs naturally.

To use theoretical knowledge and evidence based practice to assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapeutic play interventions in hospital and in the community.

To promote an awareness of the emotional needs of children in hospital and the importance of play, within the multi-disciplinary team.

To plan and implement individual therapeutic play programmes to include preparation for invasive and non-invasive procedures, distraction therapy and post procedural play.

Experience And Skills Needed

Registered & qualified Health Play Specialist holding the Foundation Degree in Health Care Play.

Registered with the Society of health Play Specialist (SoHPS) previously Healthcare Play Specialist Education Trust (HPSET) and National Association of Health Play Specialists (NAHPS).

Experience of working with children and/or young people and their families in a health care setting.

Qualifications, Knowledge And Experience

Essential criteria

• Foundation Degree in Healthcare Play Specialism or Level 4 Diploma in Specialised Play for Children and Young People/ Edexcel Certificate in Hospital Play Specialism or HPSC/HPSEB
• Registration with HPSET
• Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development (up to date professional portfolio)
• Experience of working with children and young people in a Hospital/ clinical setting including supporting students and delivering therapeutic play interventions
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to support families experiencing stress, crisis, or emotional distress.
• Demonstrates a high standard of written and spoken English and a commitment to professional standards and child-centred care.
• Knowledge of therapeutic assessments and interventions, cultural considerations in play provision, and relevant medical and surgical terminology.
• Ability to plan, coordinate and deliver therapeutic interventions for individuals and groups of children and young people.
• Sound knowledge of child development, therapeutic play, current best practice, health legislation, the Children Act, and NAHPS professional guidelines.
• Understanding of the impact of hospitalisation, treatment, chronic illness, and life-limiting conditions on children, young people, and their families.
• Ability to recognise and manage stress in self and others and work effectively in emotionally challenging situations.
• Ability to move and handle patients and equipment safely.

Desirable criteria

• Additional training relevant to role Membership of Professional Body (NAHPS or CLC)
• Experience of working with children and young people with long-term health conditions and their families.
• General knowledge of the principles and application of clinical governance
• Experience of working with children and young people with additional needs including those with challenging behaviours
• Ability to contribute to and implement teaching programmes for students and affiliated staff about the profession

Trust Values

Essential criteria

• Patient First
• Working Together
• Always Improving