(*) Paediatric Health Play Specialist

VerseOne Group; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a qualified Health Play Specialist to support babies, children and young people through therapeutic play within the Paediatric Department. The role involves planning, delivering and evaluating age-appropriate play programmes and promoting play within the multidisciplinary team.

The post holder will work flexibly across paediatric areas and contribute to service development and quality improvements, while maintaining professional registration.

Qualifications

• Experience working with babies, children and young people.
• BTEC or Equivalent in Hospital Play.
• SoHPS Registration.

Responsibilities

• Provide developmental, therapeutic and specialised play interventions for babies, children and young people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.
• Plan, deliver and evaluate engaging, age-appropriate play programmes for families and patients.
• Advocate for therapeutic play within the multidisciplinary team and with learners.
• Work flexibly across paediatric areas within the acute hospital and occasionally in other clinical areas.
• Contribute to Play Service projects, service development and quality improvement initiatives.

Skills

Experience with babies and children

Education

BTEC or Equivalent in Hospital Play

Tools

SoHPS Registration

Job description

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

(**) Paediatric Health Play Specialist

The closing date is 29 October 2026

The Health Play Specialist is a qualified professional with expert knowledge and experience of using play to support babies, children, and young people, both well and unwell. They are a fully integrated member of the multidisciplinary healthcare team and play a vital role in supporting children, young people, and their families throughout their healthcare journey.

The post holder will work as part of the Play Team within the Paediatric Department, while also working independently and using their own initiative, organisation, leadership, and time-management skills.

Main duties of the job

The Healthcare Play Specialist will provide developmental, therapeutic, and specialised play interventions for babies, children, and young people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. These interventions aim to meet emotional, social, and developmental needs, reduce anxiety, and help alleviate emotional trauma experienced by children, young people, and their families. The role supports positive coping and helps bridge the gap between hospital and home, contributing to a positive patient experience.

The post holder will plan, deliver, and evaluate engaging, age-appropriate, and stimulating play programmes for babies, children, young people, and their families. They will advocate for the importance and impact of therapeutic play and promote this within the multidisciplinary team, including students and learners.

The Health Play Specialist will work flexibly across all paediatric areas within the acute hospital and may occasionally be required to work in other clinical areas. They will also contribute to Play Service projects, service development, and quality improvement initiatives.

The post holder must be a registered and qualified Health Play Specialist, holding a Foundation Degree in Health Play Specialism (or equivalent) and maintaining professional registration in line with national standards.

About us

Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and well being of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

We aim to make the most of our skills and experiences so we can become the best we can be. As one organisation we will recruit the finest and retain more specialist staff due to more employment opportunities across our Trust.

Job responsibilities

Please be aware that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a suitable number of applications.

Unfortunately, there is no Visa Sponsorship available for this role. Whilst we are able to employ candidates on a graduate Visa, we are unable to offer sponsorship once the graduate visa expires. for some roles i.e. roles for band 2 to 4, inclusive.

Person Specification

Experience

• Experience working with babies, children and young people

Qualifications

• BTEC or Equivalent in Hospital Play

Registration

• SoHPS Registration

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.

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

£28,392 a yearPer Annum (Pro Rata for Part Time)