Play Specialist

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

Job summary

The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust invites applications for a Play Specialist to provide therapeutic play for children and young adults undergoing cancer treatment. This role involves planning and implementing play activities while collaborating with healthcare professionals to ensure a supportive environment.

Benefits

Dynamic working environment

Learning and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience supporting children and adolescents in a hospital setting.
• Understanding of cognitive development, religion, culture, and medical conditions.
• Ability to plan and implement engaging play activities.

Responsibilities

• Plan, deliver and evaluate play activities for children/adolescents.
• Support patients through therapeutic play interventions.
• Supervise play facilities appropriate to patients' needs.

Skills

Therapeutic play interventions

Education

Hospital Play Specialist Certificate

Health Play Specialist foundation degree

Job description

Job summary

This is an amazing opportunity to join the Royal Marsden Hospital's highly skilled and specialist Play Team. To provide a high quality and holistic play service for patients and their families in our care. To ensure all patients have appropriate access to the Play service whilst in hospital. Helping to create a welcoming environment for children and young adults undergoing cancer treatment such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

The candidate will have the exciting opportunity to support patients in all areas of the Oak Centre for Children and Young People. This will include the ward, Daycare, Outpatients and other departments within the hospital. We also support the young adult patients on the Teenage Cancer Trust ward. We work closely with the multi disciplinary team to provide patient care.

We are looking for an enthusiastic Play Specialist who can bring new ideas, experience and their skills to the play team.

This post is a 37.5 hour per week permanent position.

Main duties of the job

This post is part of the play team on The Oak Centre for Children and Young People at The Royal Marsden Hospital. The post holder will plan, deliver and evaluate play and activities for the children/adolescents on the unit.

About us

The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is a world-leading cancer centre. Our role is to offer our patients the best cancer care available anywhere in the world, and to continue to make a global contribution to finding better ways of diagnosing and treating cancer. We employ over 4,500 staff in a diverse range of careers including nursing, medical, science, radiography, pharmacy, occupational therapy, finance and administrative services. We have two hospitals - one in Chelsea, London, and one in Sutton, Surrey - as well as a Medical Daycare Unit in Kingston Hospital.

At The Royal Marsden, we deal with cancer every day, so we understand how valuable life is. When people entrust their lives to us, they have the right to demand the very best. That's why the pursuit of excellence lies at the heart of everything we do.

At the heart of the hospital is our dedicated team. We offer a stimulating and dynamic working environment, a wide range of staff benefits, learning and development opportunities and clear career pathways. There are opportunities to work flexibly across a range of areas and specialities and we welcome flexible working requests from point of hire to support employees work life balance. We are looking for employees who aspire to excellence, share our values and can play a crucial role in our on-going achievements.

Details Date posted

28 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£31,081 to £33,665 a year Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

282-C1246486-B

Job locations

Royal Marsden Hospital Sutton

Sutton

SM2 5PT

Job description Job responsibilities

For further information on this role, please see the attached detailed Job Description and Person Specification:

To apply theoretical knowledge and evidence based practice to assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapeutic play interventions.

Under the direction of the Senior Play specialist, to organise, initiate and supervise play/activity facilities for children/adolescents, appropriate to their cognitive development, religion, culture and medical condition.

To participate in the assessment of play/activities and the developmental needs of individual children/adolescents and to plan and implement play/activity programmes as part of their total care.

To help develop the provision of activities for adolescents, from age 10 to 15 years.

To assist in teaching the value of play/activities for the child/adolescent in hospital.

Job description Job responsibilities

For further information on this role, please see the attached detailed Job Description and Person Specification:

To apply theoretical knowledge and evidence based practice to assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapeutic play interventions.

Under the direction of the Senior Play specialist, to organise, initiate and supervise play/activity facilities for children/adolescents, appropriate to their cognitive development, religion, culture and medical condition.

To participate in the assessment of play/activities and the developmental needs of individual children/adolescents and to plan and implement play/activity programmes as part of their total care.

To help develop the provision of activities for adolescents, from age 10 to 15 years.

To assist in teaching the value of play/activities for the child/adolescent in hospital.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Hospital Play Specialist Certificate (HPSET) or the Health Play Specialist foundation degree

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Hospital Play Specialist Certificate (HPSET) or the Health Play Specialist foundation degree

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information 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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Marsden Hospital Sutton

Sutton

SM2 5PT

Employer's website

https://www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk/working-royal-marsden (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Marsden Hospital Sutton

Sutton

SM2 5PT

Employer's website

https://www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk/working-royal-marsden (Opens in a new tab)