Play Specialist

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust; St Leonards; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff development

NHS pension scheme (auto‑ enrolment)

Auto‑enrolment to Temporary Workforce 

Onsite nurseries

Staff restaurants

Accommodation

Job summary

The Play Specialist at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust supports the emotional wellbeing and development of children admitted to the acute paediatric ward, delivering developmentally appropriate play and activities in line with the NHS Play Well Toolkit.

Working as part of the multidisciplinary team, you will provide therapeutic play, preparation and distraction to help children cope with hospitalisation, while promoting normalisation and positive healthcare experiences for families and young

Responsibilities

• Provide therapeutic and developmentally appropriate play to support children’s psychological, emotional and developmental needs during hospital admission and treatment, in line with Play Well standards for health play services.
• Use play to prepare, support and distract children before, during and after clinical procedures, helping reduce anxiety and potential trauma.
• Create and maintain safe, child‑friendly environments that support normalisation, choice and autonomy for children and young people.
• Advocate for the child’s voice and preferences within the clinical setting, ensuring their needs and views inform care planning and delivery.
• Work collaboratively with families and the multidisciplinary team to enhance child‑centred care and integrate therapeutic play into overall treatment plans.
• Observe, record and communicate children’s responses, behaviour and coping strategies to inform ongoing care and service quality.
• Support inclusive play by attending to diverse needs (age, developmental stage, cultural background, communication needs) and using resources appropriately.
• Maintain accurate documentation, uphold health and safety, infection prevention and safeguarding policies, and ensure play equipment is clean and appropriate for purpose.

Job description

The Play Specialist supports the emotional wellbeing and development of children and young people admitted to the acute paediatric ward by providing developmentally appropriate play and activities. The role focuses on helping children cope with hospitalisation, promoting normalisation, and supporting positive healthcare experiences in line with the NHS Play Well Toolkit.

The Play Specialist works as a key member of the multidisciplinary healthcare team, providing high-quality therapeutic play, preparation, and distraction to support children and young people.

Play Specialists use developmentally appropriate play to support children from infancy through adolescence, ensuring care is child-centred, inclusive, and tailored to individual needs. They work closely with families, nurses, doctors, and allied health professionals to enhance the overall patient experience and contribute to positive clinical outcomes.

• Provide therapeutic and developmentally appropriate play to support children’s psychological, emotional and developmental needs during hospital admission and treatment, in line with Play Well standards for health play services.
• Use play to prepare, support and distract children before, during and after clinical procedures, helping reduce anxiety and potential trauma.
• Create and maintain safe, child‑friendly environments that support normalisation, choice and autonomy for children and young people.
• Advocate for the child’s voice and preferences within the clinical setting, ensuring their needs and views inform care planning and delivery.
• Work collaboratively with families and the multidisciplinary team to enhance child‑centred care and integrate therapeutic play into overall treatment plans.
• Observe, record and communicate children’s responses, behaviour and coping strategies to inform ongoing care and service quality.
• Support inclusive play by attending to diverse needs (age, developmental stage, cultural background, communication needs) and using resources appropriately.
• Maintain accurate documentation, uphold health and safety, infection prevention and safeguarding policies, and ensure play equipment is clean and appropriate for purpose.

• staff development
• enrolment in the NHS pension scheme
• auto‑enrolment to our Temporary Workforce Service
• access to onsite nurseries
• staff restaurants and accommodation

In addition to an internal Occupational Health department, all staff also have access to free psychological support through our confidential Employee Assistance Programme. Onsite parking is available from only £50 a year.

Statement on the Use of AI

We value the individuality that each candidate brings to the application process. While we understand that AI tools are widely available, we strongly discourage applicants from using AI-generated content when applying for jobs with us. We believe that your application should reflect your true skills, experiences, and motivations, which are best conveyed through your own words and unique perspective.

Using AI for your application may not accurately represent your knowledge, skills, and experience and may result in a disconnect between your qualifications and our assessment of your application.

We encourage applicants to take the time to thoughtfully complete your applications; by doing so, you allow us to better understand your true potential and ensure a fair and transparent evaluation of your application. Over reliance on AI-generated content may diminish your chance of success.

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Kursty Carman Job title: Kipling Ward Manager Email address: [e-mail] Telephone number: 03001314500 ext 734971