Play Specialist (Internal Vacancy)

Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust; Shrewsbury; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust's Children’s Unit is seeking a registered Health Play Specialist to support development, emotional well‑being and play for 0–17 year olds in inpatient, outpatient and bedside care settings.

The role involves integrating with the Health Professionals Team and using developmental, therapeutic, and specialised play techniques to ease emotional trauma, prepare for procedures, and support families during hospital stays.

Qualifications

• Registered Health Play Specialist with expert knowledge of play for well child and sick child/young person.
• Integrated member of the Health Professionals Team, able to work independently with initiative, organisation, leadership and time management.
• Provide developmental, therapeutic and specialised play techniques to fulfil emotional, social and developmental needs and help alleviate emotional trauma.

Responsibilities

• Support children and young people in hospital to recognise coping strategies and form new ones.
• Prepare children and young people for procedures and treatments using play-based approaches and myth-busting where appropriate.
• Distra ct attention during procedures with play-based techniques and supportive strategies.
• Document observations and contribute to patient notes.

Job description

Job overview

The Children's Unit at The Princess Royal Hospital consists of a 33 Bedded inpatient ward, 3 Bedded Children’s Oncology and Haematology Unit, Children’s Assessment Unit and Children’s Outpatient Departments at both The Princess Royal Hospital and The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. We care for Children and Young People aged 0 to 17 years old with a variety of medical and mental health needs.

We are looking for registered Health Play Specialists who has expert knowledge and experience of Play with the well child and with the sick child/young person. They will be a fully integrated member of the Health Professionals Team who will work within the Departmental team but also independently using their initiative, organisation, leadership and time management skills. The Hospital Play Practitioner will provide developmental, therapeutic and specialised play techniques for all ages and diversities in an effort to fulfil emotional, social and developmental needs and help alleviate emotional trauma.

Main duties of the job

• Help children and young people to recognise existing coping strategies and form new ones.
• Use their skills to Prepare children and young people for procedures and treatments by putting them in the driving seat and supporting understanding and myth-busting.
• Work with children, young people and families on the most effective ways to distract from procedures and treatments, when appropriate.
• Support children to make sense of what they are experiencing with the strategic use of play-based techniques.
• Offer distraction, relaxation and desensitisation techniques for children and young people undergoing medical procedures.
• Contribute to patient notes and documentation
• Source creative, fun activities and social opportunities for children and young people while they are in hospital.
• Undertake observations and assessments relating to play sessions
• Give support and advice to parent and other care-givers on ways they can support play.
• Supports general play either in the play/adolescent rooms or at the bedside
• Highlight the importance of play in assisting recovery and aiding development to all health professionals and students.
• Help bridge the gap between hospital and home, creating a positive environment and a positive patient journey

Working for your organisation

Our Poppy’s Promise Commitment

We believe that compassionate care sits at the heart of everything we do. Every member of our team — clinical or non-clinical — plays a vital role in ensuring that patients, families, and colleagues are treated with dignity, empathy, and respect at all times.

We expect all staff to demonstrate compassion not only through their words, but through their actions: by listening attentively, communicating clearly and kindly, and recognising individual needs, feelings, and circumstances of those in our care.

Effective communication is central to safe and high-quality healthcare. We value colleagues who take the time to understand others, explain information in a meaningful way, and respond to concerns with patience and understanding.

By joining our team, you are committing to uphold these values — ensuring that every patient feels heard, respected, and valued, and that compassion is embedded in every interaction, every day.