Play Worker

NHS; City Of London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

A children's healthcare trust in London seeks a Play Worker to join their team. This role is crucial for enhancing the experience of hospitalized children by providing various play opportunities. The ideal candidate should possess relevant qualifications in child care and demonstrate effective communication, creativity, and a compassionate approach to children's needs.

Qualifications

• Experience of working with children/young people in a play, education, or hospital setting.
• Ability to respect professional boundaries and adhere to confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Organise and facilitate play opportunities.
• Create a caring and safe play environment.
• Support parents in engaging with their children.

Skills

Knowledge of child development

Effective communication skills

Organizational skills

Ability to create activities

Education

NVQ/CACHE/NNEB Level 3 or equivalent

Basic Secondary Education (GCSEs)

Job description

Go back Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust

Play Worker

The closing date is 20 October 2025

There is an exciting opportunity to join our Play Team at GOSH as a Play Worker. We have a One Team ethos, and you will be required to support your fellow Play Team members across the whole hospital.

Play is integral to the wellbeing of children, young people and families, and this post will see you use your knowledge of play and child development to provide normalising play opportunities, promoting a positive patient experience.

The role of the Play Worker enhances children and young people's hospital experiences. This may be at the bedside or in a playroom setting, bringing your creative skills, enthusiasm and passion to deliver meaningful play opportunities, while providing much needed family support.

You will provide high quality, holistic play for all children and their families across the Trust, enabling them to feel safe and at ease within the hospital environment

You will work flexibly with other Play Workers within the team, working alongside Healthcare Play Specialists.

You will ensure that all children and young people have appropriate access to play whilst at the hospital and offer opportunities to play that reflects diversity and inclusivity.

Main duties of the job

• To organise and facilitate opportunities to play for individuals and groups of children / and young people.
• Plan for uncertainty and adapt play sessions to meet the needs of the child/young person, be flexible in your approach and seek guidance where necessary.
• Assist in the creation of a caring and safe play environment for children / young people.
• Encourage and support parents/carers and siblings to engage in play with their child / young person.
• Be ready with a range of activities which encourage independence, and wellbeing.
• Provide the opportunity for parents and patients to spend time independently of each other
• Toy cleaning - routinely in line with the department's infection control policy and cleaning schedules.
• Work flexibly across Play team.
• To Communicate appropriately with children / families and all members of the multidisciplinary team.
• Ensure that activity data is maintained in accordance with unit and Trust standards.
• Refer children and young people who are anxious and require ongoing specialist interventions to your Play Specialist colleagues.

About us

GOSH is committed to recruiting the best person for the job, based solely on their ability and individual merit as measured against the criteria for the role; through a process that is fair, open, consistent and free from bias and discrimination.

We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture where all staff are valued, respected and acknowledged. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, disability status or length of time spent unemployed.

We particularly welcome applications from BAME communities, people with disabilities and/or long-term health conditions and LGBT+ community members.

We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants and employees are treated fairly and consistently. We are proud to be accredited as a Disability Confident Employer, a member of Business Disability Forum and a Stonewall Diversity Champion.

We have active and Executive supported BAME, LGBT+ and Allies, Disability and Long-Term Health Conditions and Women's staff networks. Staff networks are employee-led groups formed around interests, issues and a common bond or background. Staff network members create a positive and inclusive work environment at Great Ormond Street Hospital by actively contributing to the Trust's mission, values and efforts specific to inclusion. All of our staff networks are open to any employee.

Job responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents please view the attachment/s below.

Person Specification

GOSH Culture and Values

• Our Always values
• NVQ, CACHE, NNEB (Level 3) in Child Care/Play Work or Diploma in Children and Young Peoples Workforce or Early Childhood Studies (BA)
• Basic Secondary Education up to 5 GCSE level or beyond, including English and Math's (GCSE Grade A* - C)
• Evidence of ongoing learning
• Makaton/other communication method

Experience/Knowledge

• Knowledge and understanding of child development.
• Experience of working as a team member.
• Experience of working as part of a diverse team.
• Experience of contributing to an inclusive workplace culture
• Basic knowledge of confidentiality
• Previous experience of working with children/young people in a play, education or hospital setting
• Knowledge of the value of play for sick children
• Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development
• Experience of working with parents and extended families

Skills/Abilities

• Ability to work with and provide creative activities to individual and groups of children / young people
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to understand and adhere to professional boundaries of the role, referring on to line manager where necessary
• Good organisation skills
• Health, safety and risk awareness
• Documentation Skills
• IT Skills

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.

Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust

£30,546 to £32,207 a yearper annum inclusive

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

271-NPE-7418066

Job locations

Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust