Play Worker - Haemodialysis

Birmingham-Women; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Play Specialist to support the haemodialysis and renal unit. You will plan age-appropriate play, provide distraction during treatments, and promote emotional wellbeing for children and their families.

The role requires experience with paediatric play and a compassionate approach within a busy hospital environment. This local NHS post offers consistent hours and is based at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Qualifications

• NVQ level 3 in Child Health and Social Care or equivalent.
• 5 GCSE’s A-C grade including English and Maths.
• Making Every Contact Count (MECC) training or willingness to undertake.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate age-appropriate play, recreational and leisure activities for individual children and young people, as well as groups, according to their individual needs and agreed plan of care.
• Work collaboratively with the Haemodialysis and Renal Unit to assess, plan, implement, record and evaluate a flexible programme of activities that promotes normal development and reduces anxiety.
• Create a safe, caring and welcoming environment for children, young people and families; communicate effectively with families and the MDT; refer to Specialist Play and Youth Service when needed.

Skills

NVQ level 3 in Child Health and Social

5 GCSEs A-C including English and Math

MECC training

Education

NVQ level 3 in Child Health and Social Care

Job description

Search through the open vacancies at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s.

This is YOUR place

• To be at the heart of brilliant care for women, children and young people.
• Where innovation, compassion, and opportunity meet to help transform lives.
• To make a unique impact from day one. As one of only two centres in the UK for women, children, and young people, this is where you can help bring prize-winning discoveries and game-changing innovations to life.
• To grow a thriving career and unlock your potential. Our unique and vast specialisms provide opportunities you won’t find anywhere else. No matter the career path you choose – you’ll have unwavering support for your ambition and a real investment in your learning.
• To discover a community of support. Where our strength comes from our people, who come from every walk of life and who work shoulder-to-shoulder across every discipline. Here,’ll find a deep camaraderie and the support to take control of your career and find your passion – on the best days, and the toughest.

This is Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Trust.

This is your place, our place, the place.

Site Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Renal Unit Town Birmingham Salary £25,272 Per Annum Salary period Yearly Closing 12/11/2026 23:59 Interview date 24/11/2026

Flexible working arrangements may be considered and discussions with the recruiting manager regarding this are encouraged.

Job overview

This role will involve working collaboratively with the Haemodialysis and Renal Unit to meet the play, recreational and leisure needs of children and young people receiving haemodialysis.

The post holder will create a positive, compassionate environment through play, facilitating age-appropriate activities that promote normal development, provide distraction during lengthy treatments, support emotional wellbeing and enhance the overall experience of patients and their families.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will facilitate age-appropriate play, recreational and leisure activities for individual children and young people, as well as groups, according to their individual needs and agreed plan of care.

Working collaboratively with the Haemodialysis and Renal Unit, they will assess, plan, implement, record and evaluate a flexible programme of activities that promotes normal development, provides meaningful distraction during lengthy treatments, supports emotional wellbeing and helps reduce anxiety and fear.

The post holder will create a safe, caring and welcoming environment for children, young people and their families, communicating effectively and sensitively with families and members of the multidisciplinary team. They will recognise when children and young people require additional support or have difficulty understanding their treatment or procedures and ensure timely referral to appropriate services, including the Specialist Play and Youth Service, ward Buddies or Health in Mind.

The Trust is committed to inclusive recruitment. Please note, visa sponsorship is only available for certain roles in line with current UKVI regulations. Unfortunately, this role is not eligible for sponsorship. If you would like more information, please visit: UK Visas and Immigration - GOV.UK

Working for our organisation

Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust is the first of its type in the UK. Our Trust was formed in February 2017 to drive forward our commitment to provide the highest quality, world-class physical and mental health care for our women, children and families. Uniting our hospitals means more seamless care; more investment to make greater advances in our specialist treatment and world-leading neo-natal and fetal work. Importantly, it also gives us a greater voice in shaping the future of family-centred care.

Birmingham Children's Hospital is a UK leading specialist paediatric centre with an international reputation in several areas.

Birmingham Women's Hospital is one of two dedicated women's hospitals in the UK, with the busiest single site maternity unit, delivering more than 8,200 babies a year offering a full range of gynaecological, maternity and neonatal care.

Our Trust is committed to creating the best place to work. We believe in promoting and enhancing inclusion, diversity and equality and encourage applications from all areas of the community, who meet the criteria for the role, regardless of age, gender identity, disability, race, religion or sexual orientation.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification to view the full details for this opportunity at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.

The Trust is committed to inclusive recruitment. Please note, visa sponsorship is only available for certain roles in line with current UKVI regulations. Unfortunately, this role is not eligible for sponsorship. If you would like more information, please visit: UK Visas and Immigration - GOV.UK

Person specification

Qualifications

• NVQ level 3 in Child Health and Social Care or equivalent
• 5 GCSE’s A-C grade including English and Maths
• Making Every Contact Count (MECC) training or willingness to undertake.

Knowledge and Nature of Experience

• Knowledge/experience working with children/young people with additional needs – Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Learning Disability

Analytical and Judgement Skills

• Excellent concentration and observation skills
• Enthusiastic and self-motivated
• Excellent interpersonal skills

Professional/Managerial/Specialist Knowledge

• Ability to meet the play and recreation needs of individuals and groups of children/young people and their families
• Basic IT skills or be prepared to undertake training identified by the Trust
• To be professional and non-judgmental
• Knowledge of Child Development and Play in children/young people aged 0-19 years
• Awareness of the needs of the hospitalised child/young person and family
• Experience of working with children/young people with learning disabilities including those with challenging behaviour
• Good understanding of Health & Safety issues relating to children/young people and Play
• Enthusiastic in all aspects of professional and personal development

Personal Skills/Abilities and Attributes

• Able to work as part of a team
• Able to liaise with professionals at all levels
• Able to seek and act upon advice
• Have resilience to work with sick and terminally ill children/young people
• To have stamina to work with children and young people
• Able to evaluate and reflect on own practice

Other Requirements

• Demonstrate alignment with the values and beliefs of the Trust
• Demonstrate an understanding of the practices of equality and inclusion in the delivery of this role
• Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required

Sponsorship:

Please note, visa sponsorship is only available for certain roles in line with current UKVI regulations. Please ensure the role you are interested in meets the criteria for sponsorship before submitting your application. If you would like more information, please visit: UK Visas and Immigration - GOV.UK

Artificial Intelligence (AI):

We understand that some applicants may choose to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in preparing their application materials. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind candidates that all submissions must be truthful and accurately reflect your own experiences and suitability for this role. Personal integrity and authenticity are central to our recruitment process. We value honesty and appreciate applications that are genuine and representative of the individual behind them.

Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.

Reasonable Adjustments:

BWC is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, committed to fostering an inclusive environment for those with a disability, long term health or mental health condition. The Disability Confident scheme means we actively encourage applications from people with disabilities, long term health or mental health conditions, and we want to ensure our recruitment practices are inclusive and accessible to all. Our aim is to get the best out of every individual and if successful for interview, you will be asked if you require any reasonable adjustments (special requirements). We will strive to support and accommodate these requests where possible.

Safeguarding

As a Trust employee you are required to comply with all legislation and guidance relating to safeguarding children and adults with care and support needs, and promoting their health and welfare. You are required to inform the Head of Safeguarding of any safeguarding concerns about your own children or children you live with. This information will be treated in a confidential manner.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.