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Julia’s House Dorset/Wiltshire Children’s Hospices

Playworker

The closing date is 20 November 2025

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Job summary

Would you like to join our Play worker Team? We are looking for an enthusiastic, caring person who can bring joy and learning to our very special play environment. A person experienced in working with and caring for children with additional needs and their families. Play will be provided in the childs own environment and our hospice we therefore are looking for someone who can work to a high standard of discretion and confidentiality.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will be part of our team engaging families in play according to the individual capabilities of their child and, with support from the Play team, assessing children for their suitability and capability for therapeutic play. Enabling us to provide play opportunities for all the children who access our care.

About us

Julias House is not a typical childrens hospice. We provide practical and emotional support for families caring for a child with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition, providing frequent and regular support in their own homes, in the community or at our hospices.

Details

Date posted

31 October 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£26,489 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

JUL1152194

Job locations

18 Corn Market

Wimborne

Dorset

BH21 1JL


135 Springdale Road

Corfe Mullen

Dorset

BH18 9BP


Job description

Job responsibilities

Provide a high standard of holistic care (physical, social and spiritual) to the families, the affected child and their immediate and extended families.

Work as part of the Family Support Services Team and be involved in the planning of sessions, both for the Hospice and the Community, including virtual and family events.

Assess those children who are referred for a play plan, for their suitability and capability for therapeutic play, with support from colleagues for those most complex.

Write and develop individual play plans following the assessments, with support of the colleagues for those most complex.

Deliver and engage children in play according to the individual capabilities of the child, offering support and advice on the use of play techniques and individual plans to enable their effective use by families and care staff. This will also include virtual and remote play, both group and individual.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Provide a high standard of holistic care (physical, social and spiritual) to the families, the affected child and their immediate and extended families.

Work as part of the Family Support Services Team and be involved in the planning of sessions, both for the Hospice and the Community, including virtual and family events.

Assess those children who are referred for a play plan, for their suitability and capability for therapeutic play, with support from colleagues for those most complex.

Write and develop individual play plans following the assessments, with support of the colleagues for those most complex.

Deliver and engage children in play according to the individual capabilities of the child, offering support and advice on the use of play techniques and individual plans to enable their effective use by families and care staff. This will also include virtual and remote play, both group and individual.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Level 3 Early Year Care and Education or HLTA
  • Safeguarding

Desirable

  • Portage/Play or specialism in special educational needs.
  • City and Guilds T307 Certificate in Teaching Adult Learners or
  • equivalent teaching course
  • Certificate in Sign-a-long or Makaton
  • Certificate in Picture Exchanging Communication Systems (PECS)

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with children with additional needs and their families

Desirable

  • Experience of working with children who have life limiting/life threatening conditions
  • Experience of working with children who have complex medical needs and a sound knowledge base of special needs and approaches
  • Experience of caring for and working alongside families in their own
  • environment
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Level 3 Early Year Care and Education or HLTA
  • Safeguarding

Desirable

  • Portage/Play or specialism in special educational needs.
  • City and Guilds T307 Certificate in Teaching Adult Learners or
  • equivalent teaching course
  • Certificate in Sign-a-long or Makaton
  • Certificate in Picture Exchanging Communication Systems (PECS)

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with children with additional needs and their families

Desirable

  • Experience of working with children who have life limiting/life threatening conditions
  • Experience of working with children who have complex medical needs and a sound knowledge base of special needs and approaches
  • Experience of caring for and working alongside families in their own
  • environment

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Julia’s House Dorset/Wiltshire Children’s Hospices

Address

18 Corn Market

Wimborne

Dorset

BH21 1JL


Employer's website

https://www.juliashouse.org/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Julia’s House Dorset/Wiltshire Children’s Hospices

Address

18 Corn Market

Wimborne

Dorset

BH21 1JL


Employer's website

https://www.juliashouse.org/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

HR Assistant

Kim Martin

kim.martin@juliashouse.org

01202644220

Details

Date posted

31 October 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£26,489 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

JUL1152194

Job locations

18 Corn Market

Wimborne

Dorset

BH21 1JL


135 Springdale Road

Corfe Mullen

Dorset

BH18 9BP


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