Go back
Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust

Health Play Specialist

The closing date is 28 January 2026

Apply for this job

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated and adaptable Health Play Specialist to join our small existing team of Play Specialist at Diana Princess of Wales Hospital and to develop our new team of Play Specialist at Scunthorpe General Hospital.

Main duties of the job

Be responsible for providing

  • a welcoming environment for children and young people of all ages (generally up to the age of 16 years old) and promote a positive experience for all
  • play opportunities and activities appropriate to the child/young person's individual and health care needs where there may be barriers to understanding
  • specific play/activity therapy when required e.g. encouraging a child/young person to express their true self and explore their feelings, overcoming any fears of being in hospital e.g. needle phobia, transitioning to adult services
  • preparing children/young people for procedures and using distraction therapy
  • emotional support to the child/young person, parent/main carer and extended family members
  • some contribution towards assessing a younger child's development against recommended assessment tools when requested to
  • a mechanism for a child/young person and their family to feedback to the department on their experience of being in hospital and how the hospital can improve our service provision

About us

The Humber Health Partnership is one of the largest acute and community Partnership arrangements in the NHS, seeing well over one million patients every year and managing a budget of over £1.3 billion.

Made up of two Trusts - Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust (NLAG) and Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (HUTH) - our Partnership has significant ambitions and is committed to delivering world-class hospital and community services for the 1.65 million people we serve.

Together we employ nearly 20,000 staff. Our five main hospital sites are Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital, Scunthorpe General Hospital and Goole and District Hospital, for NLAG and Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital for HUTH.

As Teaching Hospitals working with the Hull York Medical School, we both lead and contribute to research in many areas - biomedical research, primary care, palliative medicine, cardiovascular and respiratory medicine, vascular surgery, cancer surgery and oncology.

We believe that by developing a diverse, inclusive, innovative, skilled and caring workforce, we can deliver excellent care to our patients and a great future for our employees, our Partnership and our community.

Details

Date posted

14 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

208-D2D008-26-1

Job locations

Grimsby/Scunthorpe

Grimsby

DN33 2BA


Job description

Job responsibilities

For more detailed information, please read the job description linked below.

As a Trust we are keen to offer and encourage flexible working opportunities to address health and wellbeing and work-life balance for our employees, this will have a positive impact on the care we provide.

Flexible working is part of a wider commitment to improve the quality and experience of working life and we recognise that it is a key contributor for the recruitment and retention of our employees.

We therefore support and encourage open conversations around a specific working pattern to suit your work-life balance or a multi-role career, if it works for you and works for the role, we'll do our best to make it happen.

Local flexible working arrangements are developed in partnership between the line manager and employee in order to ensure equality of access to flexible working, as far as practicable, regardless of role, shift pattern, team or pay, based on: patient/service user and staff experience, service delivery and work-life balance of colleagues.

We are committed to creating and maintaining a fair and supportive working environment and culture, where contributions are fully recognised and valued by all and staff feel empowered to carry out their duties to the best of their abilities. As employers we are committed to promoting and protecting the physical and mental health and well-being of all our staff. This underpins our values as set out in the NHS Constitution, supports us to be an Employer of Choice and ultimately enables our employees to support the effective care of our patients.

We strongly value the different perspectives and ideas a diverse workforce brings to deliver better outcomes for our patients. We welcome applications irrespective of peoples age, disability, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances.

To learn more about Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust, and discover the unique benefits on offer to employees, view our latest videos, plus more, please visit our recruitment website at https://join.humberhealthpartnership.nhs.uk/

In line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Recruitment & Workforce team will use and hold your personal data for the intended purpose and in line with the Recruitment & Workforce Privacy Statement.

We are committed to safeguarding the welfare of children/vulnerable adults and expect the same commitment from all staff and volunteers.

Please be aware that all new employees starting work with us will be charged for the cost of their DBS check, if it is required for their role.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For more detailed information, please read the job description linked below.

As a Trust we are keen to offer and encourage flexible working opportunities to address health and wellbeing and work-life balance for our employees, this will have a positive impact on the care we provide.

Flexible working is part of a wider commitment to improve the quality and experience of working life and we recognise that it is a key contributor for the recruitment and retention of our employees.

We therefore support and encourage open conversations around a specific working pattern to suit your work-life balance or a multi-role career, if it works for you and works for the role, we'll do our best to make it happen.

Local flexible working arrangements are developed in partnership between the line manager and employee in order to ensure equality of access to flexible working, as far as practicable, regardless of role, shift pattern, team or pay, based on: patient/service user and staff experience, service delivery and work-life balance of colleagues.

We are committed to creating and maintaining a fair and supportive working environment and culture, where contributions are fully recognised and valued by all and staff feel empowered to carry out their duties to the best of their abilities. As employers we are committed to promoting and protecting the physical and mental health and well-being of all our staff. This underpins our values as set out in the NHS Constitution, supports us to be an Employer of Choice and ultimately enables our employees to support the effective care of our patients.

We strongly value the different perspectives and ideas a diverse workforce brings to deliver better outcomes for our patients. We welcome applications irrespective of peoples age, disability, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances.

To learn more about Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust, and discover the unique benefits on offer to employees, view our latest videos, plus more, please visit our recruitment website at https://join.humberhealthpartnership.nhs.uk/

In line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Recruitment & Workforce team will use and hold your personal data for the intended purpose and in line with the Recruitment & Workforce Privacy Statement.

We are committed to safeguarding the welfare of children/vulnerable adults and expect the same commitment from all staff and volunteers.

Please be aware that all new employees starting work with us will be charged for the cost of their DBS check, if it is required for their role.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential

  • Foundation degree in healthcare play specialism or working towards
  • Registered with the Healthcare Play Specialist Education Trust, once completed the Foundation degree in healthcare play specialism
  • Willingness to undertake Foundation Degree in Healthcare Play Specialism

Desirable

  • Health play specialist higher apprenticeship

Knowledge, Training and Experience

Essential

  • oExperience, skills and qualities for working with children and/or young people including knowledge of child/young person development
  • Experience of working with children/young people in a hospital setting

Desirable

  • Experience of working with children with special needs including those with challenging behaviours
  • Supporting a young person to transition into healthcare adult services
Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential

  • Foundation degree in healthcare play specialism or working towards
  • Registered with the Healthcare Play Specialist Education Trust, once completed the Foundation degree in healthcare play specialism
  • Willingness to undertake Foundation Degree in Healthcare Play Specialism

Desirable

  • Health play specialist higher apprenticeship

Knowledge, Training and Experience

Essential

  • oExperience, skills and qualities for working with children and/or young people including knowledge of child/young person development
  • Experience of working with children/young people in a hospital setting

Desirable

  • Experience of working with children with special needs including those with challenging behaviours
  • Supporting a young person to transition into healthcare adult services

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Grimsby/Scunthorpe

Grimsby

DN33 2BA


Employer's website

https://www.nlg.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Grimsby/Scunthorpe

Grimsby

DN33 2BA


Employer's website

https://www.nlg.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Paediatric Sister

Lorraine Cook

lorraine.cook1@nhs.net

03033303974

Details

Date posted

14 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

208-D2D008-26-1

Job locations

Grimsby/Scunthorpe

Grimsby

DN33 2BA


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)