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Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Play Specialist

The closing date is 19 February 2026

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Job summary

The post holder will be one of a team of play specialists.

You will work to ensure high quality play provision for patients and siblings. Prepare the child and family for treatments and procedures.

Facilitate emotional support and help to establish coping strategies.

The post will be predominantly in the children's unit, but also you may be required in other areas of the hospital where children are cared for.

Main duties of the job

A Play Specialist's main duties include providing therapeutic and developmental play to help children cope with illness and hospitalisation, preparing them for medical procedures through age-appropriate explanations and play techniques, and supporting their emotional well-being by reducing anxiety and distress. They also work to maintain cognitive, social, and physical development during hospital stays, collaborate with families and healthcare teams to improve communication and involvement, and advocate for the child's needs to ensure a positive, child-centered care experience.

About us

Our STAR values - Service, Teamwork, Ambition and Respect - are a golden thread running through everything we do. These values serve as a guiding principle, driving us towards our vision of delivering great joined up services to our local community. Whether at home, in the community, or within the hospital, our goal is to empower individuals to lead independent and healthier lives.

Details

Date posted

05 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

249-7735909

Job locations

Great Western Hospital

Marlborough Road

Swindon

SN3 6BB


Job description

Job responsibilities

1. To act as an advocate for the child and family

2. Encourage and support parents to participate in play with their children

3. To provide preparation for children undergoing treatment and medical procedures

4. Explain reasons for treatment or the nature of the illness on a level that the child can understand

5. Ensure that information given to the child/family is consistent and presented in a professional manner

6. Educate and empower parents as necessary on the benefits of play and how to facilitate appropriate play to enhance the childs development and recovery

7. Implement distraction/coping strategies

8. To work in conjunction with the Play Specialist team and Co-ordinator to develop the provision of play

9. To apply evidence-based practice to areas of your work

10. To use knowledge to select and apply appropriate techniques to facilitate children and young people to overcome difficulties with hospital admission and procedures

11. Assess, plan and implement play programmes for a varied client group

12. Select monitor and advise on play resources required to reflect the need of the client group

13. To provide emotional support for families when in crisis or under stress

14. To establish and maintain effective communication both verbal and written with all members of the multidisciplinary team throughout the hospital

15. To ensure all toys, play equipment and facilities are clean and safe, maintained to comply with Trust policies, and stored safely.

16. To attend clinics as requested to prepare the child psychologically for procedures and provide distraction therapy

17. Provide teaching sessions to other staff and students as required to promote an awareness of the therapeutic benefits of play and the effects of hospitalisation

18. Through play provide support to assist children in understanding and coping with serious illness, disability or death.

19. To demonstrate and apply knowledge of the effects of hospitalisation and illness on the child/family

20. To review and reflect on your own practice and attend an annual appraisal.

21. To participate in ongoing professional development

22. Recognise and respond appropriately to emergency situations

23. To provide supervision and support to junior team members

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. To act as an advocate for the child and family

2. Encourage and support parents to participate in play with their children

3. To provide preparation for children undergoing treatment and medical procedures

4. Explain reasons for treatment or the nature of the illness on a level that the child can understand

5. Ensure that information given to the child/family is consistent and presented in a professional manner

6. Educate and empower parents as necessary on the benefits of play and how to facilitate appropriate play to enhance the childs development and recovery

7. Implement distraction/coping strategies

8. To work in conjunction with the Play Specialist team and Co-ordinator to develop the provision of play

9. To apply evidence-based practice to areas of your work

10. To use knowledge to select and apply appropriate techniques to facilitate children and young people to overcome difficulties with hospital admission and procedures

11. Assess, plan and implement play programmes for a varied client group

12. Select monitor and advise on play resources required to reflect the need of the client group

13. To provide emotional support for families when in crisis or under stress

14. To establish and maintain effective communication both verbal and written with all members of the multidisciplinary team throughout the hospital

15. To ensure all toys, play equipment and facilities are clean and safe, maintained to comply with Trust policies, and stored safely.

16. To attend clinics as requested to prepare the child psychologically for procedures and provide distraction therapy

17. Provide teaching sessions to other staff and students as required to promote an awareness of the therapeutic benefits of play and the effects of hospitalisation

18. Through play provide support to assist children in understanding and coping with serious illness, disability or death.

19. To demonstrate and apply knowledge of the effects of hospitalisation and illness on the child/family

20. To review and reflect on your own practice and attend an annual appraisal.

21. To participate in ongoing professional development

22. Recognise and respond appropriately to emergency situations

23. To provide supervision and support to junior team members

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Professional Childcare Qualification level 3 or equivalent with a commitment to train as HPSET Play Specialist

Desirable

  • HPSET Qualified Hospital Play Specialist or 2nd year Trainee Hospital Play Specialist

Experience

Essential

  • Evidence of personal or professional development
  • Understanding of family centred care and able to deliver play in a holistic child/family focused manner
  • Knowledge and understanding of confidentiality
  • Understands the importance of child protection and safeguarding children

Desirable

  • Experienced at working in a hospital setting with children and families
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Professional Childcare Qualification level 3 or equivalent with a commitment to train as HPSET Play Specialist

Desirable

  • HPSET Qualified Hospital Play Specialist or 2nd year Trainee Hospital Play Specialist

Experience

Essential

  • Evidence of personal or professional development
  • Understanding of family centred care and able to deliver play in a holistic child/family focused manner
  • Knowledge and understanding of confidentiality
  • Understands the importance of child protection and safeguarding children

Desirable

  • Experienced at working in a hospital setting with children and families

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

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Great Western Hospital

Marlborough Road

Swindon

SN3 6BB


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Great Western Hospital

Marlborough Road

Swindon

SN3 6BB


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Ward Manager

Riyaad Jondah

m.jondah@nhs.net

01793604976

Details

Date posted

05 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

249-7735909

Job locations

Great Western Hospital

Marlborough Road

Swindon

SN3 6BB


Supporting documents

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