Job summary
Play Assistant Band 3 (Subject to Job Evaluation)
The post holder will be one of a team of play specialists/assistants. 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 Assistant's main duties include implementing 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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Play Provision and Environment
- Provide and maintain a safe, childfriendly, welcoming environment that promotes play, normality, and routine during hospital admission.
- Create, plan, and implement individual and group play programmes, adapting activities to accommodate the childs medical needs, frequent interruptions, and any physical, environmental, or emotional limitations.
- Ensure the playroom and bedside play spaces support the childs wellbeing, independence, and emotional security.
Assessment, Observation and Documentation
- Assess each childs developmental, emotional, and therapeutic play needs, adapting programmes accordingly.
- Observe, evaluate, and document play sessions, contributing written playbased observations to the childs overall assessment in line with Trust and professional standards.
- Identify anxieties related to treatment, procedures, or safeguarding concerns and report promptly to Play Specialists or relevant professionals.
Support for Children and Families
- Provide emotional, practical, and therapeutic support for children and their families during periods of stress or uncertainty.
- Play with and care for children when parents or carers are unable to be present.
- Act as an advocate for the child and family, ensuring dignity, confidentiality, and sensitivity at all times.
- Communicate effectively with children, young people, families, and staff using ageappropriate, accessible language.
Teamwork and MultiDisciplinary Collaboration
- Participate as an active member of the multidisciplinary healthcare team, sharing relevant information to support the childs care.
- Work in partnership with staff, students, and volunteers, offering guidance and modelling good practice in play.
- Support patientexperience activities
Equality, Rights and Safeguarding
- Respect the values, cultural backgrounds, and religious beliefs of children and their families, ensuring inclusive and sensitive service delivery.
- Uphold and promote the Rights of the Child, as outlined by UNICEF.
- Recognise safeguarding concerns and respond appropriately following Trust procedures.
Resources, Safety and Environment Management
- Monitor play resources, identifying when equipment requires replacement or repair, and inform senior staff or the Play Service Coordinator.
- Ensure all toys, equipment, and play areas are cleaned, checked, and maintained in compliance with Trust Health & Safety standards.
- Support safe movement of children, including assisting with buggies or wheelchairs, to enable participation in play.
- Assess and receive public toy donations, ensuring suitability and safety for the hospital environment.
Professional Development
- Gain experience and broaden knowledge of the hospitalised childs developmental, emotional, and therapeutic needs.
- Reflect on personal practice through supervision and appraisal and maintain an uptodate professional portfolio.
- Attend training and courses to maintain current knowledge and best practice in healthcare play.
- Participate in audits and contribute to service improvement initiatives.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Play Provision and Environment
- Provide and maintain a safe, childfriendly, welcoming environment that promotes play, normality, and routine during hospital admission.
- Create, plan, and implement individual and group play programmes, adapting activities to accommodate the childs medical needs, frequent interruptions, and any physical, environmental, or emotional limitations.
- Ensure the playroom and bedside play spaces support the childs wellbeing, independence, and emotional security.
Assessment, Observation and Documentation
- Assess each childs developmental, emotional, and therapeutic play needs, adapting programmes accordingly.
- Observe, evaluate, and document play sessions, contributing written playbased observations to the childs overall assessment in line with Trust and professional standards.
- Identify anxieties related to treatment, procedures, or safeguarding concerns and report promptly to Play Specialists or relevant professionals.
Support for Children and Families
- Provide emotional, practical, and therapeutic support for children and their families during periods of stress or uncertainty.
- Play with and care for children when parents or carers are unable to be present.
- Act as an advocate for the child and family, ensuring dignity, confidentiality, and sensitivity at all times.
- Communicate effectively with children, young people, families, and staff using ageappropriate, accessible language.
Teamwork and MultiDisciplinary Collaboration
- Participate as an active member of the multidisciplinary healthcare team, sharing relevant information to support the childs care.
- Work in partnership with staff, students, and volunteers, offering guidance and modelling good practice in play.
- Support patientexperience activities
Equality, Rights and Safeguarding
- Respect the values, cultural backgrounds, and religious beliefs of children and their families, ensuring inclusive and sensitive service delivery.
- Uphold and promote the Rights of the Child, as outlined by UNICEF.
- Recognise safeguarding concerns and respond appropriately following Trust procedures.
Resources, Safety and Environment Management
- Monitor play resources, identifying when equipment requires replacement or repair, and inform senior staff or the Play Service Coordinator.
- Ensure all toys, equipment, and play areas are cleaned, checked, and maintained in compliance with Trust Health & Safety standards.
- Support safe movement of children, including assisting with buggies or wheelchairs, to enable participation in play.
- Assess and receive public toy donations, ensuring suitability and safety for the hospital environment.
Professional Development
- Gain experience and broaden knowledge of the hospitalised childs developmental, emotional, and therapeutic needs.
- Reflect on personal practice through supervision and appraisal and maintain an uptodate professional portfolio.
- Attend training and courses to maintain current knowledge and best practice in healthcare play.
- Participate in audits and contribute to service improvement initiatives.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional childcare qualification level 3 or equivalent
Experience
Essential
- Post qualification experience within a childcare or healthcare setting
Desirable
- Experience of working with children with special needs or challenging behaviours
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional childcare qualification level 3 or equivalent
Experience
Essential
- Post qualification experience within a childcare or healthcare setting
Desirable
- Experience of working with children with special needs or challenging behaviours
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.
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).
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.
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).
