University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Youth Support Co-ordinator/Senior Health Play Specialist

The closing date is 29 December 2025

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen at UCLH for a Youth Support Coordinator or registered health play specialist to join a highly respected play and youth services team. To be successful in this role, you will have a relevant qualification in youth work, or a qualified and registered Health Play Specialist, you will have extensive experience of working with children and/or young people in social or healthcare settings.

We are looking for someone who strives to improve healthcare for BCYP through play and activity, who would like an opportunity of working in a supportive and diverse team within the children and young people division. You will be emotionally resilient to and have compassion, sensitivity and a sense of humour. Working within the busy CYP service you will be supporting patients attending for clinic and treatment, you will be vital in reducing the anxiety surrounding hospital treatment , admissions and procedures. You will be proactive in creating and maintaining an age-appropriate environment throughout BCYP areas and facilitate group activities and individual therapeutic sessions with patients.

Main duties of the job

This post is an exciting and fantastic opportunity for you to expand your knowledge, skills and experience as a professional working with children and young people within a leading, award-winning play and youth team who support children and young people from 0 to 25 years. A team which is led by a supportive leadership team, striving to embed high quality specialised play practices on a national level.

You will need to have extensive, relevant experience of working with children and young people in a healthcare or social setting and be able to deal sensitively with families under stress. You will need to be able to engage easily with children and young people and be able to work effectively with your MDT colleagues to use therapeutic techniques creatively to enhance the children and young person's hospital experience. . The post holder will have responsibility to support and supervise junior members of staff and mentor students. This role will give the post holder the opportunity to develop leadership skills in organising staff rotas, assessing service needs and referrals.The post holder will work alongside a team of play and activity workers, play specialists and youth support co-ordinators who will support you in your role and the leadership team who will actively support your professional development.

The post holder will need to be able to work flexible hours between 8-6 including some evening and weekend working.

About us

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:o University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)o National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgeryo Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitalso University College Hospital Grafton Way Buildingo Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicineo University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centreo The Hospital for Tropical Diseaseso University College Hospital at Westmoreland StreetWe are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.

Details

Date posted

10 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£37,259 to £45,356 a year Per Annum Inclusive of HCAS

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

9 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

309-UCLH-7184

Job locations

University College London Hospital

235 Euston Road

London

NW1 2BU


Job description

Job responsibilities

Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*

* UCLH top trust to work at in England - In the most recentNHS staff surveyUCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the third year in a row.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff To find out more, visit:Flexible working.

To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit:Why Choose UCLH?

Job description

Job responsibilities

Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*

* UCLH top trust to work at in England - In the most recentNHS staff surveyUCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the third year in a row.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff To find out more, visit:Flexible working.

To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit:Why Choose UCLH?

Person Specification

Knowledge & Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered & qualified Health Play Specialist holding the Foundation Degree in Health Care Play Specialism or previous HPSC/HPSEB, Edexcel PDC/HND in Hospital Play Specialism or oversees equivalent or a youth work qualification approved by the Education Training Standards (ETS) Committee of the National Youth Agency.
  • Knowledge of and ability to analyse professional and ethical issues, including professional boundaries, clinical governance and safeguarding children policies and practice.
  • Applied knowledge of recent health policy & guidance and NAHPS Guidelines for professional Practice

Desirable

  • NNEB/ NVQ Level 3 or equivalent training involving normal child care and development.
  • Bachelor's Degree (or overseas equivalent) in a subject relevant to work with children and/or young people.

Experience

Essential

  • Post qualifying and recent, comprehensive experience of working with children and/or young people in a health care setting, in a variety of clinical areas and/or vast experience in specialised field.
  • Experience of providing family centred care and working with the extended family.
  • Comprehensive experience of leading play/recreation activities for babies, children and/or young people.
  • Previous experience of applying presentation skills through formal and/or informal teaching of students and staff

Desirable

  • Experience of working with children and/or young people with special needs including those with challenging behaviours.
  • Experience of supporting, teaching, training, assessing and supervising junior staff, students and/or volunteers.

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Able to communicate complex information effectively with patients, families and staff, in written, verbal and nonverbal forms.
  • Ability to work independently, manage own workload and determine priorities under pressure.
  • Ability to work as an individual as well as within a team, effectively and efficiently.

Desirable

  • Basic competency using Word and Excel

Other Requirements

Essential

  • Able to work flexible hours and weekends according to needs of clinical area.
  • Up to date registration with HPSET, if required for qualification.
  • Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development

Desirable

  • Membership of NAHPS Professional Body
Person Specification

Knowledge & Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered & qualified Health Play Specialist holding the Foundation Degree in Health Care Play Specialism or previous HPSC/HPSEB, Edexcel PDC/HND in Hospital Play Specialism or oversees equivalent or a youth work qualification approved by the Education Training Standards (ETS) Committee of the National Youth Agency.
  • Knowledge of and ability to analyse professional and ethical issues, including professional boundaries, clinical governance and safeguarding children policies and practice.
  • Applied knowledge of recent health policy & guidance and NAHPS Guidelines for professional Practice

Desirable

  • NNEB/ NVQ Level 3 or equivalent training involving normal child care and development.
  • Bachelor's Degree (or overseas equivalent) in a subject relevant to work with children and/or young people.

Experience

Essential

  • Post qualifying and recent, comprehensive experience of working with children and/or young people in a health care setting, in a variety of clinical areas and/or vast experience in specialised field.
  • Experience of providing family centred care and working with the extended family.
  • Comprehensive experience of leading play/recreation activities for babies, children and/or young people.
  • Previous experience of applying presentation skills through formal and/or informal teaching of students and staff

Desirable

  • Experience of working with children and/or young people with special needs including those with challenging behaviours.
  • Experience of supporting, teaching, training, assessing and supervising junior staff, students and/or volunteers.

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Able to communicate complex information effectively with patients, families and staff, in written, verbal and nonverbal forms.
  • Ability to work independently, manage own workload and determine priorities under pressure.
  • Ability to work as an individual as well as within a team, effectively and efficiently.

Desirable

  • Basic competency using Word and Excel

Other Requirements

Essential

  • Able to work flexible hours and weekends according to needs of clinical area.
  • Up to date registration with HPSET, if required for qualification.
  • Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development

Desirable

  • Membership of NAHPS Professional Body

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

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

University College London Hospital

235 Euston Road

London

NW1 2BU


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

University College London Hospital

235 Euston Road

London

NW1 2BU


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Trust Lead for Play and Youth Services

iIrene o'donnell

irene.o'donnell@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

10 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£37,259 to £45,356 a year Per Annum Inclusive of HCAS

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

9 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

309-UCLH-7184

Job locations

University College London Hospital

235 Euston Road

London

NW1 2BU


Supporting documents

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