Play Specialist

CompanyGreat Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

LocationSwindon, England, United Kingdom

Posted At3/6/2026

UK Visa Sponsorship Analytics

Occupation Type

Complementary health associate professionals

Occupation Code Skill LevelMedium Skilled - Extending

Sponsorship EligibilityIneligible for Sponsorship

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Description

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.

PREVIOUS APPLICANTS NEED NOT APPLY

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

We are proud to be part of BSW Hospitals Group - a formal partnership between Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. With a combined workforce of over 17, 600 colleagues, and budget of 1.6 billion the Group is united by a common purpose to deliver the best possible care to over 1 million people. We are creating a heath and care system that works with the people we care for, reducing the differences people currently face in access, experience and outcomes, improving the experience of our colleagues and tackling shared challenges like sustainability and finances. Every improvement we make across our Group will be guided by what creates the greatest benefit for our colleagues, our patients, our communities and our partners.

Job Description

Job responsibilities

To act as an advocate for the child and family
Encourage and support parents to participate in play with their children
To provide preparation for children undergoing treatment and medical procedures
Explain reasons for treatment or the nature of the illness on a level that the child can understand
Ensure that information given to the child/family is consistent and presented in a professional manner
Educate and empower parents as necessary on the benefits of play and how to facilitate appropriate play to enhance the childs development and recovery
Implement distraction/coping strategies
To work in conjunction with the Play Specialist team and Co-ordinator to develop the provision of play
To apply evidence-based practice to areas of your work
To use knowledge to select and apply appropriate techniques to facilitate children and young people to overcome difficulties with hospital admission and procedures
Assess, plan and implement play programmes for a varied client group
Select monitor and advise on play resources required to reflect the need of the client group

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To participate in ongoing professional development

Recognise and respond appropriately to emergency situations

To provide supervision and support to junior team members

Person Specification

Qualifications

Qualifications Essential

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

Desirable

Professional Childcare Qualification level 3

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

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).