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Job summary

Main area
Therapeutic Play Department
Grade
Band 4
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Part time - 30 hours per week (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 8am - 4pm)
Job ref
001-ACS057-0426
Employer
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Employer type
NHS
Site
Noah's Ark Children's Hospital
Town
Cardiff
Salary
£28,819 - £31,626 per annum, pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
16/04/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board logo

Health Play Specialist

Band 4

WHO WE ARE:

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is one of the largest Integrated Health Board in the UK, employing over 16,000 staff and providing over 100 specialist services. Serving a population of around 500,000 people living in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, we are focussed on the health and care needs of our local population whilst also working with our partners to develop regional services. Together we are committed to improving health outcomes for everyone and to delivering excellent care and support.

Our mission is “Living Well, Caring Well, Working Together”. We have recently refreshed our strategy, Shaping Our Future Wellbeing, which sets out the Health Board’s Vision for improving the health and wellbeing of the populations we serve by 2035 through the delivery of our strategic objectives; Putting People First, Providing Outstanding Quality, Delivering in the Right Places, and Acting for the Future. We have challenging times ahead, but we are confident that by tackling these challenges together, we can support people to live healthier lives and reduce the unfair differences in the prevalence of illness and health outcomes we see in our communities today. We aspire to deliver outstanding care and treatment for people when they need it, where they need it; care that compares well with the best in the world, but to do so, we need to transform how we deliver services over the next decade and beyond.

We are a values-driven organisation and out goals will only be realised if our values are at the heart of everything we do. Created by colleagues, patients and their families and carers, our values are:

·         We are kind and caring

·         We are respectful

·         We have trust and integrity

·         We take personal responsibility

OUR REGION:

Wales has much to offer with miles of stunning coastline, UNESCO world heritage sites and beautiful countryside. Cardiff, the thriving Welsh capital, has something for everyone. It is a fantastic city to live and work in with an abundance of sports, arts and cultural attractions. Situated to the west of Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan offers a combination of beautiful Welsh countryside and a dramatic natural coastline, as well as charming towns including Penarth and Cowbridge. Those seeking more culture may find themselves drawn to the National Museum, St Fagan’s Museum of Welsh Life or the Millennium Centre, home of the Welsh National Opera. Whether city life or rural living, Cardiff and the Vale offers the best of both worlds.

The Agenda for Change Pay Award for 2026/27 is effective from 1st April 2026.

Please note successful applicants with a start date from 1st April onwards the salary will be as per the 2026/27 pay award. For further detail the pay circular is available via this link https://www.nhs.wales/files/pc-resources/afc-w-02-2026-pdf-pdf?ts=1773244958086


 

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a qualified and registered  Health Play Specialist (band 4) to join our Therapeutic and Specialised Play Service working within the Acute Child Health Directorate at the Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales (NACHfW). 

Please make sure you hold this qualification and registration, before applying as we cannot appoint someone without this in place. Students of the FdA Healthcare Play Specialism course may be considered, depending on experience demonstrated at interview.

This role will work flexibly across the hospital responding to support patients needs as they arise.

You will need to be registered with the Society of Health Play Specialists (SoHPS) and have experience working either in the Acute Hospital setting or in the community.

Your experience needs to be with children/young people from 0-18yrs.

This position is part time (30hrs) Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 8am - 4pm, working throughout the Children's Hospital, with an unpaid 30 minutes lunch break.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.

 

Main duties of the job

To provide an accessible and inclusive service to meet the needs of the patient populations’ accessing the Therapeutic and Specialised Play Service within Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales (NACHfW).

To utilise a range of clinical skills, experience and knowledge to assess patient need allowing for appropriate prioritization of therapeutic play preparation, distraction, and emotional support for babies, children and young people (BCYP) as needs present.

 

Working for our organisation

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is one of the largest Integrated Health Boards in the UK, employing over 17,000 staff, providing over 100 specialist services.   Working across 6 hospital sites, we have a diverse range of career opportunities to offer. Serving over 500,000 people living in Cardiff and the Vale, we are focussed on the health and care needs of our local population whilst working with our partners to develop regional services. Together we are committed to improving health outcomes for everyone, delivering excellent care and support.


Our mission is “Living Well, Caring Well, Working Together”, and our vision is that every person’s chance of leading a healthy life should be equal. Our 10-year transformation and improvement strategy, Shaping Our Future Wellbeing, is our chance to work collaboratively with the public and our workforce to make our health board more sustainable for the future.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click “Apply now” to view in Trac

 

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • FdA Healthcare Play Specialism, Edex / BTEC in Specialised play for the sick child, previous HPSC/ HPSEB, or international equivalent.
  • Registered Health Play Specialist with Society of Health Play Specialists (SoHPS)
  • Knowledge and understanding of the SoHPS Code of Professional Conduct and Professional Standards.
Desirable criteria
  • Basic Secondary Education up to 5 GCSE level or beyond, including English and Math’s (GCSE Grade A* - C)
  • NVQ, CACHE, NNEB (Level 3) in Child Care/Play Work or Diploma in Children and Young Peoples Workforce or Early Childhood Studies (BA)
  • Communication training E.g., MAKATON, BSL, SIGN ALONG, Touch cues etc.
  • Training in; Guided Imagery, Adolescent Development, Teaching/Coaching

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Previous experience of working with BCYP in a health care setting providing preparation, distraction and post procedural interventions.
  • Previous experience of working with BCYP including individual and group work.
  • Previous experience in adapting to specific communication needs when working with BCYP.
  • Knowledge and awareness of the emotional and personal impact of the work and the ability to self-manage or seek help appropriately.
  • Knowledge of SoHPS Guidelines for Professional Practice.
  • Knowledge and application of therapeutic assessments and interventions to support BCYP cope with and understand their healthcare journey.
  • Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development
  • Experience of supervision of staff and/or volunteers
Desirable criteria
  • Post qualifying, experience of working with BCYP in a health care setting, in a variety of clinical areas and/or vast experience in specialised field.
  • Knowledge of the principles and application of clinical governance.
  • Experience working with children with complex health and/or learning disabilities.

Skills and Attributes

Essential criteria
  • Ability to build a good rapport and communicate with babies, children and young people, parents/carers, and families to support during hospital journey.
  • Ability to navigate difficult conversations and support those with communication difficulties.
  • To demonstrate a good level of self-awareness and the ability to be a reflective practitioner.
  • Demonstrable IT Skills to include excel, word and creating presentations.
  • Ability to understand and adhere to professional boundaries
  • Ability to work both independently and in a team environment.
  • Ability to relate to and support the wider MDT in the care of BCYP during their healthcare journey.
Desirable criteria
  • Welsh Language Skills are desirable levels 1 to 5 in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing in Welsh
  • Ability to assess risks and manage risk benefit analysis, sharing this information in an effective way.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, utilising time management and organisation skills.

Other

Essential criteria
  • Demonstratable CPD in line with expectations of SoHPS registration.
  • Enhanced DBS clearance including an Adults and Childrens Barred List check

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareApprenticeships logoAge positiveDisability confident leaderhyderus o ran anableddAccredited Living Wage EmployerDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - GoldArmed Forces CovenantDFN Project Search LogoStonewall Top 100 Employers in 2023Stonewall Top 100 Employers in 2023Core principles

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Welsh language skills are desirable

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Lowri Morris
Job title
Therapeutic & Specialised Play Service Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
02920743680
Additional information

If you require any further information regarding this vacancy please contact our office on the number above. Please leave your contact details.

 

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