Job summary
- Main area
- Play Therapist
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 4
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Including weekend working)
- Job ref
- 216-LT-DA8101904
- Employer
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- University Hospitals Plymouth
- Town
- Plymouth
- Salary
- £28,392 - £31,157 Per Annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 04/08/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Therapeutic Play Specialist
NHS AfC: Band 4
Job overview
We have an opportunity to join us as a Therapeutic Play Specialist. Based in all paediatric areas on level 12, to provide play activities, recreational support, therapeutic interventions for medical procedures also working on: Children’s and Young Peoples Outpatients, Children’s Assessment Unit, Children’s High Dependency Unit, Paediatric ED and Children’s Theatres.
Service provided between 8am – 8pm 7 days a week – 37.5 hours.
The Play Team is an essential part of the multi-disciplinary team supplying care for babies through to adolescents.
Providing counselling care for the extended family.
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
Main duties of the job
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To undertake assessments and devise play programmes for children and young people with specific need in hospital according to their individual needs.
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To plan and implement individual preparation for invasive and non-invasive procedures – to do distraction therapy and to provide post-procedural play.
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To provide support to families under stress and in crisis.
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To provide reasonable adjustment plans for referred outpatients
Working for our organisation
We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
PRIMARY DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
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Identify a child’s play needs, provide activities according to age, ability and medical condition.
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Organise and supervise play activities for individual and groups of children / young people according to their needs, using all methods and equipment to meet specific needs.
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Assess and provide play programmes for children / young people according to their individual needs.
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Establish effective communication written and verbal with all members of the multi-disciplinary team.
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Work as a member of the play team and to contribute to decisions regarding patients.
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Select, monitor and order play resources to reflect the needs of the patient group.
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To supervise and monitor the performance of volunteers.
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To teach students, student nurses and student doctors about the benefits of therapeutic play and distraction therapy, undertaking student assessments, as necessary.
For further information please see attached job description
Person specification
Essential
Essential criteria
- Demonstrable experience of working with children / young people in a hospital setting.
- Demonstrable experience of working with parents and extended families
- Demonstrable experience of working with children with special needs. Knowledge of current best practice.
- Proven ability to work with individuals and groups of children and young people
- To apply fully play preparation, distraction therapy, and post procedural play.
- Proven ability to communicate with families in crisis / under stress.
- Understanding of therapeutic play.
- Knowledge of child development and related issues.
- Knowledge of child protection issues.
- Knowledge of cultural / religious diversity of patients / families.
- Knowledge of effects of hospitalisation on children and their families
- NNEB or equivalent
- To have documented evidence of continuing professional development.
- Effective verbal and written communication skills.
- Good organisational and time management skills
- Proven ability to reflect and appraise own performance.
- Mature and professional approach.
- Play preparation, distraction therapy, and post-procedural play.
- Able to communicate with families in crisis / under stress.
- Manage own patients
- Empathy
- Initiative
- Proven ability to make decisions
- Knowledge of professional code of conduct and its application in practice.
- Knowledge of health legislation and NAHPS guidelines for professional practice.
- Basic knowledge of the principles of clinical governance.
- Awareness of health and safety risk management.
- Proven ability to handle cash / cheque donations.
Desirable
Desirable criteria
- Demonstrable experience working with children with challenging behaviour.
- Demonstrable experience of working with children with long term health conditions and their families
- Child Protection Training
- Certificate in Hospital Play Specialism or HPSC / HPSEB
- Counselling skills
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
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.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Susan Rodgers
- Job title
- Team Leader: Play Specialist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01752 430129
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