Job summary
- Main area
- Paediatrics
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 432-HR357-25
- Employer
- East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Colchester Hospital
- Town
- Colchester
- Salary
- £24,625 - £25,674 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 22/06/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Hospital Play Assistant
NHS AfC: Band 3
We are one of the largest NHS organisation in England. Our scale provides exciting opportunities for development, innovation, research, education and training.
Talk to us about our range of flexible working opportunities, apprenticeships and staff benefits
Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is at the heart of all we do; and it forms part of the ESNEFT’s core activities. The Trust operates and relies on everyone treating each other with dignity and respect, to receive equitable and fair treatment in the implementation of Policies, Procedures and in its Practices, to foster positive work relationships, and finally to act with integrity as a professional within ESNEFT as well as a representative of the NHS as a whole. The EDI Agenda reflects the Trust values such as Optimistic, Appreciative and Kind. In line with the NHS Long Term Plan, People Plan, People Promise and a Model Employer intrinsic in the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Agenda, we consistently strive to improve, to take the learning into Action for a better ESNEFT.
If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge then we are keen to hear from you.
Job overview
A rare opportunity has arisen to join our friendly, professional and supportive Play Team at Colchester General Hospital as a Hospital Play Assistant.
The post within the Children's Service offers the opportunity for a qualified & registered play specialist to develop their skills within a supportive environment, however, applicants who do not possess this qualification will be considered.
This is a full time position ( for right candidate we will consider part time hours), working a combination of day time and evening shifts, providing play and recreational activity for individual children/groups of children of any age in the Hospital setting, helping to maintain a safe and child-focussed environment where play occurs naturally.
Main duties of the job
- To meet and greet child/ family attending hospital department, maintaining good communications with children, families and other visitors to the hospital
- To organize, supervise and maintain play activities for individual / groups of children and young people in hospital, according to their individual needs and as part of the overall care plan.
- To plan a programme of daily play activities for the playroom / department in conjunction with Play Specialists
- To use knowledge of child development when selecting play activities, promoting the normal development of children by using play as development aid
- Under the guidance of /as directed by Hospital Play Specialist, to select and apply therapeutic play programmes include preparation for invasive and non-invasive procedures, distraction therapy and post procedural play
- To document play interventions.
Working for our organisation
We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients’ own homes.
We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.
We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.
Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.
Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.
We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what’s widely regarded as the world’s best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.
Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For full details of the duties and responsibilities of this role, please see attached job description & person specification.
Person specification
Experience
Essential criteria
- Post qualification experience directly working with children /young people
Desirable criteria
- Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development
- Experience of working as part of a team
Skills
Essential criteria
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Desirable criteria
- IT Skills
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- • Up to secondary school education
- • NNEB or NVQ Level 3 Child Care
Desirable criteria
- • Hospital Play Specialist qualification
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Kim Ness
- Job title
- Sister - Children's Ward
- Email address
- [email protected]
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