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Job summary

Main area
Paediatrics
Grade
Band 4
Contract
Fixed term: 12 months (Maternity leave to commence 01/2026)
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
438-PB3750-A
Employer
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
RPH ward 8
Town
Preston
Salary
£28,392 - £31,157 Per Annum, Pro Rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
23/04/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Play Specialist

Band 4

Job overview

The Play Specialist is a person with expert knowledge and experience of play with the well child and with the sick child/young person.  She/he is a fully integrated member of the Health Professionals Team.  The Play Specialist will work within the Play Service and ward/department team but also she/he will work independently using their own initiative, organisation, leadership and time management.

 

The Play Specialist will provide developmental, therapeutic and specialised play techniques for all ages and diversities in an effort to fulfil emotional, social and developmental needs and help alleviate emotional trauma within families.

Main duties of the job

Assess, plan, implement and evaluate play to meet patients’ needs in accordance with agreed local and national standards and evidence based guidelines

Be responsible for the delivery and co-ordination of play through, appropriate professional practice

Maintain and develop own professional competence and seek to extend the scope of personal knowledge and skills within scope of role and professional practice

Proactively manage risk and maintain patient safety, conforming to health, safety and security legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines

 

Working for our organisation

LTHTR is a Trust based on two main hospital sites at Preston and Chorley.  There is an acute children’s ward at Preston where you would be primarily based.
 
The ward cares for children and young people aged 0 – 16yrs on our 24 bedded ward which consists of 4 HDU beds, 3 cubicles and 3-4 beds in 5 separate bays. Attached to the main ward is a ward consisting of 10 cubicles.  We also have a Paediatric Assessment Unit (PAU) which is open Monday to Sunday. The Day Case Unit is open Monday – Friday and once a fortnight it transfers to Chorley for a day.
 
There is a Children’s Clinic at Preston open Monday – Friday.
The post will require close liaison with all areas where children are cared for within the trust, such as ED, day surgery, Day Case, the children’s community team and outpatients. We are a very supportive team which encourages personal development which is supported by the practice educator on the ward.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Assess, plan, implement and evaluate play to meet patients’ needs in accordance with agreed local and national standards and evidence based guidelines

Be responsible for the delivery and co-ordination of play through, appropriate professional practice

Maintain and develop own professional competence and seek to extend the scope of personal knowledge and skills within scope of role and professional practice

Proactively manage risk and maintain patient safety, conforming to health, safety and security legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines

 

Person specification

Qualifications & Education

Essential criteria
  • HPSET Certificate · NNEB/BETEC or relevant child care qualification at NVQ level 3.
Desirable criteria
  • HPSET Certificate · NNEB/BETEC or relevant child care qualification at NVQ level 3.

Knowledge & Experience

Essential criteria
  • Knowledge of developmental needs from birth to 18 years incorporating all cultures and diversities. · Knowledge of the social and psychological needs of children, young people and their families. · Understanding health & safety issues and confidentiality/data protection
Desirable criteria
  • Awareness of the current literature and government legislation relating to children and young people

Skills & Abilities

Essential criteria
  • Leadership skills with in the play service to organise and lead planned projects.
  • Ability to teach and empower other health care professionals in providing play in the play teams absence
  • Communication verbal/non verbal skills
  • Ability to work independently using own initiative and work within a team
  • Documentation and report writing skills
  • Enthusiastic and forward thinking
  • Ability to reflect practice through literature research.
  • Ability to work with families who are under duress.

Values & Behaviours

Essential criteria
  • Empathetic
  • Enthusiastic and Positive
  • Able to work as part of a team
  • Ability to motivate
  • Committed to working in a play specialist role ·
  • Aware of boundaries of the Role
  • Flexible to meet the needs of the service

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyWorkplace Wellbeing Charter LogoDisability Employment CharterArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardDisability confident employerInclusive Top 50 LogoStep into healthHappy to Talk Flexible Working

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.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Judith Ellison
Job title
Patient Experience Lead CYP
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0177291500
Additional information

Contact preferably via email 

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