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
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
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
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
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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