Job summary
- Main area
- Play Specialist
- Grade
- Band 5
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Weekend work, 8-4 pm & 10-18.00 pm shifts)
- Job ref
- 396-7721434-AHP-DE-GV
- Employer
- Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Kingston Hospital
- Town
- Kingston
- Salary
- £36,943 - £44,900 pro rata pa. incl. HCAS
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 06/04/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Senior Play Specialist
Band 5
Home, community, hospital
Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust offers a range of fantastic opportunities to grow your career across both hospital and community settings in south London. Whether you're looking to build new skills or take your experience to the next level, we are uniquely placed to provide the right environment to support your professional development. With colleagues working in people’s homes, in community clinics, and in our two hospitals, we have an outstanding breadth of knowledge and experience to draw from.
Our commitment to exceptional care is reflected in being the first trust of our kind in London to achieve an ‘Outstanding’ rating from the CQC for both overall quality and leadership. We exist to provide the best possible care for our patients and we do that by giving our colleagues what they need to be their best at work. We have won numerous awards from the HSJ and Nursing Times for the way we support our colleagues across all our services.
We are proud to be recognised for our outstanding cancer care, children's services, pioneering surgical teams, and exceptional rehabilitation services. Our maternity services have been rated the "Best in London" by women surveyed by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), with parents travelling to Kingston to take advantage of our considerable experience and expertise.
Our Trust values
These words are important reminders, but it’s our behaviours that tell people who we are. We expect all colleagues to bring our values to life in their work.
- Compassionate: We provide care with kindness, understanding, and empathy for all.
- Inclusive: We embrace diversity and respect the unique contributions of every individual.
- Collaborative: We foster teamwork across all levels, working together and with our partners to deliver the best outcomes.
- Inspiring: We are committed to continuous improvement and excellence in patient care, staff development, and innovation.
Job overview
As a Band 5 Play Specialist at Kingston Hospital, you’ll step into a role with real breadth and variety — from fast-paced shifts in our Emergency Department (ED) to providing longer-term support for children receiving oncology care or attending specialist clinics.
You’ll rotate between our paediatric wards and ED, working with babies, children and young people from just a few days old up to 18. Some days you’ll be supporting planned admissions and outpatient pathways; other days you’ll be in ED where things move quickly and you need to think on your feet. The pace changes, the setting changes, and no two days are the same.
You’ll also play an important role supporting children undergoing oncology and longer-term treatment. In this area you’ll work closely with families during more complex and emotional parts of their hospital journey, building trusted relationships and becoming a familiar, reassuring face for those who visit regularly.
Alongside ward and ED work, you’ll support a wide range of outpatient clinics including phlebotomy, dermatology, asthma, dental, orthopaedics, ENT and day surgery, giving you broad experience across our paediatric services.
As part of our small, friendly play team, you’ll also have the opportunity to take on additional responsibility — mentoring students and junior colleagues, contributing to service improvements and managing your own caseload with increasing independence.
Main duties of the job
Our service spans a 24-bed inpatient ward, two HDU beds, the Physical Assessment Unit and outpatient clinics, offering plenty of variety. You’ll develop specialist skills, gain experience across different clinical settings and build a strong foundation for future progression.
Key responsibilities
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Lead and deliver therapeutic play interventions for children and young people across wards and ED, including preparation, distraction and post-procedural support.
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Manage an independent caseload, prioritising referrals and adapting approaches based on clinical need.
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Provide mentorship and informal supervision to Band 4 Play Specialists, trainees and students on placement.
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Contribute to training and awareness sessions for the MDT to promote the emotional and developmental needs of children in hospital.
- Support children and families experiencing anxiety, crisis or longer-term treatment.
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Create and maintain inclusive, age-appropriate play environments and resources.
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Maintain accurate documentation and activity data in line with professional and Trust standards.
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Participate in audits, service evaluation and quality improvement initiatives.
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Monitor, select and order play resources, ensuring infection control and safety standards are met.
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Contribute to safeguarding assessments and holistic care planning.
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Work collaboratively with the MDT while also being confident working independently and making informed decisions.
Working for our organisation
Our play service is supported by Momentum and Kingston Hospital Charity, which allows us to go beyond the basics. We have a bright, purpose-built playroom that opens onto a garden — somewhere children can get fresh air, reset and feel a bit more like themselves.
We’re also able to bring things onto the ward that children wouldn’t usually expect in hospital — from visits by Chelsea Football Club and therapy animals (including owls and ponies), to entertainers, puppet sessions, bake sales and toy events. You’ll be encouraged to bring ideas, take initiative and help shape these experiences as part of a creative and supportive team.
What skills/ qualifications do you need?
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A recognised Health Play Specialist qualification.
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Up-to-date registration with the Society of Health Play Specialists (SoHPS).
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Post-qualification experience working with children and young people in a healthcare setting
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Experience supporting children and young people with SEND, and confidence adapting play, communication and preparation to meet different needs.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
***Please see the attached supporting document/s which contains more information about the role in the job description and person specification***
Please ensure your supporting statement aligns with the job description and person specification, as your application will be assessed against these criteria.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Registered Play specialist with HPSET
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working with a variety of children and young people
- Equality and diversity knowledge
Desirable criteria
- Experience of Special Education Needs (SEND)
- Experience within a hospital setting
- Experience of leading a team
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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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
- Hind Thomas
- Job title
- Senior Sister
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 020 8546 7711
- Additional information
020 8546 7711 x2417
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