Job summary
- Main area
- Health Play Specialist
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 4
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Part time - 30 hours per week
- Job ref
- 289-CS-33
- Employer
- Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- West Middlesex University Hospital
- Town
- London
- Salary
- £31,081 - £33,665 per annum incl. HCAS (pro rata)
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 21/05/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Health Play Specialist
NHS AfC: Band 4
Job overview
Health Play Specialist
West Middlesex site base
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated Health Play Specialist to join the Play Team at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital. The successful candidate will be working alongside a team of Play Support workers, Health Play Specialists, Senior Health Play Specialist and a Youth worker, as well as part of the Multi-Disciplinary team. This role is based at West Middlesex, but there is cross cover to our other site at Chelsea and Westminster as required.
The Play and Youth Service works closely with the Physiotherapists and provide joint MDT care within our wards.
The role requires you to have excellent verbal and communication skills, and a clear understanding of safeguarding processes and patient confidentiality. The successful candidate will have a working knowledge of child development theories, and how to implement them to support development through play. The successful candidate will hold a Fda in Healthcare Play Specialism or a recognised health play specialist qualification and will be registered with HPSET.
Main duties of the job
The Health Play Specialist will be required to work both autonomously, and as part of the team, and will be required to organise their working day to fit in with the needs of the patients and families.
Play and therapeutic support is central to a patient’s care pathway, and with this in mind, the successful applicant will need to be able to work creatively to ensure that long-term patients have access to a wide variety of stimulating play activities and support. As well as being able to provide a high level of procedure support to our patients before, during and after hospital procedures.
Working for our organisation
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites—Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital—along with award-winning clinics across North West London.
Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5 million, providing full clinical services, including maternity, A&E, and children’s services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health clinics. The Care Quality Commission rates us 'Good' in safety, effectiveness, care, and responsiveness, and 'Outstanding' in leadership and resource use.
We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and Westminster and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Middlesex.
We welcome applications for flexible working arrangements, accommodating requests where possible to support our staff and patient needs.
The Trust is committed to equality and welcomes applications from all, regardless of background. Adjustments can be made for disabled candidates. Early application is advised as vacancies may close once sufficient applications are received. If you haven’t heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probationary period.
Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
This role will enable the post holder to gain experience in covering a variety of paediatric areas including Children's Outpatients, HDU, Day Surgery and General Paediatric Inpatients.
The Play service runs from 08:00 - 18:00, and may include some Bank Holidays, weekends and evenings when necessary.
Please note only applicants who hold a recognised Health Play Specialist qualification will be considered.
Person specification
Trust Values
Essential criteria
- Putting patients first
- Responsive to, and supportive of, patients and staff
- Open, welcoming and honest
- Unfailingly kind, treating everyone with respect, compassion and dignity
- Determined to develop our skills and continuously improve the quality of care
Education and qualifications
Essential criteria
- A recognised Health Play Specialist Qualification or level 4 Diploma in Specialised play for
- Current registration with HPSET or overseas equivalent
Experience
Essential criteria
- Demonstrable experience of working with infants/ children/ young people.
- Experience of working with sick children and children with a physical or learning disability.
- Experience of effective working as a team member.
- Experience of working with parents and extended families.
skills and Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Knowledge of the effects of hospitalisation on children and their families.
- A full understanding and ability to apply play preparation, distraction therapy and post procedural play skills.
- Knowledge of professional code of conduct and its application in practice.
- An awareness of health and safety and risk management.
- Effective verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to communicate with families under stress and in crisis.
- Ability to work with individuals and groups of children/young people.
- Ability to work under pressure and flexibly as part of a team.
- Ability to work confidently in a variety of wards/areas.
- Ability to understand and adhere to professional boundaries of the role, referring on to line manager where necessary.
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria
- Commitment to patient/family-centred, non-discriminatory practice.
- Sensitive/empathetic to children and families in hospital.
- Enthusiasm, self-motivation and initiative.
- Maintain professional image.
- Punctual.
- Adaptable and flexible.
- Willing to learn new skills.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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
- Hazel Rand
- Job title
- Play & Youth Service Team Lead
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 02033158667
- Additional information
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