Job summary
- Main area
- Radiotherapy
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 5
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 309-UCLH-5693-C
- Employer
- University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- University College Hospital
- Town
- London
- Salary
- £35,964 - £43,780 Per annum inclusive of HCAS
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 24/06/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Senior Health Play Specialist Radiotherapy/Proton Beam Therapy
NHS AfC: Band 5
The use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it, then they are required to declare this in their supporting statement.
Job overview
A unique opportunity has arisen for a skilled and dynamic Senior Health Play Specialist (HPS) to join our experienced team within the Radiotherapy (RT) and Proton Beam Therapy (PBT) departments. The post holder will support children and young people (CYP) up to the age of 18 years, and their families.
The post holder will be involved in all aspects of preparation and support from initial consultation through to completion of RT/PBT. This includes supporting the patient through immobilisation, CT and MRI scans as well as treatment, using specialist skills in preparation and distraction to help reduce anxiety associated with these procedures. They will be part of a multi-disciplinary team and play a key role in assessments of patients accessing our service.
UCLH is the largest provider of paediatric and TYA RT services in the UK. RT delivers treatments for a broad spectrum of cancers including brachytherapy, molecular RT and total body irradiation. The PBT department focus’s predominantly on head and neck, neurological and sarcoma treatment sites and is one of only two NHS PBT centres. We are seeking a committed individual with the energy and focus to continue building on the existing service of excellence.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will undertake core aspects of the HPS role, from building trusting relationships, to preparing and supporting for each stage of the RT/PBT pathway.
Daily/weekly activities will include.
- · Initial consultations/ meeting new families.
- · Assessment of child & family needs
- · Preparing & supporting CYP for procedures such as CT, MRI and treatment.
- · Individualised preparation sessions and visits to treatment machines
- · Supporting patients & families on the General Anaesthetic pathway
- · Providing general play and recreation
Other duties involve documentation and attendance and contribution at MDT and clinics. There are also opportunities for supporting and mentoring students, teaching and presentations, and developing the role across both departments. They will work primarily in a smaller Health play specialist team in RT/ PBT, but also benefit from being part of the wider play and youth service here at UCLH.
Applicants are required to have experience of working with children and young people in a healthcare setting and to be able to deal sensitively with families under stress. They will need to be able to engage easily with the patient and to be able to work effectively alongside MDT colleagues to enhance the hospital experience. The postholder will work as part of a supportive team where play and recreation are highly valued as an integral part of the treatment pathway for children and young people.
Working for our organisation
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.
We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:
-
University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)
-
National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
-
Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals
-
University College Hospital Grafton Way Building
-
Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
-
University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
-
The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
-
University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street
We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women’s health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.
We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
At UCLH (University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust) our success starts with you.
This is an exciting opportunity to join one of the largest and most successful Foundation Trusts in the UK with an international reputation and a tradition of innovation.
Based in the busy West End of London, we have a lively and vibrant working atmosphere, with quick and easy transport links to all our sites. Our size and resources enable us to offer a range of attractive benefits as well as unparalleled education and development opportunities for staff at all levels. This includes an extensive portfolio of academic and clinical courses and programmes ranging from ongoing personal development through to clinical excellence and leadership skills. UCLH prides itself on its investment in staff both in terms of developing career skills but also its commitment to staff health and wellbeing.
UCLH is seeking a committed individual with the energy and focus to continue building on the existing service of excellence and the ability to lead in their area of expertise.
The post holder will play a key role in managing paediatric and TYA patients with complex needs who are undergoing a course of RT/PBT. It will be necessary to use evidence-based practice to assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapeutic play and recreational interventions. They will play a role in generating new solutions to identify and best meet the needs of patients and their families and manage projects under the supervision of the Specialist Paediatric and TYA Radiographer and the Team Leader Senior Play Specialists/Activity Co-ordinators. In addition, the post holder will monitor the play environments to ensure that these are age-appropriate areas where play and recreation occurs naturally. The post holder will play a role in improving the safety and quality of the services for children, contributing to safeguarding and identifying improvements. They will work closely with the Specialist Paediatric and TYA Radiographer and the Team Leader Senior Play Specialists/Activity Co-ordinators in the overall pathway management of Paediatric and TYA patients within the service and for meeting national and local targets. They will work as part of the Radiotherapy Play Team as well as working independently to meet the needs of the patients and their families. The post holder will liaise closely with GOSH, in Day Care, with the UCLH paediatric cancer wards and external referring hospitals.
For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*
*In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England – for the second year in a row.
UCLH top trust to work at in England – for the second year running! University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Once again, UCLH has received the highest score of all general acute and acute/community NHS trusts in England for staff that would recommend us as a place to work.
To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?
Person specification
Knowledge and Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Registered & qualified Health Play Specialist holding the Foundation Degree in Health Care Play Specialism or previous HPSC/HPSEB, Edexcel PDC/HND in Hospital Play Specialism or oversees equivalent.
- Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development For example; Counselling Skills certificate, Supervisory Skills Training, Presentation skills., Published articles, Conference Presentations
- Specialist knowledge and application of therapeutic assessments and interventions relevant to patient group and treatment plan.
- Knowledge of the effects of hospitalisation, treatment and long term chronic and life threatening illness on children and young people and their families.
- Knowledge of the principles and application of clinical governance.
Desirable criteria
- NNEB/ NVQ Level 3 or equivalent training involving normal child care and development.
- Bachelor’s Degree (or overseas equivalent) in a subject relevant to work with children and/or young people.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Post qualifying and recent, comprehensive experience of working with children and/or young people in a health care setting, in a variety of clinical areas and/or vast experience in specialised field.
- Experience of effective working as a team member within the MDT.
- Experience of providing family centred care and working with the extended family
- Experience of working with children and/or young people with special needs including those with challenging behaviours.
- Experience of working with patients with challenging behaviours.
Desirable criteria
- Comprehensive experience of leading play/recreation activities for babies, children and/or young people.
- Regular supervision of students.
Skills and Abilities
Essential criteria
- Theoretical understanding of and ability to manage & apply therapeutic play interventions for children and young people in a hospital setting including preparation, distraction therapy and post procedural play.
- Word processing, excel and internet search skills.
- Ability to work independently as well as within a team, manage own workload and determine priorities under pressure.
- Able to communicate complex information effectively with patients, families and staff, in written, verbal and nonverbal forms
Desirable criteria
- Presentation skills
- Counselling skills
Other requirements
Essential criteria
- SoHPS registration
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
- Claire Hardy
- Job title
- Advanced Health Play Specialist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Additional information
If you would like to know more about the role or to arrange a tour of the departments, please contact:
Claire Hardy & Rhonda Alexander- Advanced Health Play Specialist (Team Leaders)
e-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
List jobs with University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Allied Health Professions or all sectors