Job summary
- Main area
- Play Specialist
- Grade
- Band 4
- Contract
- 23 months (fixed term)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 273-DC-6936005-C
- Employer
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Research RDCEC
- Town
- RDCEC
- Salary
- £33,094 - £36,195 per annum incl. HCAS
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 09/09/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Hospital Play Specialist
Band 4
YOU MAKE US MORE
Join Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
At Moorfields, people’s sight matters—and so do the people who make it possible.
For over 200 years, Moorfields has been at the forefront of ophthalmic care, research, and education. With more than 2,300 dedicated team members and over 700,000 patients seen annually across our City Road site and 22 networked sites, we are proud to be a global centre of excellence.
We're also a vibrant community where kindness, equity and excellence shape every aspect of our work. Whether it’s pioneering research through our partnership with UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Biomedical Research Centre or training the next generation of global eye care leaders, we’re united by one mission—delivering world-class eye health, sustainably and at scale.
And we’re just getting started.
Construction is well underway on our groundbreaking new centre in Camden, a joint initiative between Moorfields Eye Hospital, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Charity This modern, flexible facility will bring together eye care, research, and education under one roof—enabling transformative innovation and collaboration like never before.
Could you be part of this future? Make us more.
Job overview
To foster an environment conducive to development for all children who are in his/her care, through the best use of play and stimulation within limits of the child's capacity.
To provide support for the child and family .
To plan, implement and evaluate play programmes for children and young people. prepare children/ young people for invasive and non-invasive procedures, distraction therapy and post procedural play.
Provide distraction techniques in theatre, working alongside the multidisciplinary team
Build therapeutic relationships and family centred care with the service user.
Main duties of the job
Create a suitable environment with the co-operation of other staff in which play occurs naturally for children and young people participating in research and the clinical areas they move through: the Clinical Research Facility, the 2nd floor research area, the Day Ward area, Theatres, Paediatric Accident and Emergency and Paediatric Outpatient Clinics. To supervise play environment in the satellite locations as directed by the Paediatric & Research Service, as required.
Participate in the assessment of play development needs of individual children.
Provide organised play and/or stimulation within the restrictions of the environment and the individual child's condition.
Participate in the provision of play preparation and distraction for clinical procedures and for children undergoing surgery.
Be responsible for the selection of materials, toys and play equipment and see that the equipment and toys are safe, clean and maintained in good order.
Liaise with multi - disciplinary team with regard to appropriate play and observe and report on individual children's response to play.
Working for our organisation
At Moorfields, we provide more than just an excellent career and great colleagues to work with. We also offer:
- Salary including High-Cost Area Supplement
- Opportunity to join the NHS Pension Scheme
- Free 24/7 independent counselling service
- Learning and development opportunities
- Easy and quick transport links
- A range of attractive benefits and discounts
- Access to Blue Light Card and other NHS Discount Schemes
- Free Pilates classes
- Full support and training to develop your skills
- Flexible working friendly organisation
And so much more! To see the full range of benefits we offer please see our Moorfields benefits document.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Participate in safeguarding children and young people within the Trust to ensure their safety and to adhere to the safeguarding policy.
Supervise students undertaking childcare courses from educational Institutes.
Welcome and make each family as comfortable as possible in the waiting and play areas. Communicate to parents in a manner that they understand with regards to their child. Provide support to families under stress and in crisis.
Devise individual play programmes for children and young people in the hospital and provide play and distraction within clinics and satellite clinics.
Respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of the child and their families and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.
Keep abreast of trends by attending study days and conferences at the discretion of the Senior Play Team staff and senior Paediatric and Research Nursing staff.
Review and reflect on own practice through the effective use of clinical supervision and appraisal.
Preparation for invasive and non-invasive procedures, distraction therapy and post procedural play.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Registered Society of Health Play Specialists (SoHPS)
- Revalidate yearly and keep up to date with registration
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Theoretical knowledge and understanding of therapeutic play and child development
- Knowledge of up to date best practice
- Knowledge pertaining to clinical governance
Desirable criteria
- Complete hospital passport with families
- Willingness to learn ophthalmic procedures and diagnosis
- Willingness to appraise play leaders in the team
Experience
Essential criteria
- 2 years minimum experience working with children and young people
Skills
Essential criteria
- Ability to provide person centred care through play to children/adolescents
- Great verbal and written communication skills
- Good organisational skills
- Plan, implement and evaluate play plans and apply play preparation, distraction therapy and post procedural play
- Health, safety, and risk awareness
Desirable criteria
- IT Skills
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
- Karen Andiapen
- Job title
- Charge Nurse
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0207 566 2595
- Additional information
Shenille Tabasa-Lim 0207 566 2595
If you have problems applying, contact
- Address
-
Any
- Telephone
- [email protected]
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