Therapeutic Play Specialist

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Job summary

We have an opportunity to join us as a Therapeutic Play Specialist. Based in all paediatric areas on level 12, to provide play activities, recreational support, therapeutic interventions for medical procedures also working on: Children’s and Young Peoples Outpatients, Children’s Assessment Unit, Children’s High Dependency Unit, Paediatric ED and Children’s Theatres.

Service provided between 8am – 8pm 7 days a week – 37.5 hours.

The Play Team is an essential part of the multi-disciplinary team supplying care for babies through to adolescents.

Providing counselling care for the extended family.

Main duties of the job

  • To undertake assessments and devise play programmes for children and young people with specific need in hospital according to their individual needs.
  • To plan and implement individual preparation for invasive and non-invasive procedures – to do distraction therapy and to provide post-procedural play.
  • To provide support to families under stress and in crisis.
  • To provide reasonable adjustment plans for referred outpatients

Person Specification

Essential

Essential

  • Demonstrable experience of working with children / young people in a hospital setting.
  • Demonstrable experience of working with parents and extended families
  • Demonstrable experience of working with children with special needs. Knowledge of current best practice.
  • Proven ability to work with individuals and groups of children and young people
  • To apply fully play preparation, distraction therapy, and post procedural play.
  • Proven ability to communicate with families in crisis / under stress.
  • Understanding of therapeutic play.
  • Knowledge of child development and related issues.
  • Knowledge of child protection issues.
  • Knowledge of cultural / religious diversity of patients / families.
  • Knowledge of effects of hospitalisation on children and their families
  • NNEB or equivalent
  • To have documented evidence of continuing professional development.
  • Effective verbal and written communication skills.
  • Good organisational and time management skills
  • Proven ability to reflect and appraise own performance.
  • Mature and professional approach.
  • Play preparation, distraction therapy, and post-procedural play.
  • Able to communicate with families in crisis / under stress.
  • Manage own patients
  • Empathy
  • Initiative
  • Proven ability to make decisions
  • Knowledge of professional code of conduct and its application in practice.
  • Knowledge of health legislation and NAHPS guidelines for professional practice.
  • Basic knowledge of the principles of clinical governance.
  • Awareness of health and safety risk management.
  • Proven ability to handle cash / cheque donations.

Desirable

Desirable

  • Demonstrable experience working with children with challenging behaviour.
  • Demonstrable experience of working with children with long term health conditions and their families
  • Child Protection Training
  • Certificate in Hospital Play Specialism or HPSC / HPSEB
  • Counselling skills

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Closing Date: 4 August 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.