Health Play Specialist
At a glance
- Band
- Band 4
- Contract
- Fixed-term
- Pattern
- Part-time
- Posted
- 20/08/2026
- Closes
- 17/09/2026
Sponsorship verdict
This contract type is not eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship.
NHS Trusts cannot issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for part-time, bank, locum, zero-hours, job-share or short fixed-term (under 12 months) contracts under current Home Office rules. This applies even when the wider Trust holds a Skilled Worker licence.
Role summary
This role involves working as a Band 4 Health Play Specialist across Barnet, Edgware, and Chase Farm hospitals. The post-holder will provide therapeutic play, preparation, and distraction therapy to babies, children, and young people in various hospital settings, including inpatient wards, day surgery, and outpatients. The successful candidate must be a qualified and registered Health Play Specialist with experience in a healthcare setting, and will have opportunities for professional development.
Essential criteria
- Registered qualified Hospital Play Specialist holding the Foundation degree in Healthcare Play Specialism or Edexcel
- NNEB/NVQ Level 3 or equivalent training childcare and development
- Experience of working with babies/children and young people in hospital setting
- Experience of effective working as a team member
- Experience of working with parents and extended families
- Experience of working with children with special needs including those with challenging behaviour
Desirable criteria
- Documented evidence of continuing Professional Development
- Skills and Aptitudes
- A full understanding and ability to apply preparation, distraction therapy and post procedure play skills
- Basic knowledge of child protection policies and relevant health legislation
- Ability to communicate effectively with patients/families and staff
- Basic competency using word and excel
- Knowledge of NAHPS professional code of conduct and its application in practice
- Values
- Demonstrable ability to meet the Trust Values
- Education and Professional Qualifications
- Registered qualified Hospital Play Specialist holding the Foundation degree in Healthcare Play Specialism or Edexcel
- NNEB/NVQ Level 3 or equivalent training childcare and development
- Experience of working with babies/children and young people in hospital setting
- Experience of effective working as a team member
- Experience of working with parents and extended families
- Experience of working with children with special needs including those with challenging behaviour
- Documented evidence of continuing Professional Development
- Skills and Aptitudes
- A full understanding and ability to apply preparation, distraction therapy and post procedure play skills
- Basic knowledge of child protection policies and relevant health legislation
- Ability to communicate effectively with patients/families and staff
- Basic competency using word and excel
- Knowledge of NAHPS professional code of conduct and its application in practice
- Values
- Demonstrable ability to meet the Trust Values
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 4 at £26,530 – £29,114 a year, across England.
This advert: £33,262 – £36,027 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 10d ago · Closes in 19d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Job summary
Band 4 Health Play Specialist
Please see attached job description for more information about this role and working at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust.
- The available vacancy is at Barnet, Edgware and Chase Farm hospitals.
The post-holder may be required to work cross sites
Main duties of the job
The main part of this role will be to work within areas, which includes inpatient ward, day surgery/ambulatory ward, and children's outpatients. You may also be required to work with children in other units that children are seen within the Trust. The successful candidate must have a Health Play Specialist qualification and be registered with SoHPS. You will need to have experience working with babies, children and young people in a healthcare setting. In return you will have the opportunity to expand your skills, access training and be supported in your professional development.
About us
The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's biggest and most innovative trusts. Across three main hospitals, our dedicated army of staff care for over 1.6million patients, treat more than 200,000 in A&E, deliver over 8,000 babies and carry out more than 17million tests.
Our size, scale and influence offer you unrivalled career opportunities and a forward-thinking approach to working that works around your lifestyle. From flexible hours
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