Play specialist
At a glance
- Band
- Band 5
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Part-time
- Posted
- 11/09/2026
- Closes
- 25/09/2026
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 creating a welcoming and safe environment for children in hospital, using play to help them cope with their illness and medical procedures. The specialist will act as an advocate for children, facilitate social interaction, and support families. They will also observe children's play and share assessments with the healthcare team to support long-term care plans. Ensuring toys and facilities are clean and safe is also a key responsibility.
Essential criteria
- Registered Health Play Specialist
- Edexcel Level 4 Diploma in Specialised Play for Sick Children and Young People or HPSC/HPSEB
Desirable criteria
- Membership of professional body (NAHPS
- Practical and Intellectual skills
- Knowledge of and ability to apply therapeutic interventions for children experiencing extreme difficulties with hospitalisation, treatment and chronic illness.
- Experience of mentorship
- Experience of working with complex referrals and managing own caseload.
- Experience of teaching, training, assessment and supervision of students and or volunteers of all levels
- Qualifications and experience
- Registered Health Play Specialist
- Edexcel Level 4 Diploma in Specialised Play for Sick Children and Young People or HPSC/HPSEB
- Membership of professional body (NAHPS
- Practical and Intellectual skills
- Knowledge of and ability to apply therapeutic interventions for children experiencing extreme difficulties with hospitalisation, treatment and chronic illness.
- Experience of mentorship
- Experience of working with complex referrals and managing own caseload.
- Experience of teaching, training, assessment and supervision of students and or volunteers of all levels
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 5 at £29,970 – £36,483 a year, across England.
This advert: £32,073 – £39,043 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 1d ago · Closes in 14d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust
Play specialist
The closing date is 25 September 2026
Job summary
create a welcoming, safe and caring environment that encourages children to take part in play activities
- act as an advocate for children and young people in their interactions with the healthcare team
- use play to help children and young people settle into life in hospital, to help them prepare for medical procedures and to help calm and distract them during these procedures, facilitating their consent and compliance
- use play to help children reach developmental targets, learn new skills and relearn skills they may have lost during their illness
- facilitate social interaction to help patients and their families to make friends and find support from others in the wards
- observe children playing either in a dedicated playroom, in the ward or at their bedside
- share your assessments and observations with other members of the health team, including speech and language therapists, doctors, nurses and physiotherapists, to support their long-term care plan
- liaise with health play specialists in the community and in hospices to ensure continuity of play interventions
- support families under stress and advise them on how they can use play with their children to help them cope with their diagnosis and treatment
- promote the importance of play and awareness of
Join the community to read the full pack, responsibilities and person-specification in one place.
Your seat is reserved — activate it
CareerHive is included with your CareerHive Skool community membership. If you haven't claimed your account yet, join the community (or sign in with the same email you joined with) to unlock the full advert, the apply link, HiveMind AI interview & application suite, your private vault, and daily sponsorship alerts.