Play Assistant
At a glance
- Band
- Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Part-time
- Posted
- 16/09/2026
- Closes
- 30/09/2026
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 Play Assistant role is based on the Children's Ward at Horton General Hospital. You will work alongside an experienced Health Play Specialist and the ward team to provide normalised play for hospitalised children. The role involves engaging effectively with children and young people, showing care and compassion. You will have the opportunity to learn and develop new skills within the play team and help promote play services.
Key responsibilities
- Work alongside the Health Play Specialist and ward team.
- Offer normalised play for hospitalised children.
- Support children in A&E and clinics as needed.
- Engage effectively with children and young people.
- Promote play services.
Essential criteria
- Experience and evidence of further development
- Evidence of working within a MDT team
Desirable criteria
- Experience with adolescents and children with challenging behaviour
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 3 at £24,625 – £25,674 a year, across England.
This advert: £25,760 – £27,476 — 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
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Play Assistant
The closing date is 30 September 2026
Job summary
PLAY ASSISTANT BAND 3
Play Assistant Full time post
This posts is based on the Children's Ward at the Horton General Hospital in Banbury. You will work alongside our experienced Health Play Specialist and the ward team offering normalised play for the Hospitalised child. This opportunity will be based on an inpatient ward but you may also be asked to support children in A&E, and clinics.
Main duties of the job
The Play Team and the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust recognises the importance of play and the impact it can have on a patient's experience, so we are looking for someone who is committed to meeting the needs and engaging effectively with children and young people showing care and compassion in their work.
The successful applicant can learn and develop new skills with the support of the play team and help to promote the play services .
We look forward to hearing from you if you are interested in joining this great team.
About us
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. Find out more here www.ouh.nhs.uk
The Trust comprises four h
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