Play Assistant
At a glance
- Band
- Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Part-time
- Posted
- 08/09/2026
- Closes
- 14/09/2026
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 alongside qualified Health Play Specialists to provide age-appropriate play opportunities for hospitalised Children and Young People (CYP) aged 0-18 years and their families. The post holder will help plan and evaluate play programmes, create a safe environment, and support effective patient flow by accompanying CYP to theatre. It also includes documenting play-based observations and participating in patient feedback initiatives.
Essential criteria
- Able to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service
Desirable criteria
- Evidence of previous other health care experience to include observations
- Communication
- Good interpersonal skills
- Evidence of working within a team
- Knowledge training
- NVQ level 3 or CACHE
- Evidence of working in a hospital setting or community with CYP
- Good IT skills and experience of using teams, electrical documentation
- Experience of working within a MDT
- Communication
- Able to function effectively in challenging, emotive situations
- Experience of hospital communication passports
- Analytical and judgement
- Able to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service
- Evidence of previous other health care experience to include observations
- Communication
- Good interpersonal skills
- Evidence of working within a team
- Knowledge training
- NVQ level 3 or CACHE
- Evidence of working in a hospital setting or community with CYP
- Good IT skills and experience of using teams, electrical documentation
- Experience of working within a MDT
- Communication
- Able to function effectively in challenging, emotive situations
- Experience of hospital communication passports
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 3 at £24,625 – £25,674 a year, across England.
This advert: £30,630 – £32,346 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 0d ago · Closes in 7d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust
Play Assistant
The closing date is 14 September 2026
Job summary
The post holder will work alongside qualified Health Play Specialist to provide age and stage appropriateplay opportunities and give support to the hospitalised Children, Young People (CYP) and their families.Throughout this job description we refer to Children, Young People age 0-18 years as CYP, this coversCYP with wide range of developmental abilities and sometimes complexities.
Interested candidates are invited to visit the ward to meet the team and learn more about the role and environment
Main duties of the job
Clinical / Therapeutic Develop and participate in planning of play programmes to incorporate normality and routine.Observe and evaluate the play programmes to meet the needs of CYP and family.Provide support for CYP and family.Create a safe and welcoming environment for all CYP to experience play whilst in hospital.Support effective patients flow by identifying and accompanying appropriate CYP to theatre toreduce delay. This CYP must have been prepared and ready by the nursing staff.
To have an awareness of hospital communication passports and ensure that all CYP and families have the relevant access to ensure passports in place as required.
Assisting with theatre admission flow team with any actions co-signed safely by registered nu
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