Senior Play Specialist
At a glance
- Band
- Band 5
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Full-time
- Posted
- 18/09/2026
- Closes
- 04/10/2026
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Role summary
This role is for a Band 5 Play Specialist at Kingston Hospital, supporting children and young people across paediatric wards, the Emergency Department, and various outpatient clinics. You will provide therapeutic play interventions, manage an independent caseload, and support children undergoing oncology and longer-term treatment. The position involves mentoring junior colleagues and contributing to service improvements within a dynamic and varied healthcare setting.
Essential criteria
- Registered Play specialist with HPSET
- Experience of working with a variety of children and young people
- Equality and diversity knowledge
Desirable criteria
- Experience of Special Education Needs (SEND)
- Experience within a hospital setting
- Experience of leading a team
- Registered Play specialist with HPSET
- Experience of working with a variety of children and young people
- Equality and diversity knowledge
- Experience of Special Education Needs (SEND)
- Experience within a hospital setting
- Experience of leading a team
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 5 at £29,970 – £36,483 a year, across England.
This advert: £36,943 – £44,900 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 1d ago · Closes in 16d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust
Senior Play Specialist
The closing date is 04 October 2026
Job summary
As a Band 5 Play Specialist at Kingston Hospital , you'll step into a role with real breadth and variety -- from fast-paced shifts in our Emergency Department (ED) to providing longer-term support for children receiving oncology care or attending specialist clinics.
You'll rotate between our paediatric wards and ED , working with babies, children and young people from just a few days old up to 18. Some days you'll be supporting planned admissions and outpatient pathways; other days you'll be in ED where things move quickly and you need to think on your feet. The pace changes, the setting changes, and no two days are the same.
You'll also play an important role supporting children undergoing oncology and longer-term treatment. In this area you'll work closely with families during more complex and emotional parts of their hospital journey, building trusted relationships and becoming a familiar, reassuring face for those who visit regularly.
Alongside ward and ED work, you'll support a wide range of outpatient clinics including phlebotomy, dermatology, asthma, dental, orthopaedics, ENT and day surgery, giving you broad experience across our paediatric services.
As part of our small, friendly play team, you'll also have the opportunity t
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