Health Play Specialist

Health Play Specialist

The closing date is 29 January 2026

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Qualified and Registered Health Play Specialist to join our Play and Youth Team in the department of Child Health, led by a Health Play Specialist Team Co‑ordinator.

Are you passionate about making a difference in health care through play?

Do you champion the power of play to support babies, children and young people to feel safe, understood and empowered?

This is an exciting role where you can apply your skills in providing therapeutic play, preparation, distraction therapy and normalised play to babies, children and young people.

You should have strong communication and interpersonal skills, with a high degree of empathy, understanding, diplomacy, honesty, integrity and sensitivity.

You will need to have experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team, maintaining confidentiality throughout. You must be able to accurately document all patient interventions on the patient's electronic notes.

You will need the Health Play Specialist qualification and be a registered Health Play Specialist. Applications from 2ndyear Health Play Specialist students will be accepted.

You will need an understanding and ability to work with addition and complex needs.

The post holder must be a registered and qualified Health Play Specialist, holding the foundation degree in Health Play Specialism or the Edxcel certificate or diploma as a Hospital Play Specialist.

They will work as part of the Play & Youth team to deliver a high standard of service, promoting play activities, therapeutic play sessions in the preparation of babies, children and young people (BCYP) for procedures, examinations and inventions.

To be responsible for the assessment, planning, implementation and the evaluation of play strategies which encompass the developmental and emotional needs of the BCYP and their families or carers within the hospital setting.

To adhere to the safeguarding policy and guidance within the Trust to ensure the safety of BCYP within the organisation.

To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of BCYP and their families, and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.

To support and participate in the delivery of training and education on the importance and impact therapeutic play intervention has on BCYP to the multi-disciplinary team (MDT).

Be responsible for acting in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the good standard and reputation of Play (Acknowledgement - SoHPS Code of Professional Conduct Standards)

The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person‑centred, digitally‑enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Clinical Practice

• Create a welcoming, safe and caring play environment for the Babies, children and young people (BCYP) and their families.
• Use play as a tool to communicate and build rapport with BCYP people attending the hospital.
• Manage and be responsible in using theoretical knowledge and evidence-based practice to assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapeutic play interventions in hospital
• Document therapeutic interventions and…