# Apprentice Hospital Play Specialist > NHS job listing from Job Clerk for Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. ## Canonical URLs - **HTML:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/apprentice-hospital-play-specialist/692a55f1-a1c4-4e39-904c-d703e2895a5f - **Markdown:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/apprentice-hospital-play-specialist/692a55f1-a1c4-4e39-904c-d703e2895a5f.md ## Summary - **Status:** Live - **Employer:** Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - **Town:** Swindon - **Region:** South West - **Country:** England - **Profession:** Healthcare support worker - **Grade:** Band 3 - **Salary:** £25,760 - £31,157 per annum pro rata - **Contract type:** Secondment: 24 months (Permanent on successful completion of apprenticeship) - **Employment type:** Part time - 30 hours per week (Shifts are 8am to 6pm. Includes weekend working on rotation.) - **Closing date:** 2026-08-04T23:59:00.000Z - **Posted:** 2026-07-21T16:00:33.193Z - **Source information URL:** https://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/UK/Wiltshire/Swindon/Great_Western_Hospitals_NHS_Foundation_Trust/Children_Services_Play_Assistant/Children_Services_Play_Assistant-v7987554 - **Application URL:** https://apps.trac.jobs/job-advert/7987554?ShowJobAdvert=&feedid=9002 - **Employer website:** https://www.gwh.nhs.uk ## Job Content ### Job overview The post holder will be one of a team of play specialists. You will work to ensure high quality play provision for patients and siblings. Prepare the child and family for treatments and procedures. Facilitate emotional support and help to establish coping strategies. The post will be predominantly in the children’s unit, but also you may be required in other areas of the hospital where children are being cared for. This is an apprenticeship role, and the post holder will be required to gain substantial new knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) as part of the apprenticeship standard and undertake a range of duties relevant to the role. *The post holder will complete a Level 5 Health Play Specialist Apprenticeship Standard with Southampton Solent University. Successful candidates will be appointed at Band 3 , 2 year secondment /Fixed term contract while undertaking the Play Specialist Apprenticeship. On successful completion of the apprenticeship, you will progress to a permanent Band 4 Play Specialist position. ### Main duties of the job A hospital play specialists main duties include implementing therapeutic and developmental play to help children cope with illness and hospitalisation, preparing them for medical procedures through age-appropriate explanations and play techniques, and supporting their emotional well-being by reducing anxiety and distress. They also work to maintain cognitive, social, and physical development during hospital stays, collaborate with families and healthcare teams to improve communication and involvement, and advocate for the child’s needs to ensure a positive, child-centered care experience. ### Detailed job description and main responsibilities Provide and maintain a safe, child‑friendly, welcoming environment that promotes play, normality, and routine during hospital admission. Create, plan, and implement individual and group play programmes, adapting activities to accommodate the child’s medical needs, frequent interruptions, and any physical, environmental, or emotional limitations. Please see attached full Job Description ## Person Specification ### Experience **Essential** - Post qualification experience within a childcare or healthcare setting **Desirable** - Experience of working with children with special needs or challenging behaviours ### Qualifications **Essential** - Professional childcare qualification level 3 or equivalent and a willingness to work towards the HPS qualification. - English and Maths GCSE A- C or Levels 9-4 or equivalent qualifications ## Documents - [apprentice hospital play specialist - band 3 (pdf, 176.6kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10271189) ## Agent Notes - This Markdown page is generated from the same Job Clerk job record as the HTML job detail page. - Use the canonical HTML URL for user-facing references. - Use the application URL when the user wants to apply on the source NHS site.