# Child Health Play Specialist > NHS job listing from Job Clerk for University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. ## Canonical URLs - **HTML:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/child-health-play-specialist/1eeb57e9-8de0-4785-a043-b61a524905e8 - **Markdown:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/child-health-play-specialist/1eeb57e9-8de0-4785-a043-b61a524905e8.md ## Summary - **Status:** Live - **Employer:** University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust - **Town:** Southampton - **Region:** South East - **Country:** England - **Profession:** Healthcare support worker - **Grade:** Band 4 - **Salary:** £28,392 - £31,157 per annum or per annum pro rata - **Contract type:** Permanent - **Employment type:** Part time - 30 hours per week - **Closing date:** 2026-06-30T23:59:00.000Z - **Posted:** 2026-06-16T09:31:05.030Z - **Source information URL:** https://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/UK/Hampshire/Southampton/University_Hospital_Southampton_NHS_Foundation_Trust/Child_Health/Child_Health-v8086042 - **Application URL:** https://apps.trac.jobs/job-advert/8086042?ShowJobAdvert=&feedid=9002 - **Employer website:** https://www.uhs.nhs.uk ## Job Content ### Job overview University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us. Please see below for detailed job description of the role. ### Main duties of the job We’re looking for a passionate, creative and highly motivated Hospital Play Specialist to join our dedicated team at UHS. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of children, young people and their families during their hospital journey. In this role, you’ll be at the centre of creating positive, meaningful experiences for children across the entire children’s hospital. Working closely with our multidisciplinary team, you’ll use specialised play techniques to support children through procedures, reduce anxiety, and help them feel safe, understood and empowered. You’ll bring warmth, imagination and confidence to every interaction — whether you’re leading engaging distraction activities during treatments, transforming clinical spaces into welcoming child‑friendly environments, or supporting families as they navigate challenging moments. Your ability to connect with children and young people of all ages will be key to helping them feel at ease and in control. As a valued member of our team, you’ll also play an active role in mentoring and supporting colleagues, helping to shape a vibrant, collaborative and child‑centred play service. If you’re enthusiastic, flexible, and committed to delivering exceptional care through therapeutic play, we’d love to hear from you. This is your chance to bring joy, comfort and creativity to children when they need it most — and to be part of a team that truly makes a difference. ### Detailed job description and main responsibilities Responsibilities: To manage and maintain a child focused environment where play occurs naturally.  To use theoretical knowledge and evidence based practice to assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapeutic play interventions in hospital and in the community. To promote an awareness of the emotional needs of children in hospital and the importance of play, within the multi-disciplinary team. To plan and implement individual therapeutic play programmes to include preparation for invasive and non-invasive procedures, distraction therapy and post procedural play. Experience and skills needed: Registered & qualified Health Play Specialist holding the Foundation Degree in Health Care Play. Registered with the Society of health Play Specialist (SoHPS) previously Healthcare Play Specialist Education Trust (HPSET) and National Association of Health Play Specialists (NAHPS). Experience of working with children and/or young people and their families in a health care setting. ## Job Details University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us. Please see below for detailed job description of the role. ## Job Description We’re looking for a passionate, creative and highly motivated Hospital Play Specialist to join our dedicated team at UHS. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of children, young people and their families during their hospital journey. In this role, you’ll be at the centre of creating positive, meaningful experiences for children across the entire children’s hospital. Working closely with our multidisciplinary team, you’ll use specialised play techniques to support children through procedures, reduce anxiety, and help them feel safe, understood and empowered. You’ll bring warmth, imagination and confidence to every interaction — whether you’re leading engaging distraction activities during treatments, transforming clinical spaces into welcoming child‑friendly environments, or supporting families as they navigate challenging moments. Your ability to connect with children and young people of all ages will be key to helping them feel at ease and in control. As a valued member of our team, you’ll also play an active role in mentoring and supporting colleagues, helping to shape a vibrant, collaborative and child‑centred play service. If you’re enthusiastic, flexible, and committed to delivering exceptional care through therapeutic play, we’d love to hear from you. This is your chance to bring joy, comfort and creativity to children when they need it most — and to be part of a team that truly makes a difference. ## Responsibilities Responsibilities: To manage and maintain a child focused environment where play occurs naturally. To use theoretical knowledge and evidence based practice to assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapeutic play interventions in hospital and in the community. To promote an awareness of the emotional needs of children in hospital and the importance of play, within the multi-disciplinary team. To plan and implement individual therapeutic play programmes to include preparation for invasive and non-invasive procedures, distraction therapy and post procedural play. Experience and skills needed: Registered & qualified Health Play Specialist holding the Foundation Degree in Health Care Play. Registered with the Society of health Play Specialist (SoHPS) previously Healthcare Play Specialist Education Trust (HPSET) and National Association of Health Play Specialists (NAHPS). Experience of working with children and/or young people and their families in a health care setting. ## Person Specification ### Trust Values **Essential** - Patients First - Always Improving - Working Together ### Qualifications training required **Essential** - Foundation Degree in Healthcare Play Specialism or Level 4 Diploma in Specialised Play for Children and Young People/ Edexcel Certificate in Hospital Play Specialism or HPSC/HPSEB. - Registration with HPSET - Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development (up to date professional portfolio) **Desirable** - Additional training relevant to role - Membership of Professional Body (NAHPS or CLC ### Previous or relevant experience necessary **Essential** - Experience of working with children and young people in a Hospital/ clinical setting. - Good organisational and time management skills, able to work on own initiative. - Experience of working effectively in a team. - Ability to communicate and work with parents and or families under stress and in crisis. - Knowledge of current best practice. - Experience of supporting students. - Ability to work with individuals and groups of children/young people. - Knowledge of and ability to apply therapeutic interventions for children and young people experiencing difficulties with hospitalisation, treatment and chronic illness.. - Ability to plan and coordinate therapeutic input. - Theoretical knowledge and understanding of therapeutic play and child development. - Knowledge of professional code of conduct and its application in practice - Basic knowledge of health legislation and NAHPS guidelines for professional practice. **Desirable** - Experience of working with children and young people with long-term health conditions and their families. - Experience of working with children and young people with additional needs including those with challenging behaviours. - Experience with family-centred work ## Documents - [job description (pdf, 249.7kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10378882) - [personal specification (pdf, 168.8kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10378883) ## 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.