# Healthcare Play Specialist - Peterborough > NHS job listing from Job Clerk for North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust. ## Canonical URLs - **HTML:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/healthcare-play-specialist-peterborough/34b04478-3744-4ef6-babd-29894c000118 - **Markdown:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/healthcare-play-specialist-peterborough/34b04478-3744-4ef6-babd-29894c000118.md ## Summary - **Status:** Live - **Employer:** North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust - **Town:** Peterborough - **Region:** East of England - **Country:** England - **Profession:** Healthcare support worker - **Grade:** Band 4 - **Salary:** £28,392 - £31,157 per annum pro rata - **Contract type:** Permanent - **Employment type:** Full time, Part time, 37.5 hours per week - **Closing date:** 2026-08-04T23:59:00.000Z - **Posted:** 2026-07-21T07:02:30.847Z - **Source information URL:** https://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/UK/Cambridgeshire/Peterborough/North_West_Anglia_NHS_Foundation_Trust/Healthcare_Play_Specialist/Healthcare_Play_Specialist-v8169720 - **Application URL:** https://apps.trac.jobs/job-advert/8169720?ShowJobAdvert=&feedid=9002 - **Employer website:** https://www.nwangliaft.nhs.uk ## Job Content ### Job overview ### Transform Hospital Stays for Children – Join Our Dedicated Play Team! Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of children during their hospital journey? Do you have the skills and enthusiasm to create a positive, playful environment that supports emotional and physical recovery? If so, we want you to join our expanding Play Team at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust! ### About Us Our Play Service is integral to the holistic care we provide for children and young people aged 0-17 years across two sites. We strive to create an environment where play is not just an activity but a vital component of healthcare, supporting developmental, therapeutic and recovery needs. With recent developments in our Trust, we are placing an even stronger emphasis on play as an essential part of a child’s care journey. ### Why Join Us? - Be part of a passionate team that puts children’s well-being at the heart of everything we do. - Work in an environment where your skills are valued and your contributions make a real impact. - Help shape the future of play as an essential part of care within our Trust. ### Apply Now! If you’re ready to bring your skills and passion for play to our team, we’d love to hear from you. Make a difference in a child’s hospital journey—apply today! Together, we can transform care through play. ### Main duties of the job ### The Opportunity We are looking for enthusiastic and registered Healthcare Play Specialists to join our team. You’ll play a pivotal role in using evidence-based practice to assess, plan, and deliver therapeutic play interventions tailored to individual needs. What We’re Looking For - A Healthcare Play Specialism qualification (Foundation Degree or equivalent). - Registration as a Healthcare Play Specialist. - Proven experience working with children in a healthcare setting. - Strong communication, time management, and leadership skills. - Ability to work both independently and as part of a team across sites ### What You’ll Bring Your creativity, compassion, and expertise will help bridge the gap between hospital and home, creating a positive and memorable experience for children and their families. As a qualified and registered Play Specialist, you will: - Work collaboratively within the Play Team and the wider multidisciplinary team. - Use therapeutic and developmental play techniques to meet the emotional, physical, and social needs of children and young people. - Support families in engaging with their child’s play and recovery journey. - Facilitate distraction and preparation techniques for invasive or painful procedures. - Develop individual play programs for long-term or specific needs patients. - Act as an advocate for the importance of play within the hospital setting, showcasing its value to the wider healthcare team. ### Detailed job description and main responsibilities Please refer to the attached job description for a comprehensive list of duties, responsibilities, and expectations. ## Person Specification ### Experience **Essential** - Experience of working with children and/or young people and their families in a health care setting - Experience of effective working as a team member within an MDT - Experience of working with children and/or young people with special needs including those with neurodiversity or challenging behaviours - Experience leading play/recreation activities for babies, children and/or young people ### Skills and Abilities **Essential** - Up to date registration with HPSET ### Education/Knowledge and Qualifications **Essential** - Registered & qualified Health Play Specialist holding the Foundation Degree in Healthcare Play Specialism, Edexcel /BTEC in specialised play for sick child or the previous HPSC/HPSEB or international equivalent - Knowledge of recent, relevant health policy & guidance and NAHPS Guidelines for Professional Practice - Knowledge of professional and ethical issues including professional boundaries, clinical governance and safeguarding children policies and practice - Knowledge and understanding of therapeutic play and child development ## Documents - [staff benefits (pdf, 576.5kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2886) - [living our values (pdf, 260.7kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=1865) - [we are team nwangliaft (pdf, 8.3mb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2745) - [information for candidates (pdf, 5.7mb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2788) - [healthcare play specialist - jd (pdf, 456.4kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10471728) - [healthcare play specialist - ps (pdf, 144.6kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10471729) ## 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.