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Job overview
Come join our valued Play Team at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, supporting children, young people and families across Children’s Services. Working alongside Health Play Specialists and Nursery Nurses, you will deliver therapeutic and developmental play interventions that reduce anxiety, promote coping and improve the hospital experience.
You will support patients with a range of developmental abilities, including those with complex needs and challenging behaviours, and prepare children for diagnostic procedures, treatment and admission. The role requires excellent communication, play and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team.
We are looking for a motivated, creative and organised individual who is passionate about meeting the emotional, psychological and developmental needs of children and families.
You must hold a recognised Health Play Specialist qualification and Society of Health Play Specialists registration.
Applications from final-year students and those returning to practice are welcome.
Main duties of the job
Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to provide support for children and their families.
- Take on individual referrals for children experiencing difficulty in coping with the diagnosis and treatment and managing hospital admission / procedures. Using evidence-based practice to assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapeutic interventions that may be needed in either the hospital and or the home environment.
- Provide therapeutic play interventions for specific medical procedures.
- Document therapeutic interventions and outcomes.
- Develop skills, knowledge and be responsible for own practice, through continued professional development.
- Promote an awareness of the emotional needs of children in hospital and the importance of play, within the multi-disciplinary team.
- To encourage normal development of the child by using play as a developmental aid. Participating in the assessment of care and rehabilitation needs of the patient.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:
- applied for a Graduate visa
- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment
The advert will close at midnight on 2 August 2026.
Interviews are due to be held on 12 August 2026.
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Person specification
Skills
Essential
- Ability to work with individuals and groups of babies / children / young people
- Ability to deliver therapeutic play including play preparation, distraction and post procedural play for medical procedures using evidenced based techniques
- Effective verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to manage and prioritise own workload and work as part of a wider team
Desirable
- Training and presentation skills
- Word processing and internet research skills
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of the value of play for sick children and the effects of hospitalisation on children, young people and their families
- Demonstrated understanding of developmental, social and psychological needs of children / young people and their families incorporating special needs, cultures and diversities
- Knowledge of SoHPS professional standards and application to practice
- Knowledge of Health and Safety, and risk management in practice including safeguarding procedures
Desirable
- Basic knowledge of the principles of clinical governance
Experience
Essential
- Can demonstrate autonomous working practices in current post
- Evidence of experience of working with parents and extended families
- Evidence of experience of working with children / young people in a hospital setting
Desirable
- Experience of working with children with special educational needs and/or mental health concerns
- Evidence of working in an acute care hospital setting with Children and young people
- Evidence of integrated working with a multi-professional team
- Experience of supporting students in previous positions
Qualifications
Essential
- Foundation Degree in Healthcare Play Specialism / Edexel Level 4 Professional Diploma in Specialist Play for Sick Children and Young People OR Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS)
- Children’s Workforce, Cache, NNEB, BTec, NVQ or Level 3 qualification in Early years / Childcare equivalent
- Current registration with SoHPS or have discussed a plan or re-registration with SoHPS for return to practice
Desirable
- Youth work or qualification
- Counselling Diploma or equivalent
Additional Requirements
Essential
- The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Safe, Kind, Excellent.
- Commitment to patient / family-centred, non-discriminatory practice
- Be able to sensitively deal with the frequent challenges associated with social differences, parental and family anxiety and cultural diversity
- Documented evidence of continued professional development
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Hospital Play Specialist with Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Cambridge, East of England, England. It is listed as a Band 5 Healthcare support worker role. The advertised salary is £32,073 - £39,043 p.a. pro rata. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 02 Aug 2026.
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