Play and Activities Worker

Job summary

Your role will be to support the children and young adults as well as their siblings and important others, to help make memories and positive experiences amongst what can be a very emotional and challenging time.

Main duties of the job

Play and Activities

To provide a wide range of activities to meet the individual needs of children, young people and young adults accessing the hospice, making these as inclusive as possible in terms of sensory, physical, social, emotional, cultural and spiritual needs.

To take a lead on including technology in play and activities including gaming, specialist communication aids such as eye gaze, smart TVs and media.

To have a flexible approach and to work early, evening and weekend shifts as part of the staffing rota to cover the whole range of activities required.

To work with the whole team to plan, resource and implement activities based around themes and individual need.

To independently provide Play and Activities in the Community - individualised play and activities to children and young adults within their own home environment with family members present.

To help plan and lead the Day Services at Naomi House & Jacksplace and to best utilise the skills of Play and Activities volunteers on shift by supporting and giving clear instructions.

To work with the wider team to facilitate maximum use of the specialist hydro pool. This will mean working both in the pool and as a dry sider.

To help free up periods of time for the care staff to carry out administrative/care tasks by leading play activities and swims in our pool.

To organise and maintain the play and activities equipment used at the hospice and to keep a clean, safe working environment after each activity in line with health and safety and infection control policies.

To help with the organisation of all events for the hospice during term time and school holidays, including parties and entertainment and special visits as appropriate.

To undertake appropriate training in order to safely utilise wheelchair accessible transport and drive a mini bus/ WAV to take children and young adults on outings.

To demonstrate and train staff how to use play equipment including computers, Smart TVs and sensory room equipment.

To support the Play and Activities Team Leader in identifying any new or additional equipment that may be beneficial to the children and young adults that would need to be ordered.

About us

Naomi and Jack's are hospices supporting life-limited and life-threatened children, young adults and their families from across the central South of England.

Referrals for young adults outside of our catchment area are also considered.

Naomi and Jack's nursing and medical staff provide individualised care that helps to enhance short lives and supports families to make the most of their precious time with their children.

Jack's is the only hospice for young adults in the South of England. The medical and care teams offer specialist care, often over many years, and uphold the dignity and independence of young adults accessing the service.

Full lives, however short.

Details

• Date posted: 16 September 2026
• Pay scheme: Other
• Salary: £26,772 to £29,000 a year
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: B0108-26-0022
• Job locations: Stockbridge Road, Winchester, Hampshire, SO21 3JE, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

When children, young adults and their families stay with us, we want to make sure they have a great time, whether it's swimming, sensory play, quizzes and games or playing music and events! Every day is different Do you want to make this happen with us?

We work with a very diverse group of children and young adults, who have a wide range of complex disabilities and life limiting illnesses impacting on them in many ways including communication, mobility and sensory diet.