Play Leader

Job summary

We are looking for a Play Specialist / Play leader to work over Paediatric Wards /settings to work as part of a team of Hospital Play specialists/ Play Leaders to provide high quality, holistic play service for children and their families. To ensure all children have appropriate access to play whilst in hospital, plan play programmes enabling children and young people to understand, accept and co-ordinate with treatment. You would need to show an enthusiastic manor, be dynamic, while motivated, at all times

Main duties of the job

We are looking for a Play Specialist / Play leader to work over Paediatric Wards /settings to work as part of a team of Hospital Play specialists/ Play Leaders to provide high quality, holistic play service for children and their families. To ensure all children have appropriate access to play whilst in hospital, plan play programmes enabling children and young people to understand, accept and co-ordinate with treatment. You would need to show an enthusiastic manor, be dynamic, while motivated, at all times This post will look to develop and support current Play Services as well as leading in good practice. You will need to have experience of working with families sensitively under stress/pressure. You will be required to work closely and effectively as part of the play team and with all multi professional teams within all wider teams / departments while holding excellent written and communication skills. You will be required to work closely and effectively as part of the play team and with all multi professional teams within all wider teams / departments while holding excellent written and communication skills. Due to the specialists skills needed within this role it is desirable that you hold a Health Play Specialist qualification

About us

The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is committed to delivering the highest quality and safest treatment and care to every patient, every time. Our vision is to provide the highest quality specialist and integrated care. We will do this through delivery of our multi-year goals and strategic priorities, which you can read about on this page. Central to it all is The Leeds Way our values and behaviours that are at the heart of everything we do.

Details

• Date posted: 26 July 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 4
• Salary: £28,392 to £31,157 a year
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: 001649
• Job locations: Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 3EX, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

For questions about this job, contact:

Name: Lisa Beaumont Position: Play Service Manager Email: lisa.beaumont@nhs.net

Job Summary

We are looking for a Play Specialist / Play leader to work over Paediatric Wards /settings to work as part of a team of Hospital Play specialists/ Play Leaders to provide high quality, holistic play service for children and their families. To ensure all children have appropriate access to play whilst in hospital, plan play programmes enabling children and young people to understand, accept and co-ordinate with treatment.

You would need to show an enthusiastic manor, be dynamic, while motivated, at all times

This post will look to develop and support current Play Services as well as leading in good practice.

You will need to have experience of working with families sensitively under stress/pressure.

You will be required to work closely and effectively as part of the play team and with all multi professional teams within all wider teams / departments while holding excellent written and communication skills.

You will be required to work closely and effectively as part of the play team and with all multi professional teams within all wider teams / departments while holding excellent written and communication skills.

Due to the specialists’ skills needed within this role it is desirable that you hold a Health Play Specialist qualification

Why you should join our Team

Leeds Children’s hospital offers a wide range of treatment and care for children from birth to young adulthood and beyond.

Our ambition is to be a globally recognised, leading provider of healthcare for children and young people; engaging with our patients and their families to make our services and their experience the best they can be. Our holistic approach focuses on ensuring that children receive the best possible clinical care whilst supporting them to live their best life and to achieve their key milestones.

Leeds Children’s Hospital operates 27 highly specialist services, which constitutes around 67% of the hospital’s total activity. More than 62,000 outpatient appointments are held each year and there are approximately 22,600 inpatient episodes. As a specialist centre, the Children’s Hospital also runs outreach clinics at 22 hospitals across the North of England.

We are a large highly developed play service that works over the children’s hospital.

Our Play Service Vision is

“To be a play service that will provide therapeutic, specialised and developmental work, with areas of outstanding preparation and distraction play for all children and young people at Leeds Children’s Hospital. Taking into consideration their culture, gender and all-round individual needs.”

What you will bring to the role

Working as part of the play team and service you will ensure planned and supervised play/activities are provided for children and young people on the wards, clinic, and other environments where children are treated. Consider the complex needs of children within the hospital environment.

Prepare children for treatments and procedures.

Alleviate anxiety related to clinical procedures or situations through diversional occupation.

Ensure toys and play equipment are safe and appropriate for the age/developmental stage of each child/young person and appropriate stock is maintained.

Ensure the ward environment is child friendly and stimulating.

Please see the attached job description for further information about this vacancy.

About Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust

Our Trust values

The Leeds Way is working together to support each other and deliver the best possible care to patients.

We are….

Responsible Open and Honest One Team Kind

Our Trust priorities

Our purpose: Excellent, safe and sustainable care for every patient every time

Our priorities:

People Improvement and Innovation Partnerships Outcomes

To comply with UK Government regulations on Skilled Worker sponsorship, Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust is unable to provide sponsorship to applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria or the salary threshold concessions set out under the Skilled Worker visa route. Please take this into consideration before submitting your application. Full guidance on these concessions, including details of who may qualify, can be found here.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive a high number of suitable applications.