Health Play Specialist
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Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust Health Play Specialist
The closing date is 10 November 2026
Job summary
Come and join us in a bustling central London children's department, with lots of opportunity to grow as a qualified play specialist. Some shifts will be faster paced & others will focus on longer term input with patients & families. Each day is unique!
Key Highlights:
- Use your skills to offer specialised play from birth to teens.
- Your input matters - be part of exciting developments for our babies, children & young people (BCYP), including those with additional needs.
- Help families to celebrate key events & milestones.
- Be part of a friendly, thriving team of play specialists, play workers & volunteers.
- Come & enjoy a central & accessible location.
- Children's health & wellbeing is at our core & your contribution will make a real impact within a team who value play.
Why join us?
- We are specialist hospital & London trauma hub,
- There's variety to grow within your role - our many specialities include oncology/ haematology, transplant, children's intensive care, diabetes, allergy, among others.
- It's a rewarding place to work, alongside an amazing team of professionals.
- Strong support from within the team & charity partners.
Apply now, if you:
- Hold the Health Play Specialist qualification or due to qualify in summer 2026.
- Registered with SOHPS
- Have experience & confidence with specialised play interventions in healthcare.
- Are familiar with games, activities, devices enjoyed by all ages/stages.
Main duties of the job
- Introducing play as a tool to communicate & support BCYP (babies, children and young people).
- Assess, plan & deliver specialised play interventions.
- Building partnerships with families & siblings.
- Contributing to multi professional team care.
- Supporting team referrals.
- Documenting play input.
- Sharing important information with other professionals.
- Creating a welcoming, safe & age-appropriate environment for all BCYP.
About us
At Imperial College Healthcare you can achieve extraordinary things with extraordinary people, working with leading clinicians pushing boundaries in patient care.
Become part of a vibrant team living our values - expert, kind, collaborative and aspirational. You'll get an experience like no other and will fast forward your career.
Benefits include career development, flexible working and wellbeing, staff recognition scheme. Make use of optional benefits including Cycle to Work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities.
We are committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and will consider applications to work flexibly, part time or job share. Please talk to us at interview.
Details
Date posted
27 October 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 4
Salary
£34,186 to £37,389 a year pa inclusive
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
290-WLCH-48
Job locations
Trust Wide
London
W2 1NY
United Kingdom
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.
For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.
For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.
Person Specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential
- Foundation degree in Healthcare Play Specialism
- Edexcel Certificate in Hospital Play Specialism or HPSC/HPSEB or overseas equivalent
- Current registration with HPSET or overseas equivalent.
- Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development (up to date professional portfolio)
Desirable
- Additional training relevant to role
- Communication strategies e.g Makaton
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- General & current working knowledge of children's legislation
- Good foundation of clinical experience with a wide range of children and families in the hospital setting and/or community.
- Experience with children with additional needs - such as challenging behaviour, neurodiversity disabilities and multiple health needs
- Specialist knowledge and application of therapeutic assessments and interventions relevant to patient group and treatment plan
Desirable
- Experience of audit procedures.
- Experience & confidence working with adolescents
- Experience working with a multi-professional team
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Ability to recognise stress in self and others and take appropriate action.
- Ability to motivate and prioritise workload for self and others in the team
- Ability to use a diplomatic approach with both practice and management issues.
- Ability to build effective working relationships at MDT levels.
Desirable
- Ability to contribute to teaching programmes for students and affiliated staff about the profession
- Ability to apply and evaluate independent projects within the workplace
Education & Qualifications
Essential
- Foundation degree in Healthcare Play Specialism
- Edexcel Certificate in Hospital Play Specialism or HPSC/HPSEB or overseas equivalent
- Current registration with HPSET or overseas equivalent.
- Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development (up to date professional portfolio)
Desirable
- Additional training relevant to role
- Communication strategies e.g Makaton
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- General & current working knowledge of children's legislation
- Good foundation of clinical experience with a wide range of children and families in the hospital setting and/or community.
- Experience with children with additional needs - such as challenging behaviour, neurodiversity disabilities and multiple health needs
- Specialist knowledge and application of therapeutic assessments and interventions relevant to patient group and treatment plan
Desirable
- Experience of audit procedures.
- Experience & confidence working with adolescents
- Experience working with a multi-professional team
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Ability to recognise stress in self and others and take appropriate action.
- Ability to motivate and prioritise workload for self and others in the team
- Ability to use a diplomatic approach with both practice and management issues.
- Ability to build effective working relationships at MDT levels.
Desirable
- Ability to contribute to teaching programmes for students and affiliated staff about the profession
- Ability to apply and evaluate independent projects within the workplace
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details
Employer name
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Address
Trust Wide
London
W2 1NY
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.imperial.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
Employer details
Employer name
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Address
Trust Wide
London
W2 1NY
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.imperial.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Play Service Team Lead
Tina Halton
Details
Date posted
27 October 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 4
Salary
£34,186 to £37,389 a year pa inclusive
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
290-WLCH-48
Job locations
Trust Wide
London
W2 1NY
United Kingdom
Supporting documents
Privacy notice
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)
Support links
© Crown copyright
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