Job summary
- Main area
- Play
- Grade
- Band 4
- Contract
- Permanent: This role is employed by The Grand Appeal with a 2 year honorary contract at Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, which will then be reviewed.
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday - Friday)
- Job ref
- 387-WC6933-LC
- Employer
- Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Play Department
- Town
- Bristol
- Salary
- £28,000 - £32,000 per annum (Pay scales are enhanced in comparison with NHS Pay grades)
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 23/08/2026 08:00
Employer heading
Oncology Health Play Specialist - The Grand Appeal HPS
Band 4
North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This will create an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.
We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.
Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Considering this, if you are interested in this role, please do apply as soon as you can.
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Job overview
At The Grand Appeal – Wallace & Gromit's Grand Appeal, we believe every child deserves the very best care, comfort and support during some of the most challenging moments of their lives. For over 30 years, The Grand Appeal has worked in partnership to support Bristol Children's Hospital and St Michael's Hospital transforming children's healthcare.
We are now looking for a compassionate, enthusiastic and experienced Oncology Health Play Specialist to join our dedicated Play Team on a two-year fixed-term contract.
This is an exciting opportunity to support children and young people receiving cancer treatment on Starlight Ward at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children (BRHC).
This post is employed and funded by The Grand Appeal and is based within the Play Department at BRHC. The successful candidate will hold an honorary contract with Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and will receive day-to-day line management from the Senior Health Play Specialist.
Working as part of the multidisciplinary team, you will provide specialist therapeutic play interventions that help children and young people understand, prepare for and cope with hospital treatment and procedures. Through play, distraction techniques and emotional support, you will help reduce anxiety, promote resilience and improve each child's hospital experience.
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Main duties of the job
Key Responsibilities
- Deliver specialist therapeutic play interventions for children and young people receiving oncology care.
- Assess patients' developmental, emotional and psychosocial needs and develop individual play plans.
- Prepare children and young people for medical procedures using evidence-based therapeutic play techniques.
- Support patients during procedures through distraction therapies and emotional reassurance.
- Respond to referrals from the multidisciplinary team and work collaboratively to deliver holistic patient-centred care.
- Promote normal play opportunities that support children's emotional, social, developmental and creative needs during hospital admission.
- Work alongside the Health Playworker to prioritise patient care and ensure effective service delivery.
- Supervise students, volunteers, visitors and entertainers within the hospital environment.
- Maintain accurate clinical documentation and contribute to service development and quality improvement initiatives.
- Uphold the values, policies and professional standards of both The Grand Appeal and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust.
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Working for our organisation
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.
With an annual turnover of 2.6 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom.
Chaired by Ingrid Barker and led by Maria Kane as Chief Executive, Bristol NHS Foundation Trust aims to transform the way healthcare is delivered locally with a clear focus on making a difference for what we call our Four Ps:
- Better outcomes for our Patients
- More opportunities for our People
- Fairer more consistent care for our Population
- Best Value for Public Purse
Our vision for five years from now:
- Patients will wait less time to be diagnosed and treated, and they will have the same high-quality experience and outcomes, regardless of who they are or where they live.
- We will meet rising demand by maximising the use of our available resources.
- More care will be delivered nearer to patients, in their homes or the community.
- Digital technologies will have transformed the way we work and the way we deliver care.
- Our people will feel engaged, energised and empowered by their work.
- We will be known as a place where people enjoy working, training and building a career.
- Our volume of globally renowned research and innovation will have grown significantly.
- We will contribute to system financial balance
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For a more detailed list of the main responsibilities of the role, please see the attached job description, personal specification and duties. .
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Foundation Degree (FdA) in Healthcare Play Specialism or equivalent
- Current HPSET registration (or overseas equivalent) or be in the process of re-registering. You will be required to remain registered with HPSET (or overseas equivalent) whilst in post
Knowledge and skills
Essential criteria
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Strong IT skills including use of Microsoft Word, Excel and other in-house systems
- Promotes positive working relationships with all colleagues within the play team and wider multi-disciplinary team
- Ability to work under pressure and manage conflicting demands
- Ability to work under own initiative and to motivate others
Desirable criteria
- Excellent time management skills
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working as a Health Play Specialist with children in a hospital setting
- 2 years’ experience of working in a play/early years/education/youth work setting
- Excellent knowledge of child development
- Experience of assessing patients’ needs to provide specialised play, therapeutic distraction, preparation and post procedural play
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team and have ability to communicate effectively at all levels
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Jo caseley
- Job title
- Play Department Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01173428194
- Additional information
Visit to the play department welcomed by arrangement only.
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