Job summary
- Main area
- Paediatrics
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 4
- Contract
- 12 months (Fixed term for one year)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (May include weekends and bank holidays)
- Job ref
- 193-7799904UCGB4-HPS
- Employer
- Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Royal Berkshire Hospital
- Town
- Reading
- Salary
- £27,485 - £30,162 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 26/03/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Hospital Play Specialist - Full time
NHS AfC: Band 4
At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust we put our patients at the heart of every element of health and care that we provide. The Trust works together as a community to deliver its vision which is “Working together to provide outstanding care for our community.”
Royal Berkshire Hospital are pleased to announce that following our CQC inspection we have been rated ‘Good’ with inspectors reporting that we have made significant improvements. The Trust’s overall rating has also improved to ‘good’.
We are Compassionate in our thoughts, words and actions
We are Aspirational and have a true desire to be dynamic and to innovate
We are Resourceful and responsible in the way we work and live
We are Excellent in our development, fairness and sharing best practice
At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, we value candidates who bring their unique personalities, skills, and experiences to the Trust. When completing your application, we encourage you to highlight your individual achievements and strengths, showing us how they align with the requirements outlined in the job description and person specification. While we recognise that some applicants may use AI tools during the process, please be mindful that AI-generated responses can often lack the personal detail and relevance needed to demonstrate your suitability for the role. AI generated content is discouraged by the Trust and may diminish the candidates chances of success.
Amazing things happen at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; delivered by amazing people so why don’t you come and join us. We offer a range of learning and development for all employees may you be clinical or non-clinical.
Job overview
PREVIOUS APPLICANTS NEED NOT APPLY
An exciting opportunity has arisen in our Play Team to cover a 1 year fixed term post. We are looking for a highly motivated Hospital Play Specialist who is committed to providing high quality care to Children and Young People that attend The Royal Berkshire Hospital. The post holder will work closely with the MDT to support children, young people and their families and implement specialised play interventions throughout the whole Paediatric unit. This includes both inpatients and outpatients including our new play led Pre-operative preparation project.
The successful applicant must be passionate and committed to meeting the needs of children, young people and their families and work flexibly within a team.
Main duties of the job
You will need to be able to engage easily with children and young people, be able to work effectively with your multi-disciplinary team colleagues and use therapeutic play techniques creatively throughout the department. Responsibilities will include supporting children and young people who are admitted, leading alternative focus activities during procedures, creating an age appropriate welcoming environment throughout the area and helping patients and families manage anxiety effectively.
You will also take an active role in supporting and mentoring other members of the hospital play team.
Working for our organisation
The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is the main provider of hospital services for the population of Reading, Newbury, Wokingham and the towns and villages of west Berkshire.
At our heart we are a local hospital that works with NHS and social care partners to provide excellent healthcare services for over 500,000 people who currently live in our catchment area. We also provide specialist hospital services beyond the county’s borders.
We employ more than 5,500 staff from 39 different nationalities and deliver care from a network of facilities across sites in Bracknell, Henley-on-Thames, Reading, Thatcham and Windsor.
Each year we are responsible for efficiently and effectively spending more than £400m of NHS resources on the services we provide.
As a founder member of the Berkshire West Integrated Care System, we are one of NHS England’s demonstrator sites for integration between primary, community, mental health and acute healthcare services.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The post holder is responsible for providing therapeutic play
interventions to help alleviate patient’s anxieties and fear,
helping to increase their co-operation during their time in
hospital. They work to improve patient’s emotional and
psychological well-being while hospitalised and to provide a
welcoming, safe and secure environment for paediatric and
young people patients. They are responsible for increasing the
awareness, understanding and knowledge of the play team’s
work and how the services help patients during their hospital
journeys.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Registered & qualified Health Play Specialist holding the Foundation Degree in Health Care Play Specialism or previous HPSC/HPSEB, Edexcel PDC/HND in Hospital Play Specialism or oversees equivalent.
- Knowledge of professional and ethical issues, including professional boundaries, clinical governance and safeguarding children policies and practice.
- Knowledge of recent, relevant health policy & guidance and NAHPS Guidelines for Professional Practice.
- Knowledge of the NAHPS professional code of conduct and its application in practice.
Desirable criteria
- NNEB/ NVQ Level 3 or equivalent training involving normal child care and development.
- Bachelor’s Degree (or overseas equivalent) in a subject relevant to work with children and/or young people.
- Knowledge of current best practice in clinical/age area.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working with children and/or young people and their families in a health care setting.
- Experience leading play/recreation activities for babies, children and/or young people.
- Experience of effective working as a team member within the MDT.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working with children and/or young people with special needs including those with challenging behaviours.
- Experience of formal and informal teaching.
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Application numbers
Candidates to be capped at 30 applications for each whole time equivalent position being recruited to.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Shilani Perera
- Job title
- Paediatric Ward Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0118 322 8615
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