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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

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust logo

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.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Florence Nightingale FoundationNational Preceptorship for Nursing Quality Mark 2024

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

This vacancy may close early due to the application cap imposed.
Candidates to be capped at 30 applications for each whole time equivalent position being recruited to.

Documents to download

Apply online now

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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