Job summary
- Main area
- play
- Grade
- Band 3
- Contract
- 1 year (Fixed Term)
- Hours
- Part time - 35 hours per week (Monday - Friday 08.30-16.00 or 09.00-16.30)
- Job ref
- 387-WC8894-DA
- Employer
- University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Bristol Royal Children's Hospital
- Town
- Bristol
- Salary
- £24,937 - £26,598 Pa Pro Rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 10/08/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Health Playworker
Band 3
As an organisation we 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.
Click on this link to find out about our values https://www.uhbw.nhs.uk/p/about-us/our-trust-values
Job overview
The post holder will be a member of the play department providing inclusive play service within the activity centre and throughout the hospital.
To work within the structure of the play department referring to the health play specialist, team leads or the play service manager when necessary.
The post holder will be assigned to a specific area but would be expected to work in other areas as required.
The post holder will hold a level 3 play or equivalent qualification with 2 years work experience in a
Main duties of the job
- Create an interesting, stimulating and fun environment, where children and their siblings can play normally to fulfil their emotional, social and development needs.
- Organise activities at the bedside or within the play areas that encourages children and young people to engage with activities.
- Use your knowledge and understanding of child development when selecting play and recreational activities to support the child’s/young person’s level of development through normalising and developmental play.
- Provide play distraction before, during and after medical procedures in line with the play team referral process, under the supervision of the senior play team
- Maintain a clean and safe child focussed environment adhering to trust health and safety policies. Continually risk assessing areas and resources.
Be responsible for the safety and wellbeing of the patient in their care. Escalate medical or social concerns to the appropriate member of staff
Working for our organisation
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) is one of the largest acute Trusts in the country, bringing together a combined workforce of over 13,000 staff and over 100 different clinical services across 10 different sites, serving a core population of more than 500,000 people across South West England. UHBW has been rated by the CQC as ‘Good’ overall and our staff are proud to deliver excellent care to the people of Bristol, Weston and beyond. As a forward- thinking multi-award winning Trust and a digital exemplar committed to improving patient care, our world-leading research and innovations are having a positive local and global impact. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. UHBW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see Job Description and Person Specification for more details about the main duties and responsibilities for the role.
Person specification
Knowledge & Experince
Essential criteria
- • Working with children/young people in a play/education or hospital setting
- • Working as a team member and as individual
- • Working with parent/careers and extended family
Desirable criteria
- • Documented evidence of continued professional development
skills & Abilites
Essential criteria
- • Ability to work with and provide creative activities to individuals and groups of children and young people
- • Effective written and verbal communication sills
- • Good organisation skills
- • Health, safety, infection control and risk awareness
- • Take responsibility of own actions and promotes good team working
- • Good basic IT skills
Aptiudes
Essential criteria
- • Adaptable to a busy work environment
- • Treats others with courtesy and respect
Desirable criteria
- • Be a reflective learner
Qualifications & Training
Essential criteria
- • NVQ level 3 in play or equivalent
- • 3 GCES’s/levels including maths and English grade 2/c and above
Desirable criteria
- • Training/qualification that supports role i.e. sensory play, disability awareness, arts/crafts
Applicant requirements
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Jo Caseley
- Job title
- Play Department Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0117 3428194
- Additional information
visits to the play department welcome by arrangement only
If you have problems applying, contact
- Address
-
United Bristol Healthcare Trust
Bristol Royal Infirmary
Marlborough Street
Bristol
Success
BS2 8HW
- Telephone
- 01173425000 (option 1)
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