Job overview

Come join our valued Play Team at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, supporting children, young people and families across Children’s Services. Working alongside Health Play Specialists and Nursery Nurses, you will deliver therapeutic and developmental play interventions that reduce anxiety, promote coping and improve the hospital experience.

You will support patients with a range of developmental abilities, including those with complex needs and challenging behaviours, and prepare children for diagnostic procedures, treatment and admission. The role requires excellent communication, play and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team.

We are looking for a motivated, creative and organised individual who is passionate about meeting the emotional, psychological and developmental needs of children and families.

You must hold a recognised Health Play Specialist qualification and Society of Health Play Specialists registration.

Applications from final-year students and those returning to practice are welcome.

Main duties of the job

Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to provide support for children and their families.

• Take on individual referrals for children experiencing difficulty in coping with the diagnosis and treatment and managing hospital admission / procedures. Using evidence-based practice to assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapeutic interventions that may be needed in either the hospital and or the home environment.
• Provide therapeutic play interventions for specific medical procedures.
• Document therapeutic interventions and outcomes.
• Develop skills, knowledge and be responsible for own practice, through continued professional development.
• Promote an awareness of the emotional needs of children in hospital and the importance of play, within the multi-disciplinary team.
• To encourage normal development of the child by using play as a developmental aid. Participating in the assessment of care and rehabilitation needs of the patient. 

Working for our organisation

Our Trust

Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people – patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing ‘outstanding’ care to our patients and rated ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH’s values – Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent – are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.

CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people’s age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.