Job summary
- Main area
- Paediatrics
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 4
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (5 days per week including occasional weekends and bank holidays)
- Job ref
- 425-26-7977114
- Employer
- Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust
- Town
- Sheffield
- Salary
- £28,392 - £31,157 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 16/07/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Play Leader
NHS AfC: Band 4
Job overview
Permanent | Full Time
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our established Play Service team at Sheffield Children’s Hospital predominantly working in ED/AAU.
The role requires you to be flexible due to service need and demand, as you will be expected to work across various wards and departments within the Trust as required . Our team has 24 staff in different roles including Play Service Managers, Play Specialists, and Play leaders.
As Play Leader you will provide appropriate play and recreation activities for children from 0 – 16 years, who are either attending as Outpatients in clinic areas or on a Ward. You will also be expected to work with the team leader Play Specialist to deliver therapeutic and normalising play.
You will be responsible for promoting the play service, and ensuring that the environment is family friendly, age appropriate and safe. You should have good communication skills, enjoy working with children and young people and their families and be able to use your own initiative, as well as working within a team.
About You
- English Language GCSE A-C or Level 2 equivalent. Level 3 Diploma in Childcare & Education / NNEB Diploma in Nursery Nursing,
- NVQ Level 3 in Children’s Care, Learning and Development or other professional Childcare Qualification at Level 3 or above
- Working with children Able to support volunteers and play assistants
If you think you have what it takes to be our next Play Leader, we would love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
Reporting into the Play specialist and Play Service Manager, some of your responsibilities will include:
- To provide play services across all areas where children and young people attend, at times dictated by their needs. This will include evenings and weekends.
- To provide play and activities, appropriate to the age and needs of the children and young people throughout the trust
- To ensure the environment in which children and young people attend is friendly, age appropriate and safe
- To work with the play specialist, delivering programmes of play and distraction both developmental. normalising and therapeutic.
- To positively promote and develop play services within the organisation
Working for our organisation
At Sheffield Children’s, our purpose is clear: to provide healthier futures for children and young people. Our three strategic aims are Outstanding Patient Care, Brilliant Place to Work, and Leaders in Children’s Health.
We work with partners across local, regional, and national levels to deliver physical and mental healthcare in both acute and community settings. Many of our clinicians are nationally and internationally recognised for their expertise.
We’re proud that 73% of colleagues would recommend Sheffield Children’s as a place to work, placing us among the top five NHS trusts in England — and the top-ranked trust in the North East and Yorkshire — in the latest NHS Staff Survey.
Our nearly 4,000 colleagues bring our CARE values — Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence — to life every day, creating a kind, welcoming environment where patients and families feel safe and supported.
As we approach our 150th anniversary this year, we’re excited to keep building our leadership in children's health, improve experiences for patients and staff, and focus on our communities and population health.
We also offer excellent benefits to support your wellbeing, with generous annual leave and pension schemes, health and wellbeing programmes, and exclusive discounts — helping you thrive at work and beyond.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For more information on the main responsibilities for this post, please refer to the job description and person specification.
*** This role has been assigned the occupation code 6117 using the CASCOT coding tool. To check the eligibility of this code for sponsorship and right to work please visit - UKVI web address https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-eligible-occupations/skilled-worker-visa-eligible-occupations-and-codes
Diversity Statement
At Sheffield Children’s, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity and supports everyone’s success. We prioritise Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in our recruitment practices, creating a welcoming space for people of all backgrounds, including ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ members.
Recognising that inclusivity is an ongoing effort, we review our processes and welcome feedback to enhance our practices. A diverse team strengthens our organisation and the quality of care we deliver. For ideas on how we can improve, please contact our Recruitment Manager at [email protected]. Together, we’re building a workplace where everyone belongs.
#LI-Onsite
Person specification
Qualifications/Training
Essential criteria
- English Language GCSE A-C or Level 2 equivalent
- Level 3 Diploma in Childcare & Education / NNEB Diploma in Nursery Nursing, NVQ Level 3 in Children’s Care, Learning and Development or other professional Childcare Qualification at Level 3 or above
Desirable criteria
- Hospital Play Certificate Play-work Sector Endorsed Foundation degree (PSEFD)
Experience
Essential criteria
- Working with children
- Able to support volunteers and play assistants
Knowledge and skills
Essential criteria
- Maintaining a safe environment
- Basic knowledge of Safeguarding/Child Protection
- To understand the importance of play to minimise the effects of hospitalisation on the child and family
- To have basic key board / I.T. skills to effectively use hospital information systems, including inputting data
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Kathryn Topham
- Job title
- Play Service Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0114 3058438
- Additional information
Can also contact;
Shabnam Ahmed, Play Service Manager on 0114 3058438
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