Isle of Wight NHS Trust

Play Specialist

The closing date is 08 August 2025

Job summary

Isle of Wight NHS Trust - Paediatrics Department

Play Specialist

Salary: Agenda for Change Band 4 (£26,530 - £29,114 pro rata, per annum)

Full Time: 37.5 hours per week

The appointed candidate will plan a range of activities for a variety of children and young people within the hospital setting, taking into account their abilities and the impact of current health. The appointee will provide therapeutic and socialised play for all ages in an effort to fulfil emotional, developmental and social and needs to help alleviate anxiety within families.

Within the scope of the role, the post holder will work collaboratively with the multi-disciplinary team to:

Provide specialist play and distraction techniques to prepare and support children and young people undergoing clinical procedures/interventions whilst on the paediatric unit and in other areas of the hospital where children are cared for.

Co-ordinate and organise play activities for children of all age

Ensure the provision of play is accessible to every child requiring health care at IOW NHS Trust.

Communicate effectively with children and their families.

Be aware of Child Protection and respond to these within Trust Policy.

Maintain clear, accurate and concise patient records maintaining high levels of confidentiality at all times.

If you wish to discuss the role in further detail, please contact Ward Sister Rachel Murphy: rachel.murphy41@nhs.net (01983 534695)

Main duties of the job

  • Procedural distraction
  • Theatre preparation & distraction
  • MRI preparation & distraction
  • Assisting outpatient areas for medical examinations including but not limited to ENT, Ophthalmology, fracture clinic
  • Create individual bedside play plans
  • Maintain the ward play room
  • Working with children with learning disabilities

For a full list of roles and responsibilities, please see the attached job description.

About us

The Isle of Wight NHS Trust is an integrated acute and ambulance health care provider in England. We serve a population of approximately 150,000 residents, making the services we offer variable and personalised with a flexible approach to our service users.

Working for our Trust brings a variety of benefits, including an onsite day nursery, cycle-to-work scheme, discounts at local businesses and gyms, and the opportunity to hire Trusts beach hut in Ryde. We offer flexible working opportunities, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement for you and if it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

The Isle of Wight is a unique and stunning gem located off the South Coast of England, a short ferry journey from Portsmouth and Southampton, with journey times taking from as little as 10 minutes. London can be reached in 90 minutes by rail from Southampton or Portsmouth. The island offers an amazing coastline with beautiful countryside, year-round events, festivals and award-winning attractions.

Our 2020-2025 strategy sets out to ensure that we continue to be a provider of excellent and compassionate care. As part of this strategy, we are proactively taking steps to ensure that we recruit and retain the highest quality of talent to provide CARE and we would welcome applications from under-represented groups to ensure our Trust is an inclusive and diverse employer.

Details

Date posted

11 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 an hour pro rata, per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

470-25-0018-PL

Job locations

Children's Ward, St. Mary's Hospital

Parkhurst road

Newport

PO30 5TG


Job description

Job responsibilities

Attached you will find the person specification document which provides more detail about the essential and desirable skills and experience needed for this role. We highly recommend you review this document and use it when completing your application as these criteria are used by hiring managers as guidance during shortlisting.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Attached you will find the person specification document which provides more detail about the essential and desirable skills and experience needed for this role. We highly recommend you review this document and use it when completing your application as these criteria are used by hiring managers as guidance during shortlisting.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

  • Foundation Degree Healthcare Play Specialism qualification and registration as Play Specialist with Healthcare Play Specialist Education Trust
  • Recent experience working directly with children and young people as a healthcare play specialist
  • Knowledge and understanding of child development
  • Knowledge of the NAHPS professional code of conduct and its application in practice

Desirable

  • A full understanding of and ability to apply play preparation, distraction therapy and post procedural play skills
  • Confidence and competence in using appropriate IT systems
  • Experience of working with children with special needs including those with challenging behaviours
Person Specification

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

  • Foundation Degree Healthcare Play Specialism qualification and registration as Play Specialist with Healthcare Play Specialist Education Trust
  • Recent experience working directly with children and young people as a healthcare play specialist
  • Knowledge and understanding of child development
  • Knowledge of the NAHPS professional code of conduct and its application in practice

Desirable

  • A full understanding of and ability to apply play preparation, distraction therapy and post procedural play skills
  • Confidence and competence in using appropriate IT systems
  • Experience of working with children with special needs including those with challenging behaviours

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Isle of Wight NHS Trust

Address

Children's Ward, St. Mary's Hospital

Parkhurst road

Newport

PO30 5TG


Employer's website

https://www.iow.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Isle of Wight NHS Trust

Address

Children's Ward, St. Mary's Hospital

Parkhurst road

Newport

PO30 5TG


Employer's website

https://www.iow.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Ward sister

Rachel Murphy

rachel.murphy41@nhs.net

01983534695

Details

Date posted

11 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 an hour pro rata, per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

470-25-0018-PL

Job locations

Children's Ward, St. Mary's Hospital

Parkhurst road

Newport

PO30 5TG


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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