Job Title: Health Play Specialist
Agency: Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Location: Cardiff, United Kingdom, Wales
Salary/Rate: 27,898 – £ 30,615 / Year
Job Summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a qualified and registered Health Play Specialist (band 4) to join our Therapeutic and Specialised Play Service working within the Acute Child Health Directorate at the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales (NACHfW).
This role will initially be working within the Surgical Play Team, as that is where our current needs sit; however, we work flexibly across the hospital, responding to support patients’ needs as they arise. Therefore, this base may change as required with guidance from the Play Service Manager.
You will need to be registered with the Society of Health Play Specialists (SoHPS) and have experience working either in the Acute Hospital setting or in the community.
Your experience needs to be with children/young people from 0-18 years.
This position is full-time (37.5 hours) Monday – Friday, 8am – 4pm, working throughout the Children’s Hospital, with an unpaid 30-minute lunch break.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.
Main duties of the job
To provide an accessible and inclusive service to meet the needs of the patient populations accessing the Therapeutic and Specialised Play Service within Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales(NACHfW).
To utilise a range of clinical skills, experience, and knowledge to assess patient need, allowing for appropriate prioritization of therapeutic play preparation, distraction, and emotional support for babies, children, and young people (BCYP) as needs present.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- FdA Healthcare Play Specialism, Edex / BTEC in Specialised play for the sick child, previous HPSC/ HPSEB, or international equivalent.
- Registered Health Play Specialist with Society of Health Play Specialists (SoHPS)
- Knowledge and understanding of the SoHPS Code of Professional Conduct and Professional Standards.
Desirable
- Basic Secondary Education up to 5 GCSE level or beyond, including English and Maths (GCSE Grade A* – C)
- NVQ, CACHE, NNEB (Level 3) in Child Care/Play Work or Diploma in Children and Young People’s Workforce or Early Childhood Studies (BA)
- Communication training, e.g., MAKATON, BSL, SIGN ALONG, Touch cues, etc.
- Training in: Guided Imagery, Adolescent Development, Teaching/Coaching
Experience
Essential
- Previous experience of working with BCYP in a health care setting, providing preparation, distraction, and post-procedural interventions.
- Previous experience of working with BCYP, including individual and group work.
- Previous experience in adapting to specific communication needs when working with BCYP.
- Knowledge and awareness of the emotional and personal impact of the work and the ability to self-manage or seek help appropriately.
- Knowledge of SoHPS Guidelines for Professional Practice.
- Knowledge and application of therapeutic assessments and interventions to support BCYP to cope with and understand their healthcare journey.
- Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development
- Experience in the supervision of staff and/or volunteers
Desirable
- Post-qualifying, experience of working with BCYP in a health care setting, in a variety of clinical areas, and/or vast experience in a specialised field.
- Knowledge of the principles and application of clinical governance.
- Experience working with children with complex health and/or learning disabilities.
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Ability to build a good rapport and communicate with babies, children and young people, parents/carers, and families to support during hospital journey.
- Ability to navigate difficult conversations and support those with communication difficulties.
- To demonstrate a good level of self-awareness and the ability to be a reflective practitioner.
- Demonstrable IT Skills to include Excel, Word, and creating presentations.
- Ability to understand and adhere to professional boundaries
- Ability to work both independently and in a team environment.
- Ability to relate to and support the wider MDT in the care of BCYP during their healthcare journey.
Desirable
- Welsh Language Skills are desirable levels 1 to 5 in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing in Welsh
- Ability to assess risks and manage risk-benefit analysis, effectively sharing this information.
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, utilising time management and organisation skills.
Other
Essential
- Demonstratable CPD in line with expectations of SoHPS registration.
- Enhanced DBS clearance, including an Adults and Children’s Barred List check
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.
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).
Closing Date: 15 December 2025
How to Apply;
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online for this job
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