Senior Health Play Specialist

Main area Play Team Grade Band 5 Contract Permanent Hours Part time - 30 hours per week (30hrs over 4 or 5 days) Job
-W&C7479-NG-A

Site Bristol Royal Childrens Hospital Town Bristol Salary £31,049 - £37,796 pa pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 10/03/2026 23:59

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.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms that can be used to produce new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. It is developing all the time and is now being used as a support mechanism for all kinds of content‑based creations. Please note the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.

The Senior Health Play Specialist is a senior member of the Play Team with responsibility for providing leadership and professional oversight within the Play Department. The post holder ensures the planning, co‑ordination and delivery of safe, high‑quality play programmes across all aspects of hospital play provision, in line with Trust policies and national standards.

This vacancy may close earlier than advertised, if a sufficient number of applications are received.

As a senior practitioner, the post holder holds line management responsibility for a designated team, providing supervision, appraisal, and day‑to‑day management, and supports the development of staff through mentoring Health Play Specialist students and supervising volunteers. The role includes acting as the named specialist for a ward, ensuring effective communication and multidisciplinary working.

The post holder contributes to the effective operational management of the service by maintaining positive working relationships with charitable partners and supporting the Play Services Manager with the smooth running, service development, and continuous improvement of the department.

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.

Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification for further details regarding the role and responsibilities.

• Experience of assessing patients’ needs to provide specialised play, therapeutic distraction, preparation and post‑procedural play
• Experience of working as part of a multi‑disciplinary team and have ability to communicate effectively at all levels
• Can motivate, guide, and support a small team, promoting a…