Play Team Member – Child and Adolescent Unit & Children’s Outpatient Department
We have a rare opportunity to join our Play Team on the Child and Adolescent Unit and also support the Children’s Out Patient Department. Our Play Team works with children and young people across all areas of Paediatrics, including children having surgery, children admitted as inpatients, children on the Assessment Unit and children in the Out Patient Department.
A typical day may involve meeting a child who needs to have surgery, using play to assess any worries, finding out their interests and providing appropriate distraction toys. The role may also include accompanying the child to the theatre transfer and into the anaesthetic room, advocating for the child and their family.
Key duties
* Provide developmental play and recreation for all ages and diversities to meet emotional, social and developmental needs.
* Work as a member of the multidisciplinary team, contributing to patient treatment and care plans.
* Use play as a tool to communicate and build rapport with children and young people attending hospital.
* Provide interesting and stimulating play programmes for children, young people and their families.
* Promote awareness of the emotional needs of children and young people in hospital and the importance of play within the multidisciplinary team.
* Create a safe and welcoming environment for all children to experience play whilst in hospital.
* Document play interventions and observations in line with Trust policy and procedure.
* Provide play‑based observations to influence and support the overall assessment of the child and, where appropriate, report concerns to the play specialist and/or the nurse in charge.
* Contribute to the selection, monitoring and ordering of play resources to reflect the needs of the patient group.
* Maintain play equipment in accordance with trust health, safety and infection prevention and control policies.
* Support the orientation, training and supervision of new staff and students.
* Where appropriate, support and involve parents in their child’s treatment and play plans.
* Assist in establishing communication links with other agencies involved with the child.
* Refer children to local educational authority for educational support where required.
* Ensure up‑to‑date knowledge of child protection procedures.
* Respect individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of patients and families, contributing to a service that is sensitive to their needs.
* Ensure compliance with Trust policies, procedures and guidelines for self and others, taking action or alerting senior management if practice appears to contravene policy or if concerned about any aspect of patient care.
* Take responsibility for own learning and development by recognising and taking advantage of all learning opportunities, including participation in appraisal, supervision, action learning and maintaining a professional/personal portfolio of learning.
* Comply with infection prevention and control policies and procedures relevant to the role.
* Always work in accordance with the values and behaviours of the trust.
This advert closes on Thursday 21 May 2026.
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