Overview
Play Assistant
Department: Children’s Services
Band 3 £24,937 - £26,598 per annum, pro rata
Hours: 19 per week. All MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working.
Are you passionate about using play to support children during their hospital experience? If you have the skills and enthusiasm to create a positive, playful environment that promotes emotional and physical recovery, we would love to hear from you about joining our team as a Play Assistant.
With the role of play becoming valued at MKUH, we aim to create an environment where play is a vital component of healthcare, supporting developmental, therapeutic and recovery needs. The post requires a dynamic, forward-thinking person to join our team. The role involves preparation for children and their families for blood tests and operations and creating and delivering play plans and activities to children of all ages.
If you think you have what it takes to bring play to children in hospital, please apply to join our team.
Please note that we are not able to offer sponsorship for this role.
For further information or to arrange an informal visit to the Paediatric Unit please contact Senior Sister Philippa Cullen-Prince on 01908 996588 or Laura Clarke 01908 996377 or via email philippa.cullenprince@mkuh.nhs.uk or laura.clarke@mkuh.nhs.uk
"We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute"
To meet the play and emotional needs of any babies, children, young people and their families attending the hospital and to participate in the creation of a safe, child friendly environment.
Responsibilities
* To assess, plan, implement and evaluate the play needs of the child in hospital, providing age-appropriate explanations and discussion for the child and family about the child’s treatment.
* To provide play activities to help children cope with pain, anxiety or fear during their time in hospital. Play is used to prepare children for treatment, distract them during a procedure, and help them understand their experiences.
Qualifications and Experience
* Professional: To create a child friendly environment in which play occurs naturally at all times.
* Professional: Encourage play to maintain the child’s links with family and home and to help the child adjust to the hospital situation.
* Communication: Establish and maintain an open and sensitive communicative manner with children, families, relatives and multidisciplinary team.
* Communication: Demonstrate friendly, helpful and respectful attention to everyone.
* Domestic and Environmental: Responsible for the selection of play equipment, working with Senior Sisters to ensure resources meet demands.
* Domestic and Environmental: Responsible for maintaining play equipment with regard to safety and cross infection.
* Teaching and Education: To participate in MDT training programmes.
* Teaching and Education: To create awareness in all members of the multidisciplinary team of the value of play and the emotional needs of the child in hospital.
* General Duties: To undertake errands as required.
* General Duties: Perform tasks as may be considered relevant by ward manager.
* Personnel: Comply with all Trust policies and procedures.
Benefits and Additional Information
Milton Keynes University Hospital is a University Teaching Hospital affiliated with the University of Buckingham. It is committed to advancing patient care through research and education. The Trust has a “Good” CQC rating and ongoing investment. The hospital provides general medical and surgical services, with a range of specialist services and a future development plan including the Oak Wards and the Women and Children’s Centre due to open by 2030.
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This advert closes on Sunday 2 Nov 2025.
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