Role Overview
The Play Specialist is a person with expert knowledge and experience of play with the well child and with the sick child/young person. She/he is a fully integrated member of the Health Professionals Team. The Play Specialist will work within the Play Service and ward/department team but also she/he will work independently using their own initiative, organisation, leadership and time management.
Key Responsibilities
* Provide developmental, therapeutic and specialised play techniques for all ages and diversities to fulfil emotional, social and developmental needs and help alleviate emotional trauma within families.
* Assess, plan, implement and evaluate play to meet patients’ needs in accordance with agreed local and national standards and evidence based guidelines.
* Be responsible for the delivery and co-ordination of play through appropriate professional practice.
* Maintain and develop own professional competence and seek to extend the scope of personal knowledge and skills within scope of role and professional practice.
* Proactively manage risk and maintain patient safety, conforming to health, safety and security legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines.
Ward & Trust Information
LTHTR is a Trust based on two main hospital sites at Preston and Chorley. There is an acute children’s ward at Preston where you would be primarily based. The ward cares for children and young people aged 0 – 16yrs on our 24 bedded ward which consists of 4 HDU beds, 3 cubicles and 3‑4 beds in 5 separate bays. Attached to the main ward is a ward consisting of 10 cubicles. We also have a Paediatric Assessment Unit (PAU) which is open Monday to Sunday. The Day Case Unit is open Monday – Friday and once a fortnight it transfers to Chorley for a day. There is a Children’s Clinic at Preston open Monday – Friday.
Collaboration
The post will require close liaison with all areas where children are cared for within the trust, such as ED, day surgery, Day Case, the children’s community team and outpatients. We are a very supportive team which encourages personal development which is supported by the practice educator on the ward.
This advert closes on Thursday 23 Apr 2026.
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