Job Overview
Senior Health Play Specialist (Band 5) – Fixed‑term 18 months – Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. The role involves delivering and developing therapeutic and specialised play interventions for babies, children and young people (BCYP) in the Acute Child Health Directorate.
Responsibilities
* Deliver an accessible and inclusive therapeutic and specialised play service for BCYP attending the hospital.
* Assess individual need and prioritise appropriate therapeutic play interventions, including preparation, distraction and emotional support.
* Support the Play Services Manager in the effective operation and development of the Play Service, contributing to service improvement, optimisation of care pathways and enhancement of patient and family experience.
* Support research and innovation activities within the Children and Young Adults' Research Unit, including collaboration with Cardiff University's CUBRIC centre through the BATRI grant to engage children and families in age‑appropriate, evidence‑based research.
* Provide leadership and act as a role model for junior staff, sharing good practice while managing and delegating referrals for BCYP with complex presentations.
Person Specification
Qualifications (Essential)
* HPSET qualified and registered with substantial experience working in an acute hospital or community setting.
* Knowledge of the Society of Health Play Specialists Code of Professional Conduct and Professional Standards.
* Recorded as a registered Health Play Specialist with the Society of Health Play Specialists (SoHPS).
Qualifications (Desirable)
* NVQ, CACHE, NNEB (Level 3) in Child Care/Play Work or a Diploma in Children and Young Peoples Workforce or Early Childhood Studies (BA).
* Basic secondary education up to 5 GCSE level or beyond, including English and Maths (GCSE Grade A*–C).
* Management and Leadership qualification/training/modules.
* Mentoring or coaching training.
* Communication training (e.g., MAKATON, BSL, SIGN ALONG, touch cues).
* Training in Guided Imagery, Adolescent Development, or teaching adults.
Experience (Essential)
* Substantial post‑qualifying experience of working with BCYP in a health‑care setting, across a variety of clinical areas or specialised fields, including individual and group work.
* Knowledge and awareness of the emotional and personal impact of the work and the ability to self‑manage or seek help appropriately.
* Detailed knowledge of current health legislation and SoHPS Guidelines for Professional Practice.
* Detailed knowledge of the principles and application of clinical governance.
* Comprehensive knowledge and application of therapeutic assessments and interventions to support BCYP in coping with and understanding their healthcare journey.
* Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development.
* Experience supervising staff and/or volunteers.
Experience (Desirable)
* Experience working with children in a child‑experience setting, including children with complex health and/or learning disabilities.
* Experience leading or managing a team.
* Experience working on research or innovation projects.
Skills (Essential)
* Ability to support the development of others and demonstrate sensitivity towards colleagues.
* Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, utilising time‑management and organisational skills.
* Ability to assess risks and manage risk benefit analysis, sharing this information effectively.
* Advanced communication skills to manage difficult conversations and support those with communication difficulties.
* Leadership skills, including reflecting on own practice and supporting the reflection of others.
* Ability to provide appropriate supervision and feedback to enhance the development of others.
* Ability to undertake audit and evaluation processes.
* Demonstrable IT skills, including Excel, Word and presentation creation.
* Ability to understand and adhere to professional boundaries and demonstrate complex thinking.
Skills (Desirable)
* Coaching skills.
* Welsh language skills – levels 1 to 5 in understanding, speaking, reading and writing.
Special Knowledge (Essential)
* Recorded as a registered Health Play Specialist with the Society of Health Play Specialists (SoHPS).
Special Knowledge (Desirable)
* Teaching skills, Welsh speaking.
* Recorded as a mentor with SoHPS.
Employment Details
Band 5; Salary £32,557 to £39,631 per annum; Fixed‑term 18 months; Full‑time; Location: Noah's Ark Children's Hospital, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XW. Closing date: 10 June 2026.
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