University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust
Hospital Play Team Manager
The closing date is 27 May 2026
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us. Please see below for detailed job description of the role.
Main Duties
Are you an inspiring leader with a passion for child‑centred care? Do you thrive in creative, fast‑paced environments where no two days are the same? We're looking for an exceptional Hospital Play Team Manager to lead our dynamic play service and help shape outstanding experiences for children, young people and their families across UHS. As the manager of our dedicated Hospital Play Team, you'll play a pivotal role in driving a high‑quality, innovative and compassionate play service throughout the children's hospital. You'll lead a talented team of Play Specialists and play leaders, champion therapeutic play across the multidisciplinary team, and ensure that every child receives the emotional support, preparation and distraction they need to feel safe and confident during their hospital stay. This is a role for someone who brings energy, vision and passion to their profession. You'll oversee service development, nurture a positive and collaborative team culture, and work closely with clinical colleagues to embed play as a vital part of holistic care. From enhancing environments to developing new play‑based initiatives, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the experiences of children and families every single day.
Job Responsibilities
* Lead a team to provide safe therapeutic management of a defined patient/client caseload.
* Provide play therapy, education through play and support to patients, their carers and other health care professionals.
* Practice clinically in agreed care settings and advise and support Divisions regarding the overall management of the service.
* Identify, develop and implement service improvement by working with partners to put in place administrative and operational pathways that support care for patients in the most appropriate settings, and reducing inappropriate or avoidable demand for acute services.
Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience
* Registered play specialist
* Degree level qualification or equivalent experience
* Post‑registration qualification within area of speciality or equivalent experience (HPS BTEC or equivalent)
* Full understanding of therapeutic play with ability to use play specialist techniques to enhance the care of children
* Evidence of supporting/managing a range of learners in practice
* Knowledge of current issues within the acute health service
* Understanding of personal accountability
* Confident in own knowledge base, aware of learning needs and seeks guidance when appropriate
* Clear about professional accountability and autonomous practice components of role
* Flexible and adaptable to quick changing situations
* Excellent communication skills – oral, written and non‑verbal
* IT training
* Multidisciplinary team working
* Organisational/strategic awareness
Trust Values
* Patients First
* Always Improving
* Working Together
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
£39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum or per annum pro rata
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