Senior Health Play Specialist (Band 5)

The Children and Young Adults’ Research Unit is seeking a qualified and registered Senior Health Play Specialist (Band 5) to join the Therapeutic and Specialised Play Service within the Acute Child Health Directorate at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales. The post holder will contribute to the delivery and development of therapeutic play interventions that support the emotional wellbeing, engagement and participation of children and young people in clinical care and research activity across the hospital.

Working with the multidisciplinary team, the role will support service improvement and innovation in the use of therapeutic play to enhance children’s experiences of healthcare and research. The post holder must be registered with the Society of Health Play Specialists (SoHPS) and have substantial experience working with children and young people aged 0–16 in either acute hospital or community settings. Welsh language skills are desirable, though applications from both Welsh and English speakers are welcome.

This is a fixed term for 18 Months due to funding

The post holder will deliver an accessible and inclusive Therapeutic and Specialised Play Service for babies, children and young people (BCYP) attending Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales. Using specialist knowledge, clinical skills and experience, they will assess individual need and prioritise appropriate therapeutic play interventions, including preparation, distraction and emotional support, to improve children’s experiences of healthcare, clinical procedures and participation in research activity.

Working closely with the Play Services Manager, the post holder will support the effective operation and development of the Play Service, contributing to service improvement, optimisation of care pathways and enhancement of patient and family experience. The role will include supporting research and innovation activities within the Children and Young Adults’ Research Unit, including collaboration with Cardiff University’s CUBRIC centre through the BATRI grant, ensuring children and families are supported to engage in research in an age-appropriate and evidence-based way. The post holder will also provide leadership and act as a role model for junior staff, sharing good practice while managing and delegating referrals for BCYP with complex presentations.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is one of the largest Integrated Health Boards in the UK, employing over 17,000 staff, providing over 100 specialist services. Working across 6 hospital sites, we have a diverse range of career opportunities to offer. Serving over 500,000 people living in Cardiff and the Vale, we are focussed on the health and care needs of our local population whilst working with our partners to develop regional services. Together we are committed to improving health outcomes for everyone, delivering excellent care and support.

Our mission is “Living Well, Caring Well, Working Together”, and our vision is that every person’s chance of leading a healthy life should be equal. Our 10-year transformation and improvement strategy, Shaping Our Future Wellbeing, is our chance to work collaboratively with the public and our workforce to make our health board more sustainable for the future.

The post holder will deliver an accessible and inclusive Therapeutic and Specialised Play Service for babies, children and young people (BCYP) attending Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales. Using specialist knowledge, clinical skills and experience, they will assess individual need and prioritise appropriate therapeutic play interventions, including preparation, distraction and emotional support, to improve children’s experiences of healthcare, clinical procedures and participation in research activity.

Working closely with the Play Services Manager, the post holder will support the effective operation and development of the Play Service, contributing to service improvement, optimisation of care pathways and enhancement of patient and family experience. The role will include supporting research and innovation activities within the Children and Young Adults’ Research Unit, including collaboration with Cardiff University’s CUBRIC centre through the BATRI grant, ensuring children and families are supported to engage in research in an age-appropriate and evidence-based way. The post holder will also provide leadership and act as a role model for junior staff, sharing good practice while managing and delegating referrals for BCYP with complex presentations.

You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click “Apply now” to view in Trac