Health Play Specialist / Nursery Nurse in317 02 Royal Victoria Infirmary in317 02 Royal Victoria Infirmary PUBLISHED 13 NOV 2024

Band 4: £26,530 to £29,114 a year per annum  PERMANENT 
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you.

An exciting opportunity has become available for a Hospital Play Specialist/Nursery Nurse to join our Children and Young Peoples Oncology/Haematology Ward within the Great North Children's Hospital. Ward 14 is a day unit which provides care and support for children and young people being treated for a cancer and haematology diagnosis and their supportive care throughout their treatment.

  • Interview Date Tuesday December 2024
  • 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week
  • You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.

Give support, teaching and guidance to parents/carers whilst on Ward 14 especially during stressful situations.

Working within children with both learning difficulties and/or mobility disabilities.

To encourage parents/carers to actively participate in caring for and playing with their child whilst in hospital.

Support children and young people whilst in hospital ensuring their needs are being met through either play or other diversional therapy.

Work within a multi- disciplinary team to support babies and children.

Supporting children requiring General Anaesthetics and as part of the Paediatric Radiotherapy Service.

About us


Hospital Play Specialist

  • The Hospital Play Specialist role will, under the accountability of the Ward Sister/Charge Nurse to offer normalising and specialised play for children and young people with complex healthcare needs and their families, considering age, stage of development, medical condition and background to promote emotional health and optimal development, this will include the effects of hospitalisation, ill health and treatments required.
  • The Play Specialist is required to have knowledge and experience of developmental, emotional and social play for all age ranges and abilities of children in hospital.
  • Inform, educate, support and advise other healthcare specialists, nursing staff, and families in the role of play.
  • Use play to help and assist in alleviating anxieties, pain, or emotional trauma caused to the child, young person and their families, which can often occur in the unfamiliar hospital environment, aiding them to engage in hospital life, promoting their understanding of their healthcare needs, investigations and treatments.
  • The post holder is expected to be a fully integrated member of the department team.
  • Contribute to the maintenance, consistency and development of the play service throughout the Trust.
  • Receive requests from relevant healthcare professionals and other HPS for a patient to be seen following a referral to a medical consultant and his team.
  • To escort children and young people to theatre (where appropriate) in line with Trust policy, to aid and promote understanding and coping mechanisms.


Nursery Nurse

  • To assist in therapeutic assessments and carry out play programmes for children and young people in hospital, according to their individual needs and as part of the overall care plan.
  • To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of play using reflective practice to achieve best outcomes.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

An exciting opportunity has become available for a Hospital Play Specialist/Nursery Nurse to join our Children and Young Peoples Oncology/Haematology Ward within the Great North Children's Hospital. Ward 14 is a day unit which provides care and support for children and young people being treated for a cancer and haematology diagnosis and their supportive care throughout their treatment.

  • Interview Date Tuesday December 2024
  • 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week
  • You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.

Give support, teaching and guidance to parents/carers whilst on Ward 14 especially during stressful situations.

Working within children with both learning difficulties and/or mobility disabilities.

To encourage parents/carers to actively participate in caring for and playing with their child whilst in hospital.

Support children and young people whilst in hospital ensuring their needs are being met through either play or other diversional therapy.

Work within a multi- disciplinary team to support babies and children.

Supporting children requiring General Anaesthetics and as part of the Paediatric Radiotherapy Service.

About us


Hospital Play Specialist

  • The Hospital Play Specialist role will, under the accountability of the Ward Sister/Charge Nurse to offer normalising and specialised play for children and young people with complex healthcare needs and their families, considering age, stage of development, medical condition and background to promote emotional health and optimal development, this will include the effects of hospitalisation, ill health and treatments required.
  • The Play Specialist is required to have knowledge and experience of developmental, emotional and social play for all age ranges and abilities of children in hospital.
  • Inform, educate, support and advise other healthcare specialists, nursing staff, and families in the role of play.
  • Use play to help and assist in alleviating anxieties, pain, or emotional trauma caused to the child, young person and their families, which can often occur in the unfamiliar hospital environment, aiding them to engage in hospital life, promoting their understanding of their healthcare needs, investigations and treatments.
  • The post holder is expected to be a fully integrated member of the department team.
  • Contribute to the maintenance, consistency and development of the play service throughout the Trust.
  • Receive requests from relevant healthcare professionals and other HPS for a patient to be seen following a referral to a medical consultant and his team.
  • To escort children and young people to theatre (where appropriate) in line with Trust policy, to aid and promote understanding and coping mechanisms.


Nursery Nurse

  • To assist in therapeutic assessments and carry out play programmes for children and young people in hospital, according to their individual needs and as part of the overall care plan.
  • To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of play using reflective practice to achieve best outcomes.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.



in317 02 Royal Victoria Infirmary
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