In this rewarding position, you'll work closely with a specialist multi-disciplinary team, guiding patients through their healthcare journey—from initial consultations to treatment sessions—ensuring that play and recreation are integral parts of their healing process. If you bring experience in paediatric care and thrive under pressure, this role offers a fulfilling environment where your skills and passion can shine. Join us at UCLH, a leading NHS trust renowned for innovation and staff development, and take pride in contributing to a supportive community that values health, wellbeing, and excellence. Ready to take the next step? We’d love to hear from you!
A unique opportunity has arisen for a skilled and dynamic Senior Health Play Specialist to join our experienced and forward-thinking team of Advanced & Senior Health Play Specialists within the Radiotherapy (RT) and Proton Beam Therapy (PBT) departments. The post holder will support children and young people (CYP) up to the age of 18 years, and their families across both sites.
If you would like to know more about the role or to arrange a tour of the departments, please contact:
Claire Hardy & Rhonda Alexander- Advanced Health Play Specialist (Team Leaders)
e-mail: ,
The core aspect of this role is to provide individualised preparation for children and young people coming for radiotherapy/ proton beam therapy treatment. The post holder will be involved in all aspects of preparation and support from the patient's initial consultation through to the end of their RT/ PBT. This includes preparing for and supporting the patient through immobilisation (a patient specific mould), CT and MRI scans as well as treatment, using specialist skills in preparation and distraction to help reduce anxiety associated with RT/PBT planning and treatment procedures.
The post holder will be part of a specialist multi-disciplinary team and play a key role in meetings, discussions, and assessments of the children and young people accessing our service.
Applicants are required to have experience of working with paediatric and TYAs in a healthcare setting and to be able to deal sensitively with families under stress. They will need to be able to engage easily with the patient and to be able to work effectively alongside MDT colleagues to enhance the hospital experience. The postholder will work as part of a supportive team where play and recreation is highly valued as an integral part of the treatment pathway for children and young people.
For more information about the departments please see our websites: www.jobsincare.com/job/jbnsau4P
About us
At UCLH (University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust) our success starts with you.
This is an exciting opportunity to join one of the largest and most successful Foundation Trusts in the UK with an international reputation and a tradition of innovation.
Based in the busy West End of London, we have a lively and vibrant working atmosphere, with quick and easy transport links to all our sites. Our size and resources enable us to offer a range of attractive benefits as well as unparalleled education and development opportunities for staff at all levels. This includes an extensive portfolio of academic and clinical courses and programmes ranging from ongoing personal development through to clinical excellence and leadership skills. UCLH prides itself on its investment in staff both in terms of developing career skills but also its commitment to staff health and wellbeing.
UCLH is seeking a committed individual with the energy and focus to continue building on the existing service of excellence and the ability to lead in their area of expertise.
The post holder will play a key role in managing paediatric and TYA patients with complex needs who are undergoing a course of RT/PBT. It will be necessary to use evidence-based practice to assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapeutic play and recreational interventions. They will play a role in generating new solutions to identify and best meet the needs of patients and their families and manage projects under the supervision of the Specialist Paediatric and TYA Radiographer and the Team Leader Senior Play Specialists/Activity Co-ordinators. In addition, the post holder will monitor the play environments to ensure that these are age-appropriate areas where play and recreation occurs naturally. The post holder will play a role in improving the safety and quality of the services for children, contributing to safeguarding and identifying improvements. They will work closely with the Specialist Paediatric and TYA Radiographer and the Team Leader Senior Play Specialists/Activity Co-ordinators in the overall pathway management of Paediatric and TYA patients within the service and for meeting national and local targets. They will work as part of the Radiotherapy Play Team as well as working independently to meet the needs of the patients and their families. The post holder will liaise closely with GOSH, in Day Care, with the UCLH paediatric cancer wards and external referring hospitals.
For the full Person Specification and more informationregarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*
UCLH top trust to work at in England for the second year running! : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
*In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the second year in a row.
UCLH top trust to work at in England for the second year running! University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Once again, UCLH has received the highest score of all general acute and acute/community NHS trusts in England for staff that would recommend us as a place to work.
To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?
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