Play Worker in London inLondon PUBLISHED MON 10 NOV 2025 Jump to job information section
Band 3: £30,546 to £32,207 a year Per annum inc
PERMANENT
NO SPONSORSHIP
Barts Health NHS Trust rI1unZvp
Job description
Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated individual. We are looking for a Play Worker to join our team of Health Play Specialists and Play Workers at The Royal London Children's Hospital. We work across both in and out patients departments and provide support to children and young people accessing our services.We are looking for a Play Worker who is committed to the delivery of compassionate high quality, child centered care and has the training and skills to implement specialised play input to support the young people and their families throughout their time in hospital.We are looking for someone who has a good understanding with relevant
Experience
of child development in varying ages and abilities, who is creative and keen to promote normalising and sensory play in the hospital setting. Our ideal candidate is able to work on their own initiative, a team player and a keen interest in working with children/young people and their families in hospital. We have a well-established programme of quality improvement and fully encourage CPD. We value team members who are resourceful, loyal, committed and can be an active part of our vision for continuing to drive play forward.Essential
Qualifications
needed to apply for this post include 5 GCSEs Grade C and above (to include Maths & English) and NNEB or NVQ level 3 in childcare or equivalent.
Main duties of the job
Working alongside your Play Department and wider multi-disciplinary team you will:Maintain a safe, child-focused environment where play occurs naturally.Provide play for normalisation for children attending hospital as in or out patients.Use your knowledge of child development and through to adulthood when selecting recreational / play activities. To plan and implement developmental play programmes for patients. Be able to identify children who need extra support and hand this over to a Play Specialist.
About us
Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain's leading healthcare providers.The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.
Details
Date posted
10 November 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for changeBandBand 3
Salary
£30,546 to £32,2a year Per annum inc
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
259-7478464RLH-B
Job location
sRoyal London HospitalLondonE1 1FR
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full
Job description
provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the
Person Specification
outlines the
Qualifications
, skills,
Experience
, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.*PLEASE NOTE WE ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE SPONSORSHIP FOR THIS ROLE*Following the recent update on UK immigration policy for those on a Health and Care Visa or Skilled Worker Visa, please click on the link to check your eligibility before applying for this post -Skilled Worker visa: Overview - GOV.UK ( https://jobsincare.com/job/jnscMzxEE56 note: When calculating the basic
Salary
for sponsorship, HCAS (High Cost Area Supplement) is not included for non-medical roles. This ensures fairness and consistency within our organisation, as some of our sites fall under inner HCAS, while others are classified as outer HCAS.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full
Person Specification
outlines the
Qualifications
, skills,
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential5 GCSEs Grade C and above to include Maths & EnglishNNEB or NVQ level 3 in childcare or equivalentDesirableAwareness of Childrens Safeguarding
Experience
EssentialPrevious
Experience
of working with Children/young people in a play, Education or hospital setting.
Experience
of working as a team member.
Experience
/knowledge of different cultures and ethnic groups.General knowledge/
Experience
Child Protection.
Experience
working with adolescents, babies and children with special needs & their families.Theoretical knowledge of child development.Knowledge of the value of play for sick children.Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance.Basic knowledge of confidentiality.DesirableCultural awareness training.SkillsEssentialGood interpersonal and supportive skills.To be creative and provide a wide Selection of art & craft activities for all ages.Health, safety and risk awareness.Play & organisation skills.Ability to understand and adhere to professional boundaries of the role, referring on to line manager where necessary.Ability to work with individuals and groups of children/young people.Effective verbal and written communicational skills.Good level of IT skills.DesirableDocumentation Skills.Good level of IT skillsCommunicationEssentialCommunicates in a manner that is consistent with relevant legislation, policies and procedures.Communicates with people in a form and manner that:Is consistent with their level of understanding, culture, background and preferred ways of communicating.Is appropriate to the purpose of the communication and the context in which it is taking placeEncourages the effective participation of all involvedRecognises and reflects on barriers to effective communication and modifies communication in responseIs proactive in seeking out different styles and methods of communicating to assist longer term needs and aims
Person Specification
Experience
EssentialPrevious
Experience
of working as a team member.
Experience
Child Protection.
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.Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit theUK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).From 6 April 2, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement.Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).Additional information
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.Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit theUK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).From 6 April 2, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement.Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).Employer
Details
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated individual. We are looking for a Play Worker to join our team of Health Play Specialists and Play Workers at The Royal London Children's Hospital. We work across both in and out patients departments and provide support to children and young people accessing our services.We are looking for a Play Worker who is committed to the delivery of compassionate high quality, child centered care and has the training and skills to implement specialised play input to support the young people and their families throughout their time in hospital.We are looking for someone who has a good understanding with relevant
Experience
of child development in varying ages and abilities, who is creative and keen to promote normalising and sensory play in the hospital setting. Our ideal candidate is able to work on their own initiative, a team player and a keen interest in working with children/young people and their families in hospital. We have a well-established programme of quality improvement and fully encourage CPD. We value team members who are resourceful, loyal, committed and can be an active part of our vision for continuing to drive play forward.Essential
Qualifications
needed to apply for this post include 5 GCSEs Grade C and above (to include Maths & English) and NNEB or NVQ level 3 in childcare or equivalent.
Main duties of the job
Working alongside your Play Department and wider multi-disciplinary team you will:Maintain a safe, child-focused environment where play occurs naturally.Provide play for normalisation for children attending hospital as in or out patients.Use your knowledge of child development and through to adulthood when selecting recreational / play activities. To plan and implement developmental play programmes for patients. Be able to identify children who need extra support and hand this over to a Play Specialist.
About us
Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain's leading healthcare providers.The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.
Details
Date posted
10 November 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for changeBandBand 3
Salary
£30,546 to £32,2a year Per annum inc
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
259-7478464RLH-B
Job location
sRoyal London HospitalLondonE1 1FR
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full
Job description
provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the
Person Specification
outlines the
Qualifications
, skills,
Experience
, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.*PLEASE NOTE WE ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE SPONSORSHIP FOR THIS ROLE*Following the recent update on UK immigration policy for those on a Health and Care Visa or Skilled Worker Visa, please click on the link to check your eligibility before applying for this post -Skilled Worker visa: Overview - GOV.UK ( https://jobsincare.com/job/jnscMzxEE56 note: When calculating the basic
Salary
for sponsorship, HCAS (High Cost Area Supplement) is not included for non-medical roles. This ensures fairness and consistency within our organisation, as some of our sites fall under inner HCAS, while others are classified as outer HCAS.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full
Person Specification
outlines the
Qualifications
, skills,
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential5 GCSEs Grade C and above to include Maths & EnglishNNEB or NVQ level 3 in childcare or equivalentDesirableAwareness of Childrens Safeguarding
Experience
EssentialPrevious
Experience
of working with Children/young people in a play, Education or hospital setting.
Experience
of working as a team member.
Experience
/knowledge of different cultures and ethnic groups.General knowledge/
Experience
Child Protection.
Experience
working with adolescents, babies and children with special needs & their families.Theoretical knowledge of child development.Knowledge of the value of play for sick children.Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance.Basic knowledge of confidentiality.DesirableCultural awareness training.SkillsEssentialGood interpersonal and supportive skills.To be creative and provide a wide Selection of art & craft activities for all ages.Health, safety and risk awareness.Play & organisation skills.Ability to understand and adhere to professional boundaries of the role, referring on to line manager where necessary.Ability to work with individuals and groups of children/young people.Effective verbal and written communicational skills.Good level of IT skills.DesirableDocumentation Skills.Good level of IT skillsCommunicationEssentialCommunicates in a manner that is consistent with relevant legislation, policies and procedures.Communicates with people in a form and manner that:Is consistent with their level of understanding, culture, background and preferred ways of communicating.Is appropriate to the purpose of the communication and the context in which it is taking placeEncourages the effective participation of all involvedRecognises and reflects on barriers to effective communication and modifies communication in responseIs proactive in seeking out different styles and methods of communicating to assist longer term needs and aims
Person Specification
Experience
EssentialPrevious
Experience
of working as a team member.
Experience
Child Protection.
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.Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit theUK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).From 6 April 2, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement.Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).Additional information
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.Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit theUK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).From 6 April 2, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement.Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).Employer
Details
Not sure?
If you're interested in this role but you have questions or you're not yet ready to apply, then please book a quick call with us and we'd be happy to answer any questions you have and tell you more about the role.
If you're interested in this role but you have questions or you're not yet ready to apply, then please book a quick call with us and we'd be happy to answer any questions you have and tell you more about the role.
Requirements
See the job description for full role requirements.
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More information related to this job opportunity, from jobsincare:
Useful skills for a Play Worker:
Click to view
To work as a Play Worker in the UK, there are several key skills and qualifications that are generally required or beneficial for the role:
1. Understanding of Child Development: Knowledge of the stages of child development and the importance of play in learning is crucial. This includes understanding physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development.
2. Communication Skills: Ability to communicate effectively with children, parents, and colleagues. This includes listening to children, encouraging them, and explaining activities clearly.
3. Creativity and Imagination: Being able to plan and lead engaging activities that foster children's creativity and encourage imaginative play.
4. Organizational Skills: Planning and organizing play activities, as well as managing time effectively to ensure a safe and structured environment.
5. Flexibility and Adaptability: Ability to adapt to the needs and interests of different children and to be flexible in response to changing situations.
6. Teamwork: Working collaboratively with other staff members and professionals to create a supportive environment for children.
7. Patience and Empathy: Understanding and being sensitive to the needs and feelings of children, and having the patience to deal with challenging behaviors.
8. Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to handle conflicts, challenges, and unexpected situations that may arise during play.
9. Knowledge of Safeguarding Procedures: Understanding the policies and procedures in place to protect children’s welfare and safety.
10. Health and Safety Awareness: Knowledge of relevant health and safety regulations and how to create a safe play environment.
11. First Aid Certification: Having a basic first aid qualification is often a requirement or a highly desirable skill in many roles involving children.
Qualifications:
While formal educational qualifications may not always be mandatory, many employers prefer candidates with specific qualifications, such as:
- NVQ/SVQ Level 2 or 3 in Playwork: These qualifications provide essential skills and knowledge needed in the field.
- Child Care qualifications: Such as a Level 2 or 3 diploma in Child Care and Education or similar.
- CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Playwork: A recognized qualification that covers the principles and foundations of playwork.
Experience:
Having practical experience working with children in various settings (such as schools, nurseries, or community centers) can also be very beneficial. Volunteering or internships can provide valuable exposure.
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