Play Leader (XR04) in Leeds

Weare looking for a Play Specialist / Play leader to work over Paediatric Wards/settings to work as part of a team of Hospital Play specialists/ PlayLeaders to provide high quality,holistic play service for children and their families. To ensure all childrenhave appropriate access to play whilst in hospital, plan play programmesenabling children and young people to understand, accept and co-ordinate withtreatment.

Youwould need to show an enthusiastic manor , be dynamic, while motivated, atall times

Thispost will look to develop and support current Play Services as well asleading in good practice.

Youwill need to have experience of working with families sensitively understress/pressure.

Youwill be required to work closely and effectively as part of the play team andwith all multi professional teams within all wider teams / departments whileholding excellent written and communication skills.

Dueto the specialists skills needed within this role it is desirable that youhold a Health Play Specialist qualification

Expected ShortlistingDate

16/03/2026

Planned InterviewDate

23/03/2026

Main duties of the job

Workingas part of the play team and service you willensure planned and supervised play/activities are provided for childrenand young people on the wards, clinic, and other environments where childrenare treated. Consider the complex needs of children within the hospitalenvironment.

Preparechildren for treatments and procedures.

Alleviateanxiety related to clinical procedures or situations through diversionaloccupation.

Ensuretoys and play equipment are safe and appropriate for the age/developmentalstage of each child/young person and appropriate stock is maintained.

Ensurethe ward environment is child friendly and stimulating.

About us

LeedsChildrens hospital offers a wide range of treatment and care for childrenfrom birth to young adulthood and beyond.

Ourambition is to be a globally recognised, leading provider of healthcare forchildren and young people; engaging with our patients and their families tomake our services and their experience the best they can be. Our holisticapproach focuses on ensuring that children receive the best possible clinicalcare whilst supporting them to live their best life and to achieve their keymilestones.

LeedsChildrens Hospital operates 27 highly specialist services, which constitutesaround 67% of the hospitals total activity. More than 62,000 outpatientappointments are held each year and there are approximately 22,600 inpatientepisodes. As a specialist centre, the Childrens Hospital also runs outreachclinics at 22 hospitals across the North of England.

LeedsTeaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying \’at risk\’members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job advertsare subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or removeadverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in theshortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while thisprocess is completed, and contact the named contact if you have anyquestions.

Job responsibilities

Tolead the play service that meets the emotional needs of children and youngpeople (0-16) within the hospital environment.

Thepost holder will use structured/specialised play to prepare children for anysurgical, medical or nursing procedure and the use of distraction duringprocedures. The post holder will alleviate the effects of hospitalisation byproviding emotional support and continuity of care for individual children.The post holder will ensure the clinical area is stimulating and a childfriendly environment with appropriate information displays. The post holderwill ensure that the environment is safe.

Thejobholder will work within the childrens hospital play team, working withchildren and young people across the childrens hospital and their families

To lead, plan and providetherapeutic and specialised programmes of play in the hospital setting

To assess the childs emotional andpsychological well-being and work as part of a multidisciplinary team to meettheir individual needs

To work with children and theirfamilies and help them understand their medical and nursing treatment

To alleviate anxiety related toclinical procedures or situations through the use of preparation anddistraction techniques to facilitate coping mechanisms and emotionalwell-being.

To design tools and techniques forpreparation or distraction to prepare individual children for a range ofprocedures; evaluate their effectiveness, and change where necessary

To document observations of play,and the effectiveness of interventions

To provide supervision and supportto Play Leaders working across the childrens hospital and ensure thatprogrammes of play are consistent across the hospital setting while leadingin developing a variety of good practice within the speciality.

To liaise lead and developresources to help best meet the needs of individual children.

To ensure toys and play equipmentare safe, well maintained, and appropriate for the age/developmental stage ofeach child/young person and appropriate stock is ordered and maintained. Toclean and maintain play equipment and activities before and between use.

To set up activities in the playroom, and assist the physical moving of children where required to engage inplay activities

To document family dynamics, andescalate any concerns appropriately if they arise

To work with siblings throughplanned play activities & support the sibling group.

To contribute to the learningenvironment for students and provide mentoring when required.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Childcare/play work qualification level 3 and above
• Foundation degree in healthcare play specialism or hospital play speciality qualification (Professional Diploma BTEC Level 4)
• Registered with the Society of Health Play Specialist

Skills & behaviours

• Team Working
• Good communication written and verbal skills
• Able to fulfil Occupational Health requirements for the post (with reasonable adjustments if necessary), including clearance on blood borne viruses in compliance with Trust Policy
• Experience working with children

Experience

• Insight into roles and responsibilities of post
• Child development and related play development

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.