Play Leader
The closing date is 16 July 2026
Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.
Opportunity to join our Play Service team at Sheffield Children’s Hospital predominantly working in ED/AAU. The role requires flexibility due to service need and demand, working across various wards and departments within the Trust as required.
As Play Leader you will provide appropriate play and recreation activities for children from 0-16 years who are attending as outpatients in clinic areas or on a ward. You will work with the Play Specialist to deliver therapeutic and normalising play and promote the play service, ensuring that the environment is family‑friendly, age‑appropriate and safe.
Home to 24 staff in different roles, you should have good communication skills, enjoy working with children and young people and their families, and be able to use your own initiative while working within a team.
Main Duties
- Provide play services across all areas where children and young people attend, at times dictated by their needs, including evenings and weekends.
- Deliver play and activities appropriate to the age and needs of the children and young people throughout the trust.
- Ensure the environment is friendly, age‑appropriate and safe.
- Work with the play specialist to provide developmentally normalising and therapeutic play programmes.
- Promote and develop play services within the organisation.
Qualifications & Training
- English Language GCSE A-C or Level 2 equivalent.
- Level 3 Diploma in Childcare & Education or NNEB Diploma in Nursery Nursing.
- NVQ Level 3 in Children’s Care, Learning and Development or other professional Childcare qualification at Level 3 or above.
- Hospital Play Certificate / Play‑work Sector Endorsed Foundation Degree (PSEFD).
Experience
- Working with children.
- Ability to support volunteers and play assistants.
Knowledge and Skills
- Maintaining a safe environment.
- Basic knowledge of Safeguarding/Child Protection.
- Understanding the importance of play to minimise the effects of hospitalisation on the child and family.
- Basic key‑board / IT skills to effectively use hospital information systems, including data entry.
Occupation Code
Occupation code 6117 (CASCOT). For sponsorship eligibility, see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-eligible-occupations/skilled-worker-visa-eligible-occupations-and-codes.
Diversity Statement
At Sheffield Children’s, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity and supports everyone’s success. We prioritise Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in our recruitment practices, creating a welcoming space for people of all backgrounds, including ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ members. We review our processes and welcome feedback to enhance our practices.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Address
Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
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