About this role
Job summary
Come join our valued Play Team at Addenbrooke's Hospital, supporting children, young people and families across Children's Services. Working alongside Health Play Specialists and Nursery Nurses, you will deliver therapeutic and developmental play interventions that reduce anxiety, promote coping and improve the hospital experience.
You will support patients with a range of developmental abilities, including those with complex needs and challenging behaviours, and prepare children for diagnostic procedures, treatment and admission. The role requires excellent communication, play and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team.
We are looking for a motivated, creative and organised individual who is passionate about meeting the emotional, psychological and developmental needs of children and families.
You must hold a recognised Health Play Specialist qualification and Society of Health Play Specialists registration.
Applications from final-year students and those returning to practice are welcome.
Main duties of the job
Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to provide support for children and their families.
Take on individual referrals for children experiencing difficulty in coping with the diagnosis and treatment and managing hospital admission / procedures. Using evidence-based practice to assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapeutic interventions that may be needed in either the hospital and or the home environment. Provide therapeutic play interventions for specific medical procedures. Document therapeutic interventions and outcomes. Develop skills, knowledge and be responsible for own practice, through continued professional development. Promote an awareness of the emotional needs of children in hospital and the importance of play, within the multi-disciplinary team. To encourage normal development of the child by using play as a developmental aid. Participating in the assessment of care and rehabilitation needs of the patient.
About us
Our Trust
Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people - patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing 'outstanding' care to our patients and rated 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH's values - Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent - are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.
CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people's age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.
Job description Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:
applied for a Graduate visa or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment The advert will close at midnight on 2 August 2026.
Interviews are due to be held on 12 August 2026.
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Foundation Degree in Healthcare Play Specialism / Edexel Level 4 Professional Diploma in Specialist Play for Sick Children and Young People OR Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) Children's Workforce, Cache, NNEB, BTec, NVQ or Level 3 qualification in Early years / Childcare equivalent Current registration with SoHPS or have discussed a plan or re-registration with SoHPS for return to practice
Desirable
Youth work or qualification Counselling Diploma or equivalent
Experience Essential
Can demonstrate autonomous working practices in current post Evidence of experience of working with parents and extended families Evidence of experience of working with children / young people in a hospital setting
Desirable
Experience of working with children with special educational needs and/or mental health concerns Evidence of working in an acute care hospital setting with Children and young people Evidence of integrated working with a multi-professional team Experience of supporting students in previous positions
Knowledge Essential
Knowledge of the value of play for sick children and the effects of hospitalisation on children, young people and their families Demonstrated understanding of developmental, social and psychological needs of children / young people and their families incorporating special needs, cultures and diversities Knowledge of SoHPS professional standards and application to practice Knowledge of Health and Safety, and risk management in practice including safeguarding procedures
Desirable
Basic knowledge of the principles of clinical governance
Skills Essential
Ability to work with individuals and groups of babies / children / young people Ability to deliver therapeutic play including play preparation, distraction and post procedural play for medical procedures using evidenced based techniques Effective verbal and written communication skills Ability to manage and prioritise own workload and work as part of a wider team
Desirable
Training and presentation skills Word processing and internet research skills
Additional Requirements Essential
The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Safe, Kind, Excellent. Commitment to patient / family-centred, non-discriminatory practice Be able to sensitively deal with the frequent challenges associated with social differences, parental and family anxiety and cultural diversity Documented evidence of continued professional 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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications 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 the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, 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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address Addenbrookes Hospital-Division E
Hills Road
Cambridge
CB2 0QQ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.cuh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)