Permanent | Full Time
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our established Play Service team at Sheffield Children’s Hospital predominantly working in ED/AAU.
The role requires you to be flexible due to service need and demand, as you will be expected to work across various wards and departments within the Trust as required . Our team has 24 staff in different roles including Play Service Managers, Play Specialists, and Play leaders.
As Play Leader you will provide appropriate play and recreation activities for children from 0 – 16 years, who are either attending as Outpatients in clinic areas or on a Ward. You will also be expected to work with the team leader Play Specialist to deliver therapeutic and normalising play.
You will be responsible for promoting the play service, and ensuring that the environment is family friendly, age appropriate and safe. You should have good communication skills, enjoy working with children and young people and their families and be able to use your own initiative, as well as working within a team.
About You
English Language GCSE A-C or Level 2 equivalent. Level 3 Diploma in Childcare & Education / 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
Working with children Able to support volunteers and play assistants
If you think you have what it takes to be our next Play Leader, we would love to hear from you.
Reporting into the Play specialist and Play Service Manager, some of your responsibilities will include :
To provide play services across all areas where children and young people attend, at times dictated by their needs. This will include evenings and weekends.
To provide play and activities, appropriate to the age and needs of the children and young people throughout the trust
To ensure the environment in which children and young people attend is friendly, age appropriate and safe
To work with the play specialist, delivering programmes of play and distraction both developmental. normalising and therapeutic.
To positively promote and develop play services within the organisation
At Sheffield Children’s, our purpose is clear: to provide healthier futures for children and young people. Our three strategic aims are Outstanding Patient Care, Brilliant Place to Work, and Leaders in Children’s Health.
We work with partners across local, regional, and national levels to deliver physical and mental healthcare in both acute and community settings. Many of our clinicians are nationally and internationally recognised for their expertise.
We’re proud that 73% of colleagues would recommend Sheffield Children’s as a place to work, placing us among the top five NHS trusts in England — and the top-ranked trust in the North East and Yorkshire — in the latest NHS Staff Survey.
Our nearly 4,000 colleagues bring our CARE values — Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence — to life every day, creating a kind, welcoming environment where patients and families feel safe and supported.
As we approach our 150th anniversary this year, we’re excited to keep building our leadership in children's health, improve experiences for patients and staff, and focus on our communities and population health.
We also offer excellent benefits to support your wellbeing, with generous annual leave and pension schemes, health and wellbeing programmes, and exclusive discounts — helping you thrive at work and beyond.
For more information on the main responsibilities for this post, please refer to the job description and person specification.
*** This role has been assigned the occupation code 6117 using the CASCOT coding tool. To check the eligibility of this code for sponsorship and right to work please visit - UKVI web address 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.
Recognising that inclusivity is an ongoing effort, we review our processes and welcome feedback to enhance our practices. A diverse team strengthens our organisation and the quality of care we deliver. For ideas on how we can improve, please contact our Recruitment Manager at
[email protected] . Together, we’re building a workplace where everyone belongs.
#LI-Onsite
