Oncology Health Play Specialist - The Grand Appeal HPS | Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
| Company: | University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £28,000 - £32,000 per annum (Pay scales are enhanced in comparison with NHS Pay grades) |
| Hours: | Full-time |
| Location: | Bristol, BS3 8JB |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Posting date: | 29 Jul 2026 |
| Closing date: | 29 Aug 2026 |
Summary
AtThe Grand Appeal – Wallace & Gromit's Grand Appeal, we believe every child deserves the very best care, comfort and support during some of the most challenging moments of their lives. For over 30 years, The Grand Appeal has worked in partnership to support Bristol Children's Hospital and St Michael's Hospital transforming children's healthcare.
We are now looking for a compassionate, enthusiastic and experiencedOncology Health Play Specialistto join our dedicated Play Team on atwo-year fixed-term contract.
This is an exciting opportunity to support children and young people receiving cancer treatment on Starlight Ward at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children (BRHC).
This post is employed and funded by The Grand Appealand is based within the Play Department at BRHC. The successful candidate will hold anhonorary contract with Bristol NHS Foundation Trustand will receive day-to-day line management from the Senior Health Play Specialist.
Working as part of the multidisciplinary team, you will provide specialist therapeutic play interventions that help children and young people understand, prepare for and cope with hospital treatment and procedures. Through play, distraction techniques and emotional support, you will help reduce anxiety, promote resilience and improve each child's hospital experience.
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Key Responsibilities
• Deliver specialist therapeutic play interventions for children and young people receiving oncology care.
• Assess patients' developmental, emotional and psychosocial needs and develop individual play plans.
• Prepare children and young people for medical procedures using evidence-based therapeutic play techniques.
• Support patients during procedures through distraction therapies and emotional reassurance.
• Respond to referrals from the multidisciplinary team and work collaboratively to deliver holistic patient-centred care.
• Promote normal play opportunities that support children's emotional, social, developmental and creative needs during hospital admission.
• Work alongside the Health Playworker to prioritise patient care and ensure effective service delivery.
• Supervise students, volunteers, visitors and entertainers within the hospital environment.
• Maintain accurate clinical documentation and contribute to service development and quality improvement initiatives.
• Uphold the values, policies and professional standards of both The Grand Appeal and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust.
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Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.
With an annual turnover of 2.6 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom.
Chaired by Ingrid Barker and led by Maria Kane as Chief Executive, Bristol NHS Foundation Trust aims to transform the way healthcare is delivered locally with a clear focus on making a difference for what we call our Four Ps:
• Better outcomes for our Patients
• More opportunities for ourPeople
• Fairer more consistent care for our Population
• Best Value forPublic Purse
Our vision for five years from now:
• Patients will wait less time to be diagnosed and treated, and they will have the same high-quality experience and outcomes, regardless of who they are or where they live.
• We will meet rising demand by maximising the use of our available resources.
• More care will be delivered nearer to patients, in their homes or the community.
• Digital technologies will have transformed the way we work and the way we deliver care.
• Our people will feel engaged, energised and empowered by their work.
• We will be known as a place where people enjoy working, training and building a career.
• Our volume of globally renowned research and innovation will have grown significantly.
• We will contribute to system financial balance
For a more detailed list of the main responsibilities of the role, please see the attached job description, personal specification and duties. .
This advert closes on Sunday 23 Aug 2026
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