Job Description

Play Specialist

• Hours:Part-time 22.5hours per week
• Location:Helen and Douglas House, Oxford
• Salary:HDH Band 4/5 29,887-40,483 per annum (pro rata) depending on experience
• Closing date:3 September 2025 at 12 noon
• Interview date:tbc

To apply, please make an application via our website:
https://helenanddouglas.current-vacancies.com/Jobs/Advert/3937258?cid=3373&jobtitle=Play.Specialist&location=14A.Magdalen.Road%2c.Oxford%2c.OX4.1RW&rsid=28812&ad=-1000671477&t=Play-Specialist&l=--A-Magdalen-Road--Oxford--OX---RW
For an informal chat about the role or to book in a visit, please phone 01865 794749 or emailrecruitment@helenanddouglas.org.uk.
Applications will be reviewed and invited to interview as received. We reserve the right to close the advert at any time, therefore weencourageapplicants to apply as soon as possible.
Main duties of the job
We have an exciting opportunity that has arisen to be a member of our dynamic Play Team, you will support a caseload of children, delivering regular sessions with clearly defined aims and measurable outcomes. Youll work closely with families, colleagues, and the wider multidisciplinary team to ensure play is fully integrated into he every day offer at Helen and Douglas House.
Drawing on your expertise, youll adapt your skills across a variety of environmentsfrom our hospice to community settings. Youll operate safely, independently as well as part of a collaborative team.
Our service is shaped by the needs of the families we support, flexibility and weekend availability are essential.
About us
Helen & Douglas House is a registered hospice charity based in Oxford, providing palliative, respite, end-of-life and bereavement care to life-limited children and their families.
We foster a climate where team members feel able to openly question, debate and appropriately challenge their own and the practice of others; as such, we welcome new ideas and strive to constantly improve our delivery of care to our patients.
To apply, please make an application via our website:
https://helenanddouglas.current-vacancies.com/Jobs/Advert/3937258?cid=3373&jobtitle=Play.Specialist&location=14A.Magdalen.Road%2c.Oxford%2c.OX4.1RW&rsid=28812&ad=-1000671477&t=Play-Specialist&l=--A-Magdalen-Road--Oxford--OX---RW
Details
Date posted
20 August 2025
Pay scheme
Other
Salary
29,887 to 40,483 a year HDH Band4/5 29,887-40,483per annum(prorata)experience depending
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Part-time
Reference number
B0269-HND1121443-2
Job locations
14a Magdalen Road
Oxford
Oxfordshire
OX4 1RW
Job description
Job responsibilities
Summary of the Roles Main Purpose:

• To be an integral part of the Play team and contribute to the play offer at Helen House.
• To deliver specialist play interventions to children and young people (0-18 years) with life limiting and life-threatening conditions, who are receiving palliative and end of life care within Helen & Douglas House and childrens own homes.
• To use theoretical knowledge and evidence-based practice to assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapeutic play with continued awareness of the emotional needs of the children being cared for within Helen & Douglas House and their own homes.
• To work flexibly to provide advice and support on play interventions to families and professionals who care for the children within our service.
• To contribute to the development of the service model, including the role of volunteers.
• To effectively support and work collaboratively to ensure that children, young people and their families are cared for.
• Contribute to safeguarding practices and support bereavement programmes through creative play approaches.

The full job description is available in the supporting information.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Summary of the Roles Main Purpose:

• To be an integral part of the Play team and contribute to the play offer at Helen House.
• To deliver specialist play interventions to children and young people (0-18 years) with life limiting and life-threatening conditions, who are receiving palliative and end of life care within Helen & Douglas House and childrens own homes.
• To use theoretical knowledge and evidence-based practice to assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapeutic play with continued awareness of the emotional needs of the children being cared for within Helen & Douglas House and their own homes.
• To work flexibly to provide advice and support on play interventions to families and professionals who care for the children within our service.
• To contribute to the development of the service model, including the role of volunteers.
• To effectively support and work collaboratively to ensure that children, young people and their families are cared for.
• Contribute to safeguarding practices and support bereavement programmes through creative play approaches.

The full job description is available in the supporting information.
Person Specification
Personal Qualities and Behaviours
Essential

• Well-practiced verbal, nonverbal and written communication skills with the ability to record information in a concise, accurate and legible manner.
• Flexible approach to solving problems.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and recognise own limitations. Patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations add highly stressful.
• Effective interpersonal and team working.
• Organisational skills and ability to prioritise workload.
• ICT skills.
• Sound knowledge of Child Protection and Safeguarding.
• Understanding of professional boundaries.
• Ability to work alone.
• Ability to work flexibly including weekend and Bank Holidays as required.

Desirable

• Presentation skills.
• Counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach.

Experience
Essential

• Recent evidence of a broad experience of working as part of a multi disciplinary team in a variety of settings.
• Evidence of working with children from 0-18 years.
• Understanding of therapeutic play and its relevance to children with palliative and complex care needs.
• Experience of working in partnership with families.
• An understanding of childrens palliative care and the specific needs of young people with a life-limiting condition.
• Experience of working in a healthcare setting.
• Experience and understanding of working with children with complex disabilities and understanding of their developmental milestones.
• Experience of supporting colleagues to develop.
• Report writing skills and use of electronic records.

Desirable

• Experience of working with life limited and life threatened children.
• Experience of working in a hospice.
• Experience of working with volunteer.
• Risk management skills.

Qualifications
Essential

• Degree or accredited professional qualification in play for sick children and young people or equivalent experience.
• CACHE level 2/ 3 in play work or equivalent qualification.
• Full UK Driving Licence.

Desirable

• NVQ level 2/3 in child/social care or equivalent.
• Qualified NNEB practitioner.
• Evidence of continued professional development.
• Registration with HPSET or other professional body.

Person Specification
Personal Qualities and Behaviours
Essential

• Well-practiced verbal, nonverbal and written communication skills with the ability to record information in a concise, accurate and legible manner.
• Flexible approach to solving problems.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and recognise own limitations. Patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations add highly stressful.
• Effective interpersonal and team working.
• Organisational skills and ability to prioritise workload.
• ICT skills.
• Sound knowledge of Child Protection and Safeguarding.
• Understanding of professional boundaries.
• Ability to work alone.
• Ability to work flexibly including weekend and Bank Holidays as required.

Desirable

• Presentation skills.
• Counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach.

Experience
Essential

• Recent evidence of a broad experience of working as part of a multi disciplinary team in a variety of settings.
• Evidence of working with children from 0-18 years.
• Understanding of therapeutic play and its relevance to children with palliative and complex care needs.
• Experience of working in partnership with families.
• An understanding of childrens palliative care and the specific needs of young people with a life-limiting condition.
• Experience of working in a healthcare setting.
• Experience and understanding of working with children with complex disabilities and understanding of their developmental milestones.
• Experience of supporting colleagues to develop.
• Report writing skills and use of electronic records.

Desirable

• Experience of working with life limited and life threatened children.
• Experience of working in a hospice.
• Experience of working with volunteer.
• Risk management skills.

Qualifications
Essential

• Degree or accredited professional qualification in play for sick children and young people or equivalent experience.
• CACHE level 2/ 3 in play work or equivalent qualification.
• Full UK Driving Licence.

Desirable

• NVQ level 2/3 in child/social care or equivalent.
• Qualified NNEB practitioner.
• Evidence of continued professional development.
• Registration with HPSET or other professional body.