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Health play specialist

Alternative titles for this job include Hospital play specialist

Health play specialists use therapeutic play activities to help children and young people cope with illness, treatment and recovery.

Average salary (a year)

£27,000 Starter

to

£36,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

37 to 40 a week

You could work

weekends

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become Health play specialist

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship

University

You can do a healthcare play specialism foundation degree, which you'll need to register with the Society of Health Play Specialists.

To get onto the course, you usually need:

  • a childcare qualification at level 3 or above
  • GCSEs or equivalent in English and maths
  • at least 2 years' experience of working with children – paid or voluntary

This is a 2-year, day-release course. It combines academic study with work placements.

If you're not already working in a healthcare setting, you'll need to arrange a placement during the course. You will need to complete at least 200 hours of work placements for each year.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths
  • at least 1 A level, or equivalent, for a foundation degree

More Information

Apprenticeship

You may be able to apply for the Health Play Specialist Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship, if you have at least 2 years' experience of working with children. You should also be employed in a healthcare setting, for example a hospital or clinic.

You can find vacancies through NHS Jobs.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

Volunteering

You can get work experience by volunteering in a healthcare setting, which is useful when applying for courses and jobs.

You can also find volunteering opportunities through The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and Do IT.

More Information

Registration

Career tips

When applying for jobs, you'll be expected to have an understanding of how NHS values would apply in your work.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a health play specialist from the Society of Health Play Specialists and Health Careers.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
  • sensitivity and understanding
  • the ability to understand people’s reactions
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • a desire to help people
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • the ability to work well with others
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

You will need to find an experienced health play specialist, who is registered with the Society of Health Play Specialists, to act as your mentor during workplace training.

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

As a health play specialist, you would:

  • work closely with children, families, carers and health professionals
  • carry out therapeutic assessments
  • design play activities to meet children's individual needs
  • plan and run play, art and craft activities at the bedside, on the ward or in a hospital play area
  • create a safe environment that encourages play
  • advise parents and carers about activities they can do with their children
  • maintain patient records and data

Working environment

You could work in an NHS or private hospital, at a health centre or at a hospice.

Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.

You may need to wear a uniform.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

You could use your experience to work outside of a hospital setting, for example in a hospice or within a community paediatric team.

You could also become a:

  • senior play specialist
  • team leader
  • play department manager

You might apply to train as a healthcare professional, like a children's nurse, child psychotherapist or counsellor.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a Health play specialist right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

Childcare & Education Level 3 Diploma

  • Provider: ST GEORGE'S ACADEMY
  • Start date: 01 September 2025
  • Location: Sleaford

Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education

  • Provider: TAMESIDE COLLEGE
  • Start date: 02 September 2025
  • Location: Ashton-Under-Lyne
Find courses near you

Jobs In the United Kingdom

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