Hospital Play Specialist Apprentice
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Company: County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
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Location: DH1 5TW
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Type: Apprenticeship
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Salary: £25,760.00 per year
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Sector: Health and science
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Ref: NAS-2000046289
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Application Deadline Date: 14/08/2026
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Start Date: 14/09/2026
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Positions Available: 1
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Working Week: To work flexibly across play teams as needed. Hours of work to be discussed at interview.
Brief Description
As a Hospital Play Specialist Apprentice, you'll learn how to use play to support children through illness, treatment, and hospital stays. You'll earn while you learn, gain a recognised qualification, and be part of a multidisciplinary NHS team dedicated to improving the experiences of children and their families.
Training to be Provided
You will need to commit one day per week to attending the university sessions as well as approximately one day per week on professional practice placement in a healthcare setting.
Ability to travel to Leeds to undertake academic studies.
Future Prospects
It can be an excellent progression route for Healthcare Support Workers, Nursery Practitioners, Teaching Assistants, Childcare Practitioners, or anyone looking to begin a rewarding career in children's healthcare.
Vacancy Detail
- To facilitate and resource play activities for individual and groups
- To plan opportunities for play which consider the child/young persons stage of development, medical and cultural needs
- To plan opportunities for play which can be facilitated flexibly depending on where the child is e.g. play room, bedside etc
- To encourage opportunities for children/young people to meet developmental milestones and
- To provide distraction to children undergoing procedures
- To assist in the creation of a caring and safe play environment for children of all ages
- To encourage and support parents to join in play with their children
- To organise activities which encourage independence and provide the opportunity for parents and patients to spend time independently of each other
- To attend monthly team and staff meetings to share relevant information related to the Trust and the Play team
- To be responsible for ordering toys and play equipment and ensure that the equipment is maintained in good order in consultation with the Hospital Play Specialist
- To ensure that play equipment is cleaned routinely in line with the departments infection control policy and cleaning schedules and keep documentation accordingly
Other Information
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.