qualified and registered Health Play Specialist

To provide an accessible and inclusive service to meet the needs of the patient populations' accessing the Therapeutic and Specialised Play Service within Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales (NACHfW).
To utilise a range of clinical skills, experience and knowledge to assess patient need allowing for appropriate prioritization of therapeutic play preparation, distraction, and emotional support for babies, children and young people (BCYP) as needs present.

Please make sure you hold this qualification and registration, before applying as we cannot appoint someone without this in place. Students of the FdA Healthcare Play Specialism course may be considered, depending on experience demonstrated at interview.
This role will work flexibly across the hospital responding to support patients needs as they arise.
You will need to be registered with the Society of Health Play Specialists (SoHPS) and have experience working either in the Acute Hospital setting or in the community.
Your experience needs to be with children/young people from 0-18yrs.
This position is part time (30hrs) Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 8am - 4pm, working throughout the Children's Hospital, with an unpaid 30 minutes lunch break.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is one of the largest Integrated Health Board in the UK, employing over 16,000 staff and providing over 100 specialist services. Serving a population of around 500,000 people living in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, we are focussed on the health and care needs of our local population whilst also working with our partners to develop regional services. Together we are committed to improving health outcomes for everyone and to delivering excellent care and support.
Our mission is "Living Well, Caring Well, Working Together". We have recently refreshed our strategy, Shaping Our Future Wellbeing, which sets out the Health Board's Vision for improving the health and wellbeing of the populations we serve by 2035 through the delivery of our strategic objectives; Putting People First, Providing Outstanding Quality, Delivering in the Right Places, and Acting for the Future. We have challenging times ahead, but we are confident that by tackling these challenges together, we can support people to live healthier lives and reduce the unfair differences in the prevalence of illness and health outcomes we see in our communities today. We aspire to deliver outstanding care and treatment for people when they need it, where they need it; care that compares well with the best in the world, but to do so, we need to transform how we deliver services over the next decade and beyond.
We are a values-driven organisation and out goals will only be realised if our values are at the heart of everything we do. Created by colleagues, patients and their families and carers, our values are:
· We are kind and caring
· We are respectful
· We have trust and integrity
· We take personal responsibility
OUR REGION:
Wales has much to offer with miles of stunning coastline, UNESCO world heritage sites and beautiful countryside. Cardiff, the thriving Welsh capital, has something for everyone. It is a fantastic city to live and work in with an abundance of sports, arts and cultural attractions. Situated to the west of Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan offers a combination of beautiful Welsh countryside and a dramatic natural coastline, as well as charming towns including Penarth and Cowbridge. Those seeking more culture may find themselves drawn to the National Museum, St Fagan's Museum of Welsh Life or the Millennium Centre, home of the Welsh National Opera. Whether city life or rural living, Cardiff and the Vale offers the best of both worlds.
The Agenda for Change Pay Award for 2026/27 is effective from 1^st April 2026.
Please note successful applicants with a start date from 1^st April onwards the salary will be as per the 2026/27 pay award. For further detail the pay circular is available via this link https://www.nhs.wales/files/pc-resources/afc-w-02-2026-pdf-pdf?ts=1773244958086, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is one of the largest Integrated Health Boards in the UK, employing over 17,000 staff, providing over 100 specialist services. Working across 6 hospital sites, we have a diverse range of career opportunities to offer. Serving over 500,000 people living in Cardiff and the Vale, we are focussed on the health and care needs of our local population whilst working with our partners to develop regional services. Together we are committed to improving health outcomes for everyone, delivering excellent care and support.