Ethan Rhodes
Health play specialists are healthcare professionals who use play and creative activities to support the emotional, social, and psychological well-being of children and young people in medical settings. They play a crucial role in helping children cope with the stress and anxiety associated with medical procedures. To become a health play specialist, you'll typically need a foundation degree in Healthcare Play Specialism and experience working with children in a healthcare environment. You may also need to be registered with the Society of Health Play Specialists or the Healthcare Play Specialist Education Trust (HPSET). In this role, you may work in hospitals, clinics, hospices, or community healthcare centres, often as part of a multidisciplinary team.
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What You'll Learn
- Qualifications: A foundation degree in Healthcare Play Specialism is required, alongside experience working with children
- Registration: You must be registered with the Healthcare Play Specialist Education Trust (HPSET) and the Society of Health Play Specialists
- Day-to-day tasks: Plan and deliver play sessions tailored to meet the needs of each child, helping them understand their treatment and illness
- Working environment: Play specialists work in hospitals, hospices, clinics, and community healthcare centres
- Career progression: With experience, you can become a senior play specialist, mentor, or pursue research and education
Qualifications: A foundation degree in Healthcare Play Specialism is required, alongside experience working with children
To become a hospital play specialist, you'll need to obtain a foundation degree in Healthcare Play Specialism. This is a two-year part-time course that can be studied at 4 colleges in the UK. To secure a place on the course, you'll typically need National 5 English and Maths, or equivalent, alongside one of the following: 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A-levels, or equivalent.
Alternatively, you can pursue an apprenticeship route to gain the required qualifications. This involves applying for an apprentice position with a healthcare provider, which can be found on the NHS Jobs website and the Find an Apprenticeship website. The Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship in particular requires at least 2 years of experience working with children.
In addition to the foundation degree or apprenticeship, prior experience working with children in a healthcare environment is crucial. This experience can be gained through volunteering in healthcare settings, which also provides valuable insight when applying for courses and jobs.
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Registration: You must be registered with the Healthcare Play Specialist Education Trust (HPSET) and the Society of Health Play Specialists
To become a hospital play specialist, registration with the Healthcare Play Specialist Education Trust (HPSET) and the Society of Health Play Specialists (SoHPS) is required. The SoHPS was formed in 2024 when the HPSET merged with the National Association of Health Play Specialists (NAHPS).
Registration with the HPSET requires specific training and qualifications. The Foundation Degree in Healthcare Play Specialism is the only route to professional registration as a Health Play Specialist in the UK. This two-year course combines academic study with work experience. It is a pre-requisite for registration, regardless of previous qualifications or experience. Students who complete the course become eligible to join the public register of Health Play Specialists and to use the job title ‘Registered HPS’.
While registration is not currently mandatory, it is considered essential by most NHS employers. It guarantees that the play specialist has the appropriate qualifications, undertakes an audited program of continuous professional development, and adheres to a code of professional standards of practice and behaviour.
To secure a place on the foundation degree course, you will need National 5 English and Maths, or equivalent, and one of the following: 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship. Alternatively, you can apply for the Health Play Specialist Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship if you have at least two years of experience working with children and are employed in a healthcare setting.
In addition to registration with the HPSET, it is recommended that you find a mentor who is a registered member of the Society of Health Play Specialists to guide you through your workplace training.
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Day-to-day tasks: Plan and deliver play sessions tailored to meet the needs of each child, helping them understand their treatment and illness
To become a hospital play specialist, you'll need a foundation degree in Healthcare Play Specialism and experience working with children in a healthcare environment. You must also be registered with the Healthcare Play Specialist Education Trust (HPSET) and the Society of Health Play Specialists.
As a hospital play specialist, one of your day-to-day tasks will be to plan and deliver play sessions tailored to meet the needs of each child. Play is used as a therapeutic tool to help children understand their treatment and illness. This might involve using play to help children adapt to unfamiliar surroundings and develop coping strategies. For example, you could use role play with preparation dolls to help children prepare for surgery or procedures. Play sessions can also provide an outlet for children to express their feelings and manage their emotions.
When planning and delivering these play sessions, it's important to respect patients' individuality, values, cultural, and religious diversity to meet their care needs. You'll also need to keep up to date with best practices and monitor the effectiveness of different play techniques. This may involve reviewing and reflecting on your practice through clinical supervision and appraisal.
In addition to planning and delivering play sessions, you'll also collaborate with other healthcare professionals to prepare children for treatment and engage them during difficult procedures. You'll work within a multidisciplinary team, which may include doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. You might also be responsible for leading the health play service, managing health playworkers and play assistants.
Overall, the goal of these play sessions is to support children's emotional, social, and psychological well-being, alleviate stress and anxiety, and promote a positive and engaging environment during their healthcare experience.
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Working environment: Play specialists work in hospitals, hospices, clinics, and community healthcare centres
Play specialists work in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, hospices, clinics, and community healthcare centres. They are an integral part of the healthcare team, providing support and resources to children and their families to help them cope with the stress and anxiety associated with medical procedures.
In hospitals, play specialists can work in outpatient or inpatient departments, providing therapeutic play opportunities for children and young people during their hospital stay or visit. They may also work in emergency departments, where they can help children and families deal with the stress and uncertainty of unexpected medical issues.
Play specialists working in hospices offer support to children and families facing life-threatening diseases or end-of-life care. They use play and creative activities to help children understand and cope with the difficult emotions and experiences they may encounter in this setting.
In clinics and community healthcare centres, play specialists collaborate with other healthcare professionals to provide therapeutic play services to children attending appointments or receiving outpatient treatment. They may also work with children in their homes, offering support and continuity of care in familiar surroundings.
The working environment for play specialists can be emotionally demanding, as they often deal with children facing medical challenges and stressful situations. However, their ability to use play and creativity to support children's emotional, social, and psychological well-being makes their role invaluable in promoting a positive healthcare experience.
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Career progression: With experience, you can become a senior play specialist, mentor, or pursue research and education
As you gain experience as a health play specialist, you will have several options for career progression. You could become a senior health play specialist, taking on more responsibility and leading a team of health playworkers and play assistants. Alternatively, you could pursue further education and training to become a mentor or trainer for new health play specialists. This could involve teaching courses or supervising apprenticeships.
With your experience in the field, you may also choose to pursue a career in research. This could involve conducting studies and contributing to the growing understanding of the impact of play therapy on children's well-being. Research roles can be found in academic institutions, as well as in collaboration with healthcare providers and charitable organisations.
Another option for career progression is to move into an educational role. This could involve training future health play specialists or teaching related courses at colleges or universities. You could also use your experience to educate healthcare professionals about the benefits of play therapy and how it can be incorporated into their practice.
Outside of hospitals, your experience as a health play specialist can be valuable in hospices, community paediatric teams, charitable organisations, schools, and private healthcare facilities. In these settings, you can continue to apply your skills and knowledge to support children and families in need.
Finally, with your experience and understanding of the healthcare system, you may decide to pursue further education and training to become a healthcare professional, such as a children's nurse, child psychotherapist, or counsellor.
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Frequently asked questions
You'll need a foundation degree in Healthcare Play Specialism and experience working with children in a healthcare environment. You can also get on a foundation degree course with 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A-levels, or equivalent.
Yes, you'll need to register with the Healthcare Play Specialist Education Trust (HPSET) and the Society of Health Play Specialists.
Hospital play specialists use therapeutic play and creative activities to support the emotional, social, and psychological well-being of children and young people in medical settings. They also help children understand their illness or injury, care plan, and treatment, and prepare them for surgery or procedures.
Most health play specialists work full-time, around 37.5 to 40 hours per week, typically Monday through Friday. However, weekend or holiday hours may also be required.
You can find vacancies through the NHS Jobs website and the Find an Apprenticeship website.
