Job Summary
A rare opportunity has arisen to join our friendly, professional and supportive Play Team at Ipswich Hospital as a Hospital Play Assistant. This is a part‐time position, 24 hours per week, working day‐time shifts, providing play and recreational activities for individual children/groups of children of any age in the hospital setting, helping to maintain a safe and child‐focused environment where play occurs naturally.
Please note the advert will close earlier if sufficient number of applications received.
Main duties of the job
* To meet and greet child/family attending the hospital department, maintaining good communications with children, families and other visitors to the hospital
* To organise, supervise and maintain play activities for individuals or groups of children and young people in hospital, according to their individual needs and as part of the overall care plan.
* To plan a programme of daily play activities for the playroom/department in conjunction with Play Specialists
* To use knowledge of child development when selecting play activities, promoting the normal development of children by using play as a developmental aid
* To document play interventions where appropriate.
About Us
We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across East Suffolk and North Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes.
We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.
We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options. Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offers a variety of services.
Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.
We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what's widely regarded as the world's best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.
Find out about living and working here – https://www.esneft.nhs.uk/
Details
* Date posted: 13 March 2026
* Pay scheme: Agenda for change
* Band: Band 3
* Salary: £24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum pro rata
* Contract: Permanent
* Working pattern: Part‐time
* Reference number: 432-HR1405-25
* Job locations: Ipswich Hospital – Heath Road, Ipswich, IP4 5PD
Person Specification Essential
* Proven post‐qualification experience directly working with children/young people
Desirable
* Experience of working as part of a team
* Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development
Qualifications
* Up to secondary school education
* NNEB or NVQ Level 3 Child Care
Knowledge
* Knowledge and understanding of child development
* Knowledge of current best practice
* Knowledge of child protection issues
* Understanding of confidentiality
* Knowledge of NAHPS guidelines for professional practice its application to practice
* Health, safety and risk awareness
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offences 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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.
Employer details
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Ipswich Hospital
Heath Road
Ipswich
IP4 5PD
Employer's website: https://www.esneft.nhs.uk/
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