The Role of the Hospital Play Specialist
The title Hospital Play Specialist was coined in the 1970’s to define to the role of a group of staff who supported children through the use of play in hospital. Today, qualified, registered play staff hold the professional title of Health Play Specialist (HPS) in order to reflect the broader role of health promotion and maintenance. Play has a special function in the hospital environment and HPS lead playful activities and use play as a therapeutic tool, however, they are neither play therapists nor play leaders. Working closely as part of the multi-disciplinary team, HPS:
- organise daily play and art activities in the playroom or at the bedside
- provide play to achieve developmental goals and minimise regression
- help children master and cope with anxieties and feelings
- use play to prepare children for hospital procedures
- support families and siblings
- contribute to clinical judgements through their play-based observations
- teach the value of play for the sick child
- encourage peer group friendships to develop
During the last 40 years, the profession has earned the respect from the medical and nursing staff and is now recognised by government and professional bodies as an essential part of paediatric care. New hospitals are designed with playrooms in place and old ones are adapted to incorporate more play space as children respond positively to play based interventions away from their sick bed. However, play staff work in all different areas of the hospital, including isolation cubicles, out-patient clinics, A&E and adolescent wards.
In 2005, the NHS introduced a new salary structure under Agenda for Change. Play specialists have a set of national profiles which recommend the banding for play staff. These are as follows:
- Play Assistants and newly qualified play specialists - Band 4
- Qualified and experienced play specialists - Band 5
- Team leaders/professional leads - Band 6
- Play service managers/clinical specialists in play - Band 7
Job Description - Play Specialist
Job Description - Play Leader
Job Description - Clarification of Roles
