Hospital Play Specialist Job Description [Updated for 2025]

In today’s health care world, the role of Hospital Play Specialists has never been more crucial.

As health care evolves, the demand for skilled professionals who can stimulate, comfort, and assist our young patients through challenging medical procedures continues to grow.

But let’s delve deeper: What’s truly expected from a Hospital Play Specialist?

Whether you are:

• A job seeker trying to understand the core responsibilities of this role,
• A hiring manager looking to define the perfect candidate,
• Or simply curious about the unique field of Hospital Play Specialism,

You’ve come to the right place.

Today, we present a customizable Hospital Play Specialist job description template, designed for easy posting on job boards or career sites.

Let’s delve right into it.

Hospital Play Specialist Duties and Responsibilities

Hospital Play Specialists work within the healthcare system to provide a supportive, fun, and therapeutic environment for children and young people.

They use play as a therapeutic tool to help patients understand their illness and treatment, reduce fear and anxiety, and increase patient cooperation with the healthcare team.

Their duties and responsibilities include:

• Planning and implementing play activities suitable for a child’s age, needs, and abilities
• Using play to help children understand their illnesses and treatments
• Providing emotional support and reassurance to patients and their families
• Working closely with other members of the healthcare team to ensure that a child’s play needs are met
• Assessing and monitoring the effect of play on a child’s health, behaviour and development
• Assisting in the preparation of a child for medical procedures or surgery through therapeutic play
• Maintaining a safe, clean and inviting play environment
• Creating and implementing distraction techniques for pain management
• Advising and supporting staff and family members about the importance and benefits of play in a healthcare setting
• Ordering and maintaining play equipment and resources

 

Hospital Play Specialist Job Description Template

Job Brief

We are seeking a compassionate and creative Hospital Play Specialist to join our healthcare team.

The Hospital Play Specialist will be responsible for implementing therapeutic play activities for children and young people to help them understand and cope with their medical condition and hospital experience.

The ideal candidate is a dedicated professional with a background in child development or therapeutic play and has a deep understanding of child psychology.

The ability to communicate effectively with children and their families, as well as medical staff, is essential.

 

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate and implement therapeutic play activities for children and young people in a hospital setting
• Engage with children and young people to assist them in understanding their medical condition and treatment
• Work closely with healthcare professionals to identify the emotional and developmental needs of each child and young person
• Provide emotional support to children, young people and their families during their hospital stay
• Monitor and document progress of children and young people during their hospital stay
• Work closely with the hospital staff to ensure the best care for the children and young people
• Assist in the development and delivery of training for hospital staff on the importance and impact of play therapy
• Maintain a safe and comfortable play environment

 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Child Development, Psychology, or related field
• Certification as a Hospital Play Specialist or Therapeutic Play Practitioner
• Experience working with children and young people in a healthcare setting
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to empathize with children and their families
• Knowledge of child development and psychology
• Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team

 

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Retirement plan
• Paid time off
• Professional development opportunities
• On-site childcare

 

Additional Information

• Job Title: Hospital Play Specialist
• Work Environment: Hospital setting. May require work during weekends, holidays, and in emergency situations.
• Reporting Structure: Reports to the Children’s Services Manager.
• Salary: Salary is based upon candidate experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.
• Location: [City, State] (specify the location)
• Employment Type: Full-time
• Equal Opportunity Statement: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
• Application Instructions: Please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your qualifications and experience to [email address or application portal].

 

What Does a Hospital Play Specialist Do?

Hospital Play Specialists, also known as Certified Child Life Specialists, work in the healthcare setting, mainly in hospitals.

They primarily work with pediatric patients, ranging from infants to young adults.

Their main role is to use therapeutic play, recreation, and education to help alleviate fears and anxieties children might have about the hospital or their medical conditions.

This can be anything from preparing a child for surgery using medical play, to organizing creative arts and crafts sessions that help to distract from the hospital environment.

Hospital Play Specialists are also tasked with assessing a child’s understanding of their illness or treatment, and then using child-friendly language to explain what is happening and why.

This not only helps the child feel more comfortable, but it also empowers them by giving them some control over their situation.

Additionally, they often work closely with the child’s family and healthcare team to advocate for the child’s emotional needs and ensure they’re being met.

They may also provide bereavement support to siblings and families when needed.

Their role may further extend into the community, where they could be involved in promoting the benefits of play in healthcare settings at schools, nurseries and other children’s services.

 

Hospital Play Specialist Qualifications and Skills

Hospital Play Specialists use a combination of soft skills, technical skills and industry knowledge to create a supportive environment for children in hospital settings, including:

• Understanding of child development and psychology to provide appropriate support for children of different ages and developmental stages.
• Strong communication skills to effectively interact with children, their families, and the healthcare team. This includes the ability to explain procedures and conditions in a child-friendly way.
• Excellent creativity and imagination to design and implement play activities that are therapeutic, educational and enjoyable for children in a hospital setting.
• Patient and compassionate demeanor to work with children who may be in distress or pain, providing them with comfort and reassurance.
• Strong problem-solving skills to address the unique challenges and needs that each child may have.
• Physical stamina and agility to engage in play activities with children, including those who are bed-bound or have limited mobility.
• Ability to work well in a team to collaborate with healthcare professionals, parents and caregivers for the well-being of the child.

 

Hospital Play Specialist Experience Requirements

Entry-level Hospital Play Specialists may have 1 to 2 years of experience, often gained through an internship or a part-time role in a hospital or other child-focused healthcare environment.

These professionals can also gain valuable experience in roles such as Child Life Assistant, Early Childhood Educator, Pediatric Support Worker, or other related roles.

Candidates with more than 2 years of experience often develop their practical skills in providing therapeutic play to children in healthcare settings.

This experience may be gained in entry-level Hospital Play Specialist roles or similar positions in hospitals, hospices, or rehabilitation centers.

Those with more than 5 years of experience may have more advanced knowledge and skills in child development, therapeutic play techniques, and child psychology.

They may also have some leadership experience or may have supervised or trained less experienced play specialists.

At this level, they may be ready for a supervisory or managerial position within a hospital’s play services department.

To be effective in this role, Hospital Play Specialists usually require a relevant degree in Child Life, Child Development, Psychology, or a related field, in addition to practical experience.

Additional qualifications, such as Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) certification, may also be required or preferred by some employers.

 

Hospital Play Specialist Education and Training Requirements

Hospital Play Specialists typically hold a degree in child development, psychology, education or another related field.

The most important aspect of the training is to undertake a hospital play specialist course that is accredited by a recognized body like the National Association of Health Play Specialists (NAHPS) in the UK, or the Child Life Council in the US.

This course provides practical and theoretical training in providing therapeutic play for children in hospitals.

After completing the course, the individual will need to gain work experience, ideally within a pediatric unit or children’s hospital, under the supervision of an experienced play specialist.

In addition to this, most employers require Hospital Play Specialists to have a valid First Aid certificate and a good understanding of child protection issues.

Hospital Play Specialists must also undertake continuous professional development (CPD) in order to keep their skills and knowledge up-to-date.

This could be in the form of further training, workshops, seminars, or conferences.

While not always necessary, additional qualifications in counseling, psychology, or child development can be beneficial and enhance career prospects.

 

Hospital Play Specialist Salary Expectations

A Hospital Play Specialist earns an average salary of $44,000 (USD) per year.

The actual salary may vary depending on the individual’s qualifications, years of experience in the field, geographical location, and the specific hospital or healthcare system that they work for.

 

Hospital Play Specialist Job Description FAQs

What qualifications does a Hospital Play Specialist need?

Hospital Play Specialists typically need a degree in child development, psychology, education, or a related field.

They also need a certification from a recognized play therapy program.

Experience working with children, particularly those with illnesses or disabilities, is often required.

 

What are the daily duties of a Hospital Play Specialist?

On a typical day, a Hospital Play Specialist would conduct therapeutic play sessions with children, provide support and counseling to families, collaborate with medical staff to understand the child’s needs, and prepare children for medical procedures.

They may also help children understand their illnesses and treatments through play and be responsible for the creation and maintenance of a safe and engaging play environment in the hospital.

 

What qualities make a good Hospital Play Specialist?

A good Hospital Play Specialist is patient, empathetic, and passionate about working with children.

They need excellent communication skills to explain complex medical information to children in a way they can understand.

They also need to be creative in order to develop engaging play activities that cater to different ages and abilities.

 

What should you look for in a Hospital Play Specialist resume?

A Hospital Play Specialist resume should detail relevant education and certifications, as well as experience working with children, especially in a healthcare setting.

It should also highlight the applicant’s skills in areas such as child development, therapeutic play, and counseling.

Additionally, any experience with special needs children or children with serious illnesses can be beneficial.

 

Is it difficult to hire a Hospital Play Specialist?

Hiring a Hospital Play Specialist can be challenging because it requires a unique mix of educational qualifications, certifications, and experience.

It is also a job that requires a high level of compassion and emotional resilience.

As such, finding the right fit might take time.

Offering competitive compensation and demonstrating a strong commitment to employee well-being can help attract suitable candidates.

 

Conclusion

And there we have it.

Today, we’ve uncovered the true essence of being a hospital play specialist.

Surprise, surprise?

It’s not just about playing games.

It’s about shaping the future of pediatric healthcare, one child’s smile at a time.

With our handy hospital play specialist job description template and real-world examples, you’re ready to take the next step.

But why stop here?

Journey further with our job description generator. It’s your go-to tool for creating precise job listings or refining your resume to perfection.

Keep in mind:

Every smile you bring is a part of a bigger picture.

Let’s create that future. Together.

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