Healthcare Play specialists help and support children who are in hospital long-term to benefit from therapeutic play. Their patients may be experiencing a range of issues from accidents and neglect to mental ill health. Play specialists are trained to use hospital facilities including playrooms, therapeutics toys and games to promote recovery and safeguard mental health. They also provide welcome respite for parents who are able to enjoy seeing their children having fun at what may be a difficult time. This role was never more important than during the coronavirus pandemic when social distancing closed playrooms, PPE was worn by all health professionals and single use toys and game were introduced. 

You might move into this specialised area of health care having had prior experience in a range of different childcare settings, either paid or voluntary, and you will need to have achieved a foundation degree to register with the Healthcare Play Specialist Education Trust. 

To succeed as a play specialist, you will need: 

• Excellent listening skills  
• Counselling skills and the ability to understand how people behave 
• Customer service skills that display sensitivity and understanding 
• Ability to remain calm in stressful situations and show high levels of patience 
• IT skills and good levels of maths and English. 

You will need a Level 3 childcare qualification to join our Foundation Degree programme which is taught on a fulltime basis over two years and is validated by the University of West London.