Health Play Specialist

Purpose of the Role

Health Play Specialists (HPS) work as integral members of the paediatric medical team with responsibility for the social and emotional welfare of the child. Health Play Specialists have the remit to promote play throughout the hospital and to encourage and guide nursing staff, volunteers, and parents to participate in play. Health Play Specialists work alongside the medical team to create a positive healthcare environment while minimizing the distress of hospitalisation through play-based techniques including but not limited to developmental play, therapeutic play, medical play, post-procedural play, preparation play, and distraction or redirected play. It is the belief of the CHI Healthcare Play Service that all children who come into the hospital are entitled to access to play as it provides a way for children to learn, understand, and cope with their medical experience. It is the role of the Health Play Specialists to create play opportunities and encourage positive coping for children and their families who attend Children’s Health Ireland.

Essential Criteria:

· Hold a BA in Early Childhood Studies or Diploma in Childcare, Montessori, or an equivalent professional childcare qualification.

· Have a minimum of three years’ experience working with children in a group setting.

· Eligibility and commitment to undertake Foundation Degree in Healthcare Play Specialism within first year of employment. Successful completion of the programme leads to registration with the Healthcare Play Specialist Education Trust (HPSET)

How to Apply & Informal Enquiries

Competition Specific Selection Process

How to Apply & Informal Enquiries

Applications for this post must be accompanied by a cover letter, setting out relevant experience that illustrates how the essential criteria listed above is met.

The criterion for short listing is based on the requirements of the post, as outlined in the eligibility criteria.

This competition will be used to create a panel for future permanent and temporary or specified purpose posts that arise within the play service in the next 6 month to a year.

* Please note that you must submit a cover letter with your CV, this forms part of your application and CV’s will not be accepted without a detailed cover letter.

The closing date for submissions of CV’s and cover letter is Friday, 1st August 2025 by 23:45 pm. Applications must be completed through the advertised post on CHI.jobs by clicking ‘Apply for Job’.

Applications will not be accepted through direct email or any other method.

For informal enquiries for this specialty/department, please contact emma.fratangelo@childrenshealthireland.ie.

For other queries relating to this recruitment process, please contact Talent Acquisition Team recruitment@childrenshealthireland.ie

PLEASE NOTE:

CHI has transitioned to a process of a one commencement day per month for all new employees, CHI internal transfers and Secondments. This update to our Onboarding process is aligned to changes in our monthly/fortnightly payroll and with the launch of our new corporate induction program. This process enhancement ensures that we can thoroughly prepare for your arrival and facilitate a smooth transition in your onboarding journey.

So that the Onboarding team can confirm your start date, you will need to ensure that your mandatory training is completed at least 7 days prior to your commencement date.

It is important for you to note that if you do not have your pre-employments and mandatory training completed in time, your commencement date will be deferred to the next available date.

Below, you’ll find the list of commencement dates for 2025.

· September 1st (internal only)

· September 15th (internal only)

· October 13th

· November 10th

· December 15th

Information on “Non-European Economic Area Applicants” is available from https://dbei.gov.ie/en/