If you’re passionate about helping babies, children, and young people through play, this course is designed for you. You’ll explore how therapeutic play can support emotional wellbeing and recovery in a range of settings - including hospitals, community services, and family homes.
Alongside developing your practical skills, you’ll gain a deep understanding of child development, play theory, and the policies that shape practice in healthcare environments.
Through this apprenticeship route, you’ll combine on-the-job experience with academic learning. Your employer will support your development by providing a qualified mentor, helping you apply your new knowledge directly to your work. This blended approach allows you to build professional skills while earning and learning in a real-world setting.
By the end of the programme, you’ll be equipped with the skills, experience, and confidence to make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families. You’ll also be eligible to register with the Society of Health and Play Specialists (SoHPS), opening the door to a rewarding career in therapeutic play.
You will need exposure to relevant workplace experience in order to gather evidence that meets the Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours outlined in the Professional Standard.
You will also need one of the following qualifications to be eligible:
Work experience: Minimum of two years employment working with children, after gaining the level 3 qualification.
HPS registered mentor: Mentor must be HPS registered and have undertaken mentor training.
Work Placement: A work placement in a clinical setting must be arranged prior to commencing the qualification. This requirement will be discussed during the admissions process.
DBS: Students will also be required to complete the Disclosure and Barring Service process (DBS) prior to commencement on placement. The department will cover the cost.
References: An appropriate reference is required.
As a Health Play Specialist apprentice you will develop a wide range of valuable skills to support both your academic and professional journey. These include employability, research, critical thinking, teamwork, creativity, and reflective practice. You'll build confidence in academic writing and in using evidence to inform your work as a reflective practitioner. Through a focus on inclusive development and therapeutic play, you will gain the professional competence needed to progress toward successful registration as a HealthCare Play Specialist.
You will be assessed throughout the duration of your apprenticeship. Assessment methods may include an e-portfolio, practical observations, reflective accounts, report writing, presentations and essays.
To conclude your apprenticeship, you will complete an End-Point Assessment (EPA).
These assessment methods provide a well-rounded approach to ensuring that apprentices gain the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in their careers, and help employers evaluate the apprentice’s progress over time.
You must complete a total of 400 work placement hours for the programme, with 200 hours each year. If you are already employed in a relevant organisation, these placement hours will be incorporated into your existing working week.
You will meet with your Apprenticeship Assessor remotely for one full day during the week. During this session, your assessor will help you gather workplace evidence and link your curriculum learning with the knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) that make up the apprenticeship standard.
You will attend 6 full days of face-to-face sessions at University Centre Leeds throughout the year. Our assessors will also request occasional meetings with your mentor too.
Upon successful completion of the Level 5 Health Play Specialist Apprenticeship you may progress onto the BA (Hons) Health Management (Top-up) at University Centre Leeds or relevant employment. Job opportunities this apprenticeship may open include:
