Meet the Board

I am a retired Health Play Specialist with 34 years’ NHS experience, having practiced in a District General Hospital and two Children’s Hospitals. I have worked as a play specialist, a senior play specialist, a play co-ordinator, play manager/service manager, service manager and general manager of a Children’s Hospital.

I am a former member and Chair of NAHPS executive, member and Chair of the Board of Trustees for HPSET and Chair of SoHPS.

Currently, I am a Apprentice Assessor and Coach, on the Health Play Specialist Foundation Degree course at UC Leeds.

I am passionate and committed, all children and families must have play on their health care journey. Play of the highest standard, delivered by registered health play specialist that the value and role of Health Play Specialists is recognised. I value the services we provide to children and families. I will continue to work tirelessly for statutory registrants, to develop and maintain high standards of practice, while working to ensure the safety of the profession and the public.

An experienced leader in education, training and SEND, with a passion for enabling personal progress and wellbeing. My coaching and mentoring of staff and trainees in schools and clinical settings has been a key part of supporting their development and career pathways. SoHPS’s Chief Registration Officer for the past five years, I continue to work with others to maintain the highest standards of practice in the profession and continue to determine the best support for registrants’ profile submissions.

I have been involved with Healthcare Play Specialism since 2005 I started teaching the Research Unit with Julia Whitaker on the Hospital Play Specialist course at Stanmore College. In 2007, I became the Course Leader at Stanmore College and worked collaboratively with the University of West London and Bolton College to develop the FdA Healthcare Play Specialism, which had its first delivery in 2010. In 2008, I was invited to join the Board of the Healthcare Play Specialist Education Trust (HPSET) and continued to be a Trustee until HPSET merged with National Association of Health Play Specialists (NAHPS) to become the Society of Health Play Specialists (SoHPS)… and I am now a trustee with SoHPS.

After a career as a Diagnostic and Therapeutic radiographer, I have worked or volunteered with children and young people across the age range and been a teacher and lecturer in Childcare, Health and Social Care and Healthcare Play Specialism. I have a particular interest in research and the need to generate evidence to demonstrate practice efficacy. I have worked collaboratively with Julia Whitaker to co-write and co-edit five books and various articles promoting the role of play in healthcare through the lifespan, the last one being a second edition or Play in Healthcare: Using Play to Promote Child Development and Wellbeing.

I was asked to undertake this role for the charity by a past Chair of HPSET as I had good experience of this type of work having worked in the Financial Services sector for over 35 years, having been a Director in my firm for the last twenty five years, specialising in both corporate and individual advice on investments and pensions. I have been involved with a number of Charites and Trusteeships over many years including being Treasurer of another charity for over eight years.

I am married with two adult children and I have lived in Leicester since attending university here. Interests include following the local professional rugby team, being actively involved with the local archaeological group, Rotary, prison visiting and actives linked with our membership of a local church such as helping at a foodbank.

Catherine has been a qualified, registered HPS since 2008, working in a number of roles, including acute inpatient, outpatient and radiology settings, within an inner city teaching hospital. As well as a varied clinical role, Catherine has worked as part of the management team as well as organized and overseen the mentoring of many HPS students.

Catherine has been on the Board since 2016 and joined the Registration Committee in 2021. She really enjoys learning from the profiles she assesses and getting an insight into the day-to-day clinical practice from her colleagues around the country. More recently Catherine has teamed up with NESCOT College to support their students and provide mentor training to those wishing to become mentors. In 2023, Catherine began her own independent practice.

Lynn’s professional background is as a Registered General Nurse and, prior to her retirement, she was a Registered General Nurse and a Specialist Nurse in Intensive Care and ECMO (Extra Corporal Membrane Oxygenation). In her last few years as a nurse as well as maintaining her clinical practice she was the Clinical Governance Lead for the Children’s Hospital, in Leicester.

In the post of Clinical Governance lead, Lynn worked closely with Tina Clegg, current chair of SoHPS. When she was coming up for retirement, Tina approached her to join the HPSET not SoHPS Board to take on the responsibility of clinical governance, which also included the introduction of GDPR, data protection.

With the set up of the new SoHPS board she was approached to lead on the Finance and Clinical Governance Workstream. This work stream is responsible for finance and all elements of Clinical Governance. Clinical Governance includes ensuring that GDPR is adhered to and for any concerns raised regarding Fitness to Practice of the Registered Health Play Specialist and Board Members. She has agreed to undertake the role of the Lead for the Finance and Clinical Governance Workstream initially for a period of two years.

Prior to retirement Lynn undertook her last nursing profile to maintain her nursing qualifications. Once on the board she became involved in several areas one of which was the update of the Registered HPS profile. Working with Tina Clegg, she approached the Nursing and Midwifery Council to gain permission to adapt their Profile for use with the Registered HPS. This was agreed and an adapted version of the Nursing Profile has now been adopted. Since the introduction of the new form of Profile, Lynn has been involved annually in reviewing all HPS profiles.

Lynn is involved in supporting the Foundation in Healthcare Play Specialism Students in North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College, Nuneaton, and Cardiff and Vale College. This involves her with three visits annually to the colleges, either in person or online. The review of the students profile evidence, supporting of the Students and Mentors, and to be available to answer their concerns and questions.

The other main area of interest is the Mentor Training which has evolved since June 2020. To support the growth in this area a questionnaire was sent to all mentors to understand areas for improvement, support for the Mentors, any changes that are necessary and areas where the Mentor feels should be continued.

The Mentor Training is undertaken in three parts. Part 1 involves the reading and answering questions in two documents, these being preparation for Part 2 the sessions are undertaken online and can be accessed through the users page. Part three is a reflection on the New Mentors experience as a Mentor. All elements are recorded on the Registered HPS user page. Mentor training needs to be updated every two year. The Mentor training is regularly reviewed and updated as required.

Following performance arts and then health and fitness training, Steph’s early career in London was freelancing within the community/local authority sector delivering regular sessions to children and adults as well as developing and delivering larger scale community projects. As her interest in working with children and young people developed, full time roles with the YMCA and voluntary organisations followed: managing programmes, as senior play worker and serving on management committees.

During this time Steph helped local voluntary action organisations deliver training and develop policies shared with voluntary play projects. This work also included advocating for children’s right to access play. Steph became aware of the role of the hospital play specialist and volunteered for a year at GOSH to gain a greater understanding of the profession.
Following relocation outside London, Steph worked for an organisation providing NVQ assessment and training for play and youth workers (levels 2&3) and developing and piloting the City and Guilds Progression Award in Playwork.

In 2005, Steph was appointed as a Play Specialist within the NHS and was able to qualify in post. In 2007 she joined the play team at Addenbrooke’s, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust working on the surgical/medical wards, the day surgery/treatment wards and the oncology day unit before taking up the post of Therapeutic Play Manager.

Taking early retirement in 2022, Steph is currently working for Leeds City College as an assessor for the HPS Apprenticeships and was invited to join the Registration Committee.

Lee Pryor is the Principal of the Printworks Campus ( Part of Luminate Education Group) in Leeds, leading one of the region’s most diverse and ambitious vocational learning communities. He is dedicated to raising aspirations, strengthening employer partnerships, and delivering high‑quality education that empowers learners to succeed in their chosen careers.

Beyond his campus leadership, Lee serves as a Board Member for the Society of Health Play Specialists (SoHPS) and is the Chair of the Education and Quality Sub‑Group for SoHPS, where he plays a key role in shaping strategic direction, enhancing academic standards, and ensuring continuous improvement across all SOHPS training providers.

Known for his collaborative and people‑centred leadership style, Lee is committed to fostering innovation, inclusion, and excellence across all aspects of further education.

I first joined the NHS as a nursery nurse in 1987, qualifying as a Play Specialist in 1991. Over the years I have worked within many clinical specialties and have extensive experience in areas such as cardiology, burns and plastic surgery, oncology, bone marrow transplant, infectious diseases, haematology, intensive care, radiology, dermatology, rheumatology and ambulatory services (including outpatients and the emergency department). I have set up my own clinics for complex referrals and visited children and families in their own homes. I have held play management roles in three large teaching hospitals and have been proactively involved at strategic and operational levels to ensure there is a positive climate for children, young adults and their families within the healthcare setting.

I joined the Board in 2018 as part of the trailblazer group for apprenticeships working with other experienced play staff to set up the future training for play specialists. I officially joined in January 2019 and have been part of the re-registration group from 2020.

I have always had a passion for play and as an advanced practitioner I enjoy promoting the value of play and teaching and educating others on the importance of play in health care settings.

Norma trained in early years before qualifying as a play specialist in 1984. In 1990 she joined Nescot as a part‑time lecturer while continuing her work as a play specialist in a district general hospital. Norma was a member of the original scoping group that identified the need for the Health Play Specialism course at Nescot and is proud to have contributed to the training of more than three decades of practitioners in delivering therapeutic play for sick children and young people across the UK.

Norma supported the establishment of HPS Japan, forging academic partnerships and sharing expertise internationally. She contributed to the development of the HPS Apprenticeship Scheme and collaborated on publications relevant to professional practice.
Since her recent retirement, Norma has remained actively involved with the Society of Health Play Specialists and continues to work with the Board to advocate for the profession in supporting children and young people through their healthcare journeys.

Irene O’Donnell BA (Hons) PgCert, Reg HPS, is the Trust Lead for Therapeutic Play, Recreation and Youth Services at University College London Hospitals (UCLH) NHS Trust.
She has been a registered health play specialist since 2000 and has worked in a variety of clinical settings and London NHS Trusts.

She has been a leader in using play as a tool to avoid the use of general anaesthesia for BCYP during procedures. She piloted the novel “MRI awake project” which was recognised nationally in 2020 by the NHS “Getting It Right First Time (GIFT)” programme. She has led on the implementation of “It Pays to Play!” and has presented and written on the many fiscal and improvement benefits of play in healthcare.

Irene spent several years as a lecturer on the HPS training course and is still involved in education on play in healthcare with a variety of organisations.
Irene has held the positions of chair and vice chair of The National Association of Health Play Specialists (NAHPS) alongside a role on the board of The Healthcare Play Specialist Education Trust (HPSET). She remains a trustee on the newly merged Society of health play specialists (SoHPS) board and leads on workforce development and strategy.

She has written five chapters for two books on play in healthcare and has presented her work in both national and international conferences.

More recently Irene held the role of Senior Adviser to the Taskforce on Play in Healthcare for NHS England and Starlight. During this role she represented the profession in advancing standards, guidance and a workforce strategy to support the development, growth and professionalism of health play services. Irene also holds the position of chair of the workforce development group for health play.

Irene is passionate about BCYPs’ experiences of healthcare and using innovation and collaboration to improve patient and staff experience. Irene has significant experience in supporting neurodivergent CYP with accessing healthcare and is committed to working with colleagues to improve experiences for CYP experiencing mental health illness.
She has been a pioneer in developing the role of health play specialists beyond their traditional model of practice and is committed to advocating the value and benefits of play for all generations in healthcare.

Julia has been the registration coordinator for HPSET/SoHPS since 2013, contracted to provide admin services to the Registration Standards Committee. She is responsible for processing the indexation of HPS students and apprentices, for registering FdA graduates, and for organizing the re-registration of current and lapsed registrants. Julia maintains the public register of Health Play Specialists and is a first point of contact for all enquiries from registrants and prospective HPS trainees.

After a first career as a social worker and family therapist, Julia re-trained as a Play Specialist in 2000, working first in a District General Hospital before assuming senior roles in two central London hospitals. In 2002, Julia started teaching on the Hospital Play course at Stanmore College, where she held the position of course leader from 2004-2006. After moving to Scotland, Julia continued practising as a Health Play Specialist, before stepping aside from clinical work in 2013 to focus on research and writing for publication.

Together with Alison Tonkin (SoHPS Trustee and former HPS course leader at Stanmore College) Julia has co-written and co-edited four books on play for health and wellbeing across the lifespan, published by Routledge/Taylor and Francis, followed by a second edition of ‘Play in Healthcare for Children’ which was published in December 2025. Julia has also published several articles on play and health, including four articles in collaboration with HPS Japan.