A SENIOR health specialist from Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been named runner-up Mentor of the Year.
Senior Health Play Specialist Jo Lafford received the commendation in the Starlight Health Play Awards 2025.
Starlight, the UK’s leading charity for children’s play in healthcare, holds the awards to celebrate Play in Healthcare Week (October 13 to October 19). It shines a spotlight on how play can reduce fear, pain and trauma during a child’s treatment and recovery from illness and celebrate those who are excelling in this field.
Jo, who has guided several students through their development, said: “It’s been really rewarding watching them grow and then seeing them strengthen our team.”
With recruitment challenges facing hospitals nationwide, nurturing future health play specialists has never been more important she said: “We’ve advertised posts several times, but sometimes we just don’t get any qualified applicants. It’s a struggle not only here, but across the country. I think it's a really important profession and I'm worried for the future because of the recruitment difficulties. It’s a profession that needs to grow because it’s so important for the children.”
Jo first encountered health play whilst doing a nursery nursing course after she left school, when she spent two weeks shadowing hospital play professionals. After some time working as a nanny, she applied to enter the field herself. She has held her role for more than 30 years, with 14 of those covering the trust’s sites at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital and Royal Hampshire County Hospital. There are currently five health play specialists and three assistants in her team covering both sites.
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Jo’s nominee, Sinead Bailey, her most recent mentee, said: “Jo has been so supportive throughout my second year. Her guidance and encouragement have made a great impact on my learning and development. She always demonstrates best practice and has given me the opportunity to work alongside her referrals, helping me to understand what to expect in my future role as a health play specialist.”
Receiving recognition for her work came as a complete surprise to Jo. “I was really shocked to be nominated,” she said.
“But it’s such a nice feeling - especially because I’ve mentored quite a few people, so it’s lovely to see all the work I put in acknowledged.”
A spokesperson for Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are extremely proud of Jo, the word “play” doesn’t do justice to the complexity of her work and the valuable contribution she makes to the lives of our youngest patients, many of whom are navigating serious health challenges while trying to enjoy the precious years of childhood.”
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