Certified Child Life Specialist- Child Life

Tampa General Hospital•Tampa, FL

12h

About The Position

The Certified Child Life Specialist 1 (CCLS 1) supports comprehensive, developmentally informed care within Muma’s Children’s Hospital and other Tampa General Hospital units and clinics. The role plans and implements therapeutic interventions addressing the psychosocial, emotional, and developmental needs of pediatric patients and their families during hospitalization. Using foundational knowledge of child development and family systems, the CCLS 1 supports coping and resilience through evidence-based practices, including therapeutic play, procedural preparation, education, and emotional support. The specialist collaborates with interdisciplinary healthcare teams to integrate child life services into care plans and address each child’s cultural, emotional, and developmental needs. The role performs duties in accordance with Tampa General Hospital’s mission, vision, and values. The position serves patients from birth through age 18 across inpatient and outpatient settings, including pediatric medical-surgical units, PICU, operating rooms, day hospital, dialysis, emergency department, trauma bay, radiology, and ambulatory clinics. It also supports patients and families across numerous specialties, provides bereavement and adult family support as appropriate, and contributes to education, safety, process improvement, and evidence-based practice initiatives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Child Development, or completion of Child Life-related courses endorsed by the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP).
Completion of a 6,000-hour Child Life internship.
Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) certification upon hire or within the first year of hire.
National Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Certification by SafeKids upon hire or within the first year of hire.
Helmet Safety Certification by SafeKids upon hire or within the first year of hire.
Entry-level knowledge of medical terminology and its implications for patients from birth through age 18.
Ability to facilitate family involvement and support adjustment to injury, illness, or hospitalization for patients from birth through age 18.
Ability to conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments, anticipate concerns, and develop individualized care plans with short- and long-term goals.
Ability to implement developmentally appropriate play, education, therapeutic play, and coping interventions, and evaluate and adapt interventions based on outcomes.
Ability to promote pain management and positive coping through preparation, distraction, and support.
Developmental knowledge of infants, toddlers, school-aged children, and adolescents, and knowledge of neurodivergence.
Knowledge of the theoretical foundations of Child Life Practice, including child development, play, stress and coping, family systems, and patient- and family-centered care.
Knowledge of trauma-informed care and its application in a Child Life Practice at a Level 1 Trauma Program in a children’s hospital within an academic medical center.
Knowledge and clinical skills to serve patients in the specified inpatient and outpatient settings of a children’s hospital within an academic medical center.
Knowledge and skill in bereavement interventions, including memory making, sibling support and visitation, family support, and patient care conferences.
Familiarity with disaster protocols and sound decision-making in complex or emergency situations at a Level 1 Trauma Center.
Ability to communicate through patient documentation, other written communications, and interpersonal communication.
Ability to provide procedure support, coping support, and diagnosis education across the specified pediatric specialties.
Ability to prioritize activities and demonstrate time-management and organizational skills.
Ability to support adult consultations related to bereavement, family support, and new diagnoses involving a child.
Entry-level ability to identify and resolve problems and model accountability.

Responsibilities

Evaluate the effectiveness of child life interventions and adapt them based on outcomes.
Participate in daily huddles, weekly departmental meetings, and multidisciplinary team processes, promoting respect, cooperation, and family-centered care.
Document services and interventions, including assessments of the child’s physical and psychosocial well-being, in the medical record.
Serve as a clinical resource and advocate for best practices in pediatric psychosocial care, supporting improved patient and family outcomes through communication, documentation, and education.
Support and participate in process-improvement and evidence-based practice initiatives.
Promote and educate on child safety practices, including car seat and helmet fittings.
Educate staff within the TGH Main Hospital and Muma Children’s Hospital on emotionally safe care for patients.
Orient and supervise volunteers, support student shadowing opportunities, and, after 4,000 hours as a CCLS, be eligible to have intern students.
Maintain current knowledge through continuing education and professional development.
Collaborate with Public Relations and the Foundation to facilitate donations.
Manage time and workload according to patient priorities; maintain organized, safe, and professional work areas.
As needed, plan one annual Child Life event, such as Christmas Eve, Fall Festival, Halloween Parade, or Easter Egg Hunt.
As needed, participate in data collection for research or program improvement, provide community education, and participate in mass casualty drills.
Plan and deliver developmentally appropriate psychosocial assessments, individualized care plans, therapeutic play, education, coping support, procedural preparation, distraction, and emotional support.
Provide bereavement interventions, including memory making, sibling support and visitation, family support in patient care areas, and support during patient care conferences.
Provide procedure support, coping support, and diagnosis education across the listed pediatric specialties and care settings.
Provide appropriate support for adult consultations involving bereavement, family support, or a child’s new diagnosis.
Delegate appropriate assignments to Child Life technicians and volunteers.