Child Life Specialist NICU

Medical University of South Carolina • Charleston, SC

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) plays a pivotal role in designing and implementing Child Life services in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This foundational role is responsible for building a sustainable, developmentally supportive, and family-centered program. Focusing on the unique neurodevelopmental needs of premature infants, the CCLS will build a service incorporating education, play, and sensory regulation techniques. The CCLS supports caregiver bonding to create healthy attachments and offers interventions that address medical trauma, long-term hospitalization, and uncertain outcomes. This position requires a highly collaborative professional who can both deliver direct patient and family care and lead program development efforts.

Requirements

• Master's degree in child life or a bachelor's degree in child life and one + years of experience working in a child life program.
• Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS)

Nice To Haves

• NICU knowledge and involvement is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Create, introduce, and launch comprehensive child life programming that addresses the unique developmental and psychosocial needs of premature infants, their caregivers, and siblings in our 80-bed, level 4 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
• Design and implement Child Life services in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
• Build a sustainable, developmentally supportive, and family-centered program.
• Incorporate education, play, and sensory regulation techniques, focusing on the unique neurodevelopmental needs of premature infants.
• Support caregiver bonding to create healthy attachments.
• Offer interventions that address medical trauma, long-term hospitalization, and uncertain outcomes.
• Deliver direct patient and family care.
• Lead program development efforts.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level