Child Life Specialist
About The Position
We invite you to join the interdisciplinary care team at UVA Health Children’s as a Child Life Specialist- where you’ll find more than a job. You’ll be a part of a passionate, dedicated team caring for children and families, where Child Life is essential to care delivery. This shared commitment to excellence is why UVA Health Children’s is one of the nation’s premier academic health systems and the #1 children’s hospital in Virginia, for the fourth year in a row. A child life specialist supports the social, emotional, and developmental needs of pediatric patients and their families throughout the healthcare experience. Through therapeutic play, age-appropriate education, and emotional support, child life specialists help children and adolescents understand and cope with medical procedures, hospitalization, and illness. This role promotes positive coping, reduces anxiety, and fosters resilience for both patients and their families. The child life specialist is responsible for assessing, educating, preparing, and supporting pediatric patients and families across all stages of care.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Child Life, Child Development, or a related field.
- Successful completion of a minimum 600-hour Child Life Clinical Internship under the direct supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist.
- Child Life Professional Certification required within one year of hire.
- American Heart Association (AHA) Health Care Provider BLS Certification required.
Responsibilities
- Assess the psychosocial needs of pediatric patients and families.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to advocate for the social, emotional and developmental needs of pediatric patients.
- Establish therapeutic relationships that promote positive coping, normalize the healthcare environment, and embody the principals of patient-and family- centered care.
- Implement individualized care plans and interventions utilizing play, preparation, procedural support, and education.
- Provide developmentally appropriate education and coping strategies across diagnosis, treatment, hospitalization, and bereavement.
- Facilitate medical play for patients and siblings.
- Support families during trauma, crisis, and end-of-life situations
- Maintain accurate documentation
- Participate in departmental quality initiatives
- Meet annual training requirements
- Precept as needed
- Eligible for student shadowing
- May supervise practicum students at leadership discretion
- Perform other duties as assigned
Benefits
- Medical Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Paid Time Off
- Long-term Disability
- Short-term Disability
- Retirement Savings
- Health Saving Plans
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Certification and education support
- Generous Paid Time Off
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
