Child Life Specialist

Houston Hospice • Houston, TX

3d

About The Position

Houston Hospice is seeking a dedicated, compassionate Child Life Specialist to join its interdisciplinary care team. The role supports pediatric patients, from infancy through young adulthood, and their families as they navigate the emotional, developmental, and psychosocial challenges associated with life-limiting illness and end-of-life care. Through therapeutic interventions, creative expression, education, and memory-making activities, the specialist provides comfort, fosters connection, and helps families create lasting memories.

The Child Life Specialist assesses patients’ and families’ coping abilities, developmental needs, and emotional well-being to develop individualized care plans. The role includes helping children and families understand serious illness, end-of-life experiences, and grief; preparing them for procedures and care transitions; supporting families after a loss; collaborating with the interdisciplinary team; documenting care; and, as assigned, guiding child life volunteers and interns.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Child Life, Child Development, Psychology, Human Development and Family Studies, or a closely related field.
• Completion of Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP)-endorsed child life coursework.
• Completion of a 600-hour supervised child life clinical internship.
• Current Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) credential through ACLP, or eligibility to obtain certification within 6–12 months of hire.
• Current CPR/Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and proof of automobile insurance.
• Strong communication, organizational, and clinical documentation skills.
• Proficiency with electronic health records.

Nice To Haves

• 1–2 years of experience as a practicing Child Life Specialist.
• Experience supporting pediatric patients and families in hospice, palliative care, or serious illness settings.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish.

Responsibilities

• Provide developmentally appropriate emotional and psychosocial support to pediatric hospice patients from infancy through young adulthood.
• Assess patients’ and families’ coping abilities, developmental needs, and emotional well-being and develop individualized care plans.
• Help children, siblings, and family members understand and process serious illness, end-of-life experiences, and grief.
• Facilitate legacy-building activities, including memory-making projects, keepsakes, and life reviews.
• Prepare children and families for medical procedures, changes in condition, and care transitions using compassionate, age-appropriate communication.
• Collaborate with nurses, social workers, chaplains, and other interdisciplinary team members to provide comprehensive, family-centered care.
• Participate in interdisciplinary group (IDG) meetings and maintain timely, accurate clinical documentation.
• Educate clinical team members on child development, pediatric communication, and family-centered care practices.
• Support families following a death, including memorial preparation and coordination of bereavement resources.
• Provide guidance to child life volunteers and interns, as assigned.

What This Job Offers

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