Child Life Specialist - PRN - Satellite Locations
About The Position
The Child Life Specialist is a clinical expert in child development, emotional safety, and trauma-informed care. The role assesses and provides interventions to mitigate negative experiences in medical settings, support patients’ and caregivers’ coping and emotional safety, and encourage optimal development. The specialist provides developmentally attuned preparation, education, and support; assesses psychosocial needs; documents interventions in the medical record; and advocates for the developmental, spiritual, cultural, and psychosocial needs of children and families throughout care. The position also contributes to team education, quality improvement, program development, and professional training, including supervision of child life students.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree with knowledge of child and adolescent development, typically through a focus on child development, child and family development, or a related field.
- Current Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) credential from the Association of Child Life Professionals, to be acquired within 12 months of hire.
- Basic Life Support certification, to be obtained within 6 months of hire.
Nice To Haves
- 1–2 years of experience preferred.
- Spanish language abilities strongly preferred.
Responsibilities
- Integrate emotional safety into patient and family care through individualized, timely, effective, and trauma-informed interventions and quality improvement projects.
- Develop therapeutic relationships with patients and caregivers and assess coping style, temperament, adjustment, emotional support needs, and psychosocial well-being.
- Document interventions in the medical record in accordance with professional standards.
- Advocate for the psychosocial, developmental, spiritual, and cultural needs of children and families throughout the continuum of care.
- Apply anti-bias practices and support diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Build collaborative relationships with interdisciplinary team members to address patient care goals and contribute to broader systems and policy change.
- Participate in team conferences, rounds, staff meetings, new staff orientation, and in-service education as appropriate.
- Provide formal and informal training on the psychosocial care of children to patient care teams and hospital staff.
- Serve as a subject matter expert on unit-based, hospital-wide, and interdisciplinary committees.
- Assist with preparing and disseminating information about the hospital and Child Life Program to community groups, organizations, and news media.
- Pursue professional development through seminars, coursework, and hospital education programs to maintain credentials and support best practices.
- Participate in and lead quality improvement projects that integrate innovations and evidence-based practices into daily workflows.
- Participate in implementing programs, technology, equipment, systems, and resources that promote quality, safety, and efficiency.
- Supervise child life students.
- Perform other job functions as assigned.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Employer-paid group term life and disability insurance
- Employer contribution toward a Health Savings Account
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Paid Time Off
- Paid holidays
- Paid parental leave
- 403(b) plan with a 5% employer match
- Voluntary supplemental life, AD&D, and disability coverage
- Critical illness, accident, and hospital indemnity coverage
- Tuition assistance
- Student loan servicing and support
- Adoption benefits
- Backup childcare and eldercare
- Employee Assistance Program and behavioral health resources
- Discounts on services at Lurie Children’s facilities
- Discount purchasing program
- Potential differentials for some hourly employees, leadership incentives for select roles, health and retirement benefits, and wellbeing programs
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What This Job Offers
Career Level
Mid Level
