Child Life Specialist

IU Health • Indianapolis, IN

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The
Child Life Specialist (CLS) is an integral member of the healthcare team
dedicated to addressing the psychosocial and emotional needs of infants,
children, adolescents, and young adults during their hospital stay. Responsible
for supporting patients and their families in adjusting to illness, injury, or
loss across critical, acute, and outpatient settings. The CLS assesses
developmental, psychosocial, and cultural needs and implements developmentally
appropriate interventions to educate, prepare, and support families, enhancing
their ability to cope with the hospital experience. The specialist collaborates
with the multidisciplinary team to promote emotionally safe, family-centered
care.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field (e.g., Child Life, Child Development, Psychology, Social Work).
• 0-3 years of relevant experience preferred.
• ACLP Certified Child Life Specialist certification required within one year of hire date.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) through the American Heart Association required.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to assess psychosocial and developmental needs.
• Knowledge of child development and family-centered care principles.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Support patients and families emotionally and developmentally during hospitalization and procedures.
• Assess psychosocial, developmental, and cultural needs of patients and families.
• Use developmentally appropriate interventions to educate, prepare, and support patients and families.
• Advocate for family-centered, emotionally safe care within the healthcare team.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary team members to optimize patient and family experiences.
• Provide emotional support during difficult or traumatic situations, including illness, injury, or loss.
• Facilitate therapeutic activities, play, and education to foster coping and understanding.

Benefits

• Indiana University Health has nearly 40,000 team members, including more than 3,600 physicians and 1,200 advanced practice providers, and we’re home to the largest nursing network in Indiana with more than 9,000 nursing team members at over 800 sites of care.
• IU Health is ranked No. 1 in Indiana by U.S. News & World Report, Riley Children's Health is ranked among the top children's hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report.
• A unique partnership with the Indiana University School of Medicine – one of the nation’s largest medical schools – gives patients access to groundbreaking research and innovative treatments, and it offers team members access to the latest science and the very best training – advancing healthcare for all.
• With 15 hospitals, including seven with Magnet designation and eight with Pathways to Excellence designation, our team members are leading the way through excellence.
• At Indiana University Health, your personal and professional growth is a top priority. You will have access to many diverse opportunities to learn and develop in meaningful ways that matter most to you, such as advanced clinical training, leadership development, promotion opportunities and cross training development.
• Indiana University Health is invested in the lives of Hoosiers, leading the transformation of healthcare to make Indiana one of the nation’s healthiest states.

What This Job Offers

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