Child Life Specialist

Denver Health and Hospital Authority•Denver, CO

12h

About The Position

The Child Life Specialist I is a key member of the pediatric healthcare team who works under general supervision in a healthcare setting to address the emotional and developmental needs of children and their families. The Specialist helps reduce stress associated with healthcare experiences and supports coping through play, developmentally appropriate medical information, and family involvement in the child’s care. The role collaborates with multidisciplinary healthcare teams and other professionals in ambulatory, emergency, and inpatient settings. The Specialist develops and carries out plans of care; provides family and sibling support, procedural preparation, therapeutic play, diagnosis education, and grief support; monitors children’s responses to hospitalization; and communicates with families and staff. The role also assesses development and psychosocial risk, documents services and care-plan changes, manages program materials, and supervises volunteers and others participating in the Child Life Program.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
Must be eligible for Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) certification or hold CLS certification through the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP).
Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) certification from the American Heart Association.
Knowledge of normal human growth and development and ability to provide clinical Child Life interventions to reduce medical trauma and stressors.
Active listening, effective oral and written communication, critical thinking, customer service, planning and prioritization, interpersonal relationship, and time-management skills.
Entry-level problem-solving ability to analyze problems, draw conclusions, and devise courses of action.
Entry-level psychosocial support skills to assess children’s and families’ needs and implement interventions that mitigate psychological trauma and promote emotional safety.
Familiarity with technology platforms, such as Apple products (iPad) and Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
Ability to think creatively and develop or design ideas, systems, products, or artistic contributions.

Nice To Haves

Two years of experience as a Certified Child Life Specialist in a hospital setting is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop plans of care and interventions addressing the needs of children and families.
Provide family-centered support that considers patients’ and families’ individual, cultural, and social needs, including developmentally appropriate support and education for siblings.
Prepare children psychologically for medical procedures using expressive or medical play and other techniques to reduce stress and fear.
Use normative and therapeutic play to encourage expression, help children process difficult events, explore coping skills, build mastery and understanding, and reduce stress.
Recognize developmental issues related to healthcare experiences.
Explain diagnoses, injuries, illnesses, or death using developmentally appropriate language.
Provide grief support, including memory-making and legacy-building items, family education and resources, and facilitation of bedside visits.
Monitor children’s reactions to hospitalization and provide timely information to staff to supplement care.
Consult with families and staff to support clear communication and ensure the patient’s best interests are met.
Educate others about Child Life services, healthcare’s impact on development, developmentally appropriate and emotionally safe medical care, and professional boundaries.
Assess patients’ developmental levels and provide interventions to enhance development.
Complete Psychosocial Risk Assessments in Pediatrics to evaluate and mitigate pediatric medical traumatic stress.
Document services in patient charts and update documentation when care plans change.
Select and maintain Child Life Program materials, including developmental and normative toys or items, distraction items, and technology.
Supervise volunteers and others participating in the Child Life Program.

Benefits

Paid time off starting at 28 days per year, inclusive of vacation, personal/sick time, and seven holidays.
Fully paid parental leave for up to six weeks.
Immediate retirement-plan eligibility with employer contributions up to 9.5%.
Medical, dental, and vision plans, plus employer-paid disability and life insurance.
Well-being programs, including an on-site employee fitness center and the RESTORE Center.
Free RTD EcoPass for public transportation.
Childcare discount programs and discounts on brands, travel, and other perks.
Tuition reimbursement and assistance.
Education, coaching, and professional development opportunities through the Workforce Development Center.
Career advancement pathways and a professional clinical advancement program with shared governance.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness-eligible employer, with free student-loan coaching and assistance navigating the program.
Eligibility as an employer for National Health Service Corps and Colorado Health Service Corps programs.