Child Life Specialist for Psychiatry, 36 hrs/wk

Primary Location

Department

Shift

Schedule

Weekly Hours

FTE

Employee Status

*Expected Starting Pay Range

*Starting pay is based on experience, skills, and equity; exceptions may apply for highly qualified candidates. Additional pay (e.g., shift, on‑call, or weekend differentials) and benefits may apply. Annual pay may vary based on FTE status.

CHILD LIFE SPECIALIST: PSYCHIATRY

About the Job:

• This Child Life Specialist will serve Inpatient Psychiatry, primarily supporting the adolescent patient population.
• Location: College Hill Campus, 5642 Hamilton Ave., Cincinnati OH 45224
• Status: Full-time, 36 hours per week, 0.9 FTE
• Schedule: Tues-Friday, 630am-4pm, no weekends, rotating holidays
• Benefits and paid time off eligible.
• Pay starts at $48,335.04 annually (as a salaried/exempt employee working 36 hours per week). Pay can increase based on years of experience.

REQUIRED JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field required.
• Completion of child life internship under the supervision of a certified CLS required. Please note: Candidates who have not completed the required internship will not be considered for this position.
• Must be Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) within one year of hire.

About Child Life at Cincinnati Children’s

At Cincinnati Children’s we want to ensure every visit is as safe, convenient, and comfortable as possible. Providing an exceptional level of care means reaching far beyond our medical expertise - that's where our Child Life Specialists come into action: promoting play, education, developmental progress, coping skills and psychosocial support. Whether it is a trip to the Emergency Department, a short follow-up appointment or an inpatient stay, a visit to the hospital can be a scary and overwhelming experience – for patients, siblings and for their families.

The Child Life Program works with patients of all ages in different medical settings to help support emotional safety and normalize the process of receiving medical care.

Child Life Specialists are certified and have significant clinical expertise in the developmental impact of illness and injury. This helps improve patient and family care, satisfaction, and healthcare experiences. In addition, Clinical Assistants provide important opportunities for play-based activities that promote coping and normalization.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Patient Care
• Professional Responsibility
• Departmental Responsibility
• Data Management
• Teamwork

About Us

At Cincinnati Children’s, we come to work with one goal: to make children’s health better. We believe in a holistic team approach, both in caring for patients and their families, and in advancing science and discovery. We strive to do better and find energy and inspiration in our shared purpose. If you want to be the best you can be, you can do it at Cincinnati Children’s. 

 Cincinnati Children's is: 

• Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 10  best Children's Hospitals in the nation for more than 15 years 

• Consistently among the top 3 Children's Hospitals for National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding 

• Recognized as one of America’s Best Large Employers  (2025), America’s Best Employers for New Grads (2025) 

• One of the nation's America’s Most Innovative Companies as noted by Fortune 

• Consistently certified as great place to work 

• A Leading Disability Employer as noted by the National Organization on Disability 

• Magnet® designated for the fourth consecutive time by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) 

 We Embrace Innovation—Together.  We believe in empowering our teams with the tools that help us work smarter and care better. That’s why we support the responsible use of artificial intelligence. By encouraging innovation, we’re creating space for new ideas, better outcomes, and a stronger future—for all of us. 

Comprehensive job description provided upon request.

Cincinnati Children’s is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating an environment of dignity and respect for all our employees, patients, and families. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, genetic information, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. EEO/Veteran/Disability