Child Life Specialist

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Join Cleveland Clinic and experience world-class healthcare at its best. Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital is a proud Magnet Hospital awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the highest honor an organization can receive for professional nursing practice. Here, you will work alongside a dedicated team of caregivers, receive endless support and appreciation, and build a rewarding career. 

The Child Life Specialist provides comprehensive psychosocial and developmental support to inpatient and outpatient populations across the Emergency Department, Surgery, critical care, acute care, and ambulatory settings, including pediatric patients and children of adult patients. As an integral member of the interdisciplinary healthcare team, the specialist supports patients and families as they navigate illness, injury, medical procedures, hospitalization, and loss. Using a strengths-based and culturally responsive approach, the Child Life Specialist assesses developmental, emotional, psychosocial, and cultural needs to promote coping, understanding, and resilience throughout the healthcare experience.

Through developmentally appropriate education, therapeutic play, non-pharmacological pain management strategies, and emotional and bereavement support, the Child Life Specialist helps reduce anxiety and foster positive adjustment for patients and families. In collaboration with child life colleagues, the specialist contributes to the orientation and supervision of child life students and volunteers, provides interdisciplinary education on the developmental and psychosocial needs of patients and families, and participates in patient-centered programming, special events, and initiatives that enhance the overall care experience.

A PRN caregiver in this position works varying shifts. PRN's are required to work a minimum of 48 hours in a 6 week schedule period.

This position requires ability to float to Westlake, Strongsville and Beachwood ASCs, Fairview Hospital, Hillcrest Hospital and Main Campus

A caregiver who excels in this role will:  

• Assess the developmental, social, and physical needs of an assigned pediatric population and provide appropriate interventions, such as preparations and therapeutic play. 

• Assess and document patient's developmental level, emotional state, utilizes hospitalization and procedures using informal assessment techniques throughout the hospital stay. 

• Provide education, preparation, and therapeutic intervention for medical events to help children and families cope based on developmental and emotional level. 

• Assist patients and families with relaxation techniques to decrease stress, increase coping skills, and cooperation during tests and procedures. 

• Provide diversional activities in the playroom/activity room and bedside based on individual capabilities and needs. 

• Provide education and information to enhance parental understanding of hospital system and resources. 

• Participate in psychosocial, interdisciplinary, and/or departmental team meetings and communicates developmental and psychosocial needs of children. 

• Organize and manage dedicated events, special guests, support groups and other regularly scheduled events. 

• Participate in the orientation, direction, and development of Children's Hospital volunteers. 

• Supervise Practicum/Internship students as a Certified Child Life Specialist. 

• Manage play materials, supplies, and equipment for playrooms by assuming responsibility for its cleanliness and storage; maintains inventory of both donated and purchased goods. 

• Represent the Child Life program in appropriate Children Hospital's committees. 

Minimum qualifications for the ideal future caregiver include:  

• Bachelor's Degree in Child Life or child development related field 

• Must have completed an approved Child Life Internship, at least 600 hours, directed by a Certified Child Life Specialist 

• Child life specialists must have or earn professional certification (CCLS) through the Child Life Council within a year of appointment and maintain certification throughout their employment 

• Must sit for exam at least annually until certification obtained 

• An extension may be granted by Child Life Manager under appropriate circumstances 

• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Heart Association (AHA) or the American Red Cross within one year of hire 

 
Preferred qualifications for the ideal future caregiver include:  

• Two years and 4000 hours of professional Child Life clinical experience in a hospital setting 

Physical Requirements:

• Requires full range of body motion including handling and lifting patient, manual and finger dexterity, and eye-hand coordination.
• Requires standing and walking for extended periods of time.
• Requires corrected vision and hearing to normal range.
• Requires working under stressful conditions and irregular hours. Exposure to communicable diseases and/or body fluids.
• Medium Work - Exerting 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Light Work.

Personal Protective Equipment:

• Follows Standard Precautions using personal protective equipment as required for procedures.

The policy of Cleveland Clinic Health System and its system hospitals (Cleveland Clinic Health System) is to provide equal opportunity to all of our caregivers and applicants for employment in our drug free environment. All offers of employment are followed by testing for controlled substances.

Cleveland Clinic Health System administers an influenza prevention program. You will be required to comply with this program, which will include obtaining an influenza vaccination on an annual basis or obtaining an approved exemption.

Decisions concerning employment, transfers and promotions are made upon the basis of the best qualified candidate without regard to color, race, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, ancestry, status as a disabled or Vietnam era veteran or any other characteristic protected by law. Information provided on this application may be shared with any Cleveland Clinic Health System facility. 

If applying for a Florida position, please see the following website for more information on the background screening requirements required by the Agency of Health Care Administration: https://info.flclearinghouse.com/

Please review the Equal Employment Opportunity poster. 

Cleveland Clinic is pleased to be an equal employment opportunity employer.