Child Life Specialist

Alberta Health Services; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 56,000 - 75,000; Part time

Job summary

Alberta Health Services is seeking a Certified Child Life Specialist to join the Child Life Services team at Stollery Children’s Hospital. You will plan, implement, coordinate and evaluate therapeutic play to support social, emotional, intellectual and physical development in children and adolescents.

Responsibilities include family-centered care, research-based interventions, preparing children for procedures, and delivering diversionary experiences and events to promote resilience and a sense

Qualifications

• Completion of bachelor's degree in Child Life, Education, Psychology or other related field.
• Certified Child Life Specialist - Completion of Child Life Professional Certification Exam.
• Acute Care Pediatric experience with infants and children (0–17 years).
• Emergency Department experience.

Responsibilities

• Plan, develop, implement, coordinate and evaluate therapeutic play and normalization activities.
• Assess patient and family needs; research and implement developmentally appropriate interventions.
• Prepare children for diagnostic, medical, and surgical procedures through hospital play and coping strategies.
• Provide diversionary experiences and facilitate special events to promote joy and normalcy.

Skills

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Therapeutic play planning

Family-centered care

Education

Bachelor's degree in Child Life, Education, Psychology or related field

Certified Child Life Specialist certification

Job description

Seeking a compassionate and skilled Certified Child Life Specialist to join an interdisciplinary health‑care team dedicated to supporting children, adolescents, and families through the health‑care experience. This role offers a meaningful opportunity to make a lasting impact by promoting coping, resilience, and development during hospitalization. As a Certified Child Life Specialist, you will plan, develop, implement, coordinate, and evaluate therapeutic play and normalization activities that support the social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development of children and adolescents. Your practice will be grounded in family‑centered care and evidence‑informed child life interventions. You will assess patient and family needs and research, plan, implement, and evaluate developmentally appropriate play and therapeutic interventions in both individual and group settings. These interventions are designed to reduce stress, support coping with illness and hospitalization, and promote independence and emotional well‑being. As a valued member of the care team, you will also provide diversionary experiences and special events that promote joy, resilience, and a sense of normalcy within the hospital environment. This position offers the opportunity to combine clinical expertise, creativity, and compassion to deliver family‑centered, child‑focused care in a dynamic health‑care setting.

Description:

As a Child Life Specialist, you will plan, develop, implement, coordinate and evaluate developmental and normalization activities including therapeutic play programs in order to further the social, emotional, intellectual and physical growth of children and adolescents.You will assess, research, plan, implement and evaluate appropriate play and developmental activities/interventions for children and families (both individual and in group settings). You will provide therapeutic play programs designed to reduce stress, help clients cope with hospitalization, promote development and independence. You will help prepare children for diagnostic, medical and surgical procedures through hospital play, demonstrations and discussions and introduce coping strategies and techniques to assist children and families during procedures. You will also provide diversion experiences and facilitate special events.

• Classification: Child Life Specialist
• Union: HSAA Facility PROF/TECH
• Unit and Program: Child Life Services
• Primary Location: Stollery Children's Hospital
• Multi-Site: Not Applicable
• FTE: 0.80
• Posting End Date: 13-OCT-2026
• Temporary Employee Class: Temp P/T Benefits
• Date Available: 23-OCT-2026
• Temporary End Date: 13-OCT-2027
• Length of Shift in weeks: 10
• Shifts per cycle: 32
• Days Off: As Per Rotation
• Minimum Salary: $40.81
• Maximum Salary: $54.34
• Vehicle Requirement: Not Applicable

• Classification: Child Life Specialist
• Union: HSAA Facility PROF/TECH
• Unit and Program: Child Life Services
• Primary Location: Stollery Children's Hospital
• Location Details: As Per Location
• Multi-Site: Not Applicable
• FTE: 0.80
• Posting End Date: 13-OCT-2026
• Temporary Employee Class: Temp P/T Benefits
• Date Available: 23-OCT-2026
• Hours per Shift: 9.69
• Length of Shift in weeks: 10
• Shifts per cycle: 32
• Shift Pattern: Days, Evenings, Weekends
• Days Off: As Per Rotation
• Minimum Salary: $40.81
• Maximum Salary: $54.34
• Vehicle Requirement: Not Applicable

Required Qualifications:

Completion of bachelor's degree in Child Life, Education, Psychology or other related field.

Additional Required Qualifications:

Certified Child Life Specialist - Completion of Child Life Professional Certification Exam. Acute Care Pediatric experience, infant, children and adolescents (0-17 years old). Emergency Department experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

Ambulatory, Emergency or critical care experience is an asset.

Please note:

All postings close at 23:59 MT of the postingend date indicated.

Security Screening:

A satisfactory criminal record check and/or Vulnerable Sector Search is required prior to your first day of work. Additionally, all employees have an ongoing duty to disclose any charges or convictions that may occur during their employment with AHS.

Healthy Albertans. Healthy
Communities. Together.

We’re passionate about what we do. Our team of skilled and dedicated health care professionals, support staff, and physicians promote wellness and provide health care all across Alberta.

Everything we do at AHS reflects a patient and family centred approach; it’s about putting patients’ and families’ experiences, priorities and trust first.

We are an equal opportunity employer. AHS values the diversity of the people and communities we serve and is committed to attracting, engaging and developing a diverse and inclusive workforce.

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