Certified Child Life Specialist

Banner Health Corporate; Mesa (AZ); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, AZ seeks a passionate Child Life Specialist to support children from birth to 18 years and their families. You will reduce stress by offering child-friendly, developmentally appropriate explanations, therapeutic play, and family education.

Based in Pediatrics with potential duties in ED or other areas, you will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team. A Bachelor’s in Child Life and internship, plus certification eligibility, are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Child Life or related field with supervised internship (600 hours) required.
• CCLS certification or eligibility required within 1 year of hire.
• Proficiency with MS Office and medical record documentation preferred.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate play and activities that promote coping, self-expression, and understanding.
• Provide counseling to families to support stress and needs.
• Advise on environmental factors affecting adaptation to hospitalization.
• Educate on child health care and continuity with school and celebrations.
• Coordinate interdisciplinary in-service on child development and illness impact.
• Document Child Life services in care records and statistics.
• Assist other child life staff across departments as needed.

Skills

Child development

Counseling

Family support

Documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Child Life or related field

600-hour internship supervised by a CCLS

Professional Child Life Certification or eligibility

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Primary City/State: Mesa, Arizona Department Name: Child Life Specialists-Ped Svc Work Shift: Varied Job Category: Clinical Care Make Every Visit Matter – Child Life Specialist, Pediatric at Banner Desert Join a team where compassion meets purpose every single day. As a Child Life Specialist w at Banner Desert, you'll have the profound opportunity to transform some of the most challenging moments in a child's life into experiences of hope, comfort, and resilience. This isn't just a job—it's a calling to be the steady, caring presence that children and families need during their cancer journey. Your expertise will shine as you provide procedural support through age-appropriate explanations, therapeutic medical play, and visual aids. You'll also deliver vital education and family support. When needed, you'll support other child life specialists across departments, bringing your specialized skills wherever they're needed most. Schedule: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday Friday 10AM to 8PM with every 3rd Sunday 9AM to 7PM.

Located on an 80-acre campus in Mesa, Arizona, Banner Desert Medical Center is one of Arizona's largest and most comprehensive hospitals and was recognized by U.S. News and World Report as one of Phoenix's Best Hospitals. We provide an abundance of exceptional opportunities with more than 700 licensed beds, including over 100 dedicated to children and 76 dedicated to our NICU. Areas of excellence include high-risk pregnancy and neonatal care, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, cardiology, oncology and emergency medicine. With 33 operating rooms, we offer a full range of surgical specialties and advanced technology that includes the da Vinci Surgical System. Becker’s Hospital Review named Banner Desert Medical Center as one of the top 50 busiest Emergency departments in the country. If you aim to deliver top-tier care to the most vulnerable patients, consider joining Banner Children's Hospital at Desert in Mesa, Arizona. Within our over 200 bed, state-of-the‑art facility, specially trained nurses, physicians and other clinical professionals utilize the most advanced technology - including iCare ICU monitoring and robotic surgery - to provide high quality, child‑friendly, family‑centered care. Our facilities feature a 76‑bed NICU, a 24‑bed PICU, six pediatric ORs and a 22‑bed ED. We also offer dedicated pediatric rehab, radiology, oncology and hematology capabilities. With clinical diversity, exceptional training programs and a supportive culture, this is a place where you can grow in your career as you help our very special patients.

POSITION SUMMARY

This position addresses the unique developmental needs of children from birth to 18 years of age, and their families, to reduce the stress accompanying hospitalization by providing child‑friendly, family‑centered care.

CORE FUNCTIONS

• 1. Provides opportunities for and facilitates a variety of play and activity forms, which promote self‑healing, self‑expression, understanding and mastery. Uses developmentally appropriate methods in preparing children and families for diagnostic and treatment procedures.
• 2. Extends support and offers counsel to family members, with respect to their own stress and needs. Supports family bonds and utilizes family strengths in the care of the child. Offers counsel specific to the impact of health care experience.
• 3. Provides consultation on the impact of environmental factors on the child’s adaptation to hospitalization and treatment. Utilizes stress reduction techniques to facilitate adaptive coping. Provides emotional support during identified stress points.
• 4. Provides child health care education. Provides or cooperates with programs, which assure continuity in the child’s normal life experience, e.g. school programs, personal and holiday celebrations.
• 5. Provides inter‑disciplinary in‑service on child development and the impact of illness, injury, and hospitalization on children and families.
• 6. Provides consultation to the health care team regarding the developmental status and individual needs of children to promote adaptation to treatment. Documents Child Life services in the patient’s care record, as well as program service statistics.
• 7. Although based in Pediatrics, incumbent may be assigned to serve in the Emergency Department, the Preioperataive Areas, or the Outpatient Treatment Center, in addition to general Pediatrics and Pediatric Intensive Care. Incumbent may also be called to consult in any area of the hospital where there are children. The position will serve one facility, but will consult with other facilities at any time in keeping with the purpose of the position. The internal customers served by this position are the patients and their families, as well as volunteers. The external customers are individuals and groups in the community who contact the department with requests, or offers of assistance.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• This position requires a Bachelor’s degree in Child Life or related field, and a completed Child Life internship supervised by a CCLS. As of January 1, 2019, the clinical internship requirement = 600 hours. Requires Professional Child Life Certification, or eligibility for Certification. Those without current Child Life Certification will be required to obtain Certification within one year of hire. BSS applicants must present a current Child Life Certification to be eligible for a BSS position. Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is a requirement of the job.
• The incumbent must possess strong skills in the following areas: growth and development, play and activities, the learning process, coping, assessment, interventions to prevent emotional trauma, collaboration with other health professionals, and a basic understanding of children’s illnesses and medical terminology.
• Must be proficient with commonly used office software.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Additional related education and/or experience preferred.

EEO STATEMENT

EEO Statement: EEO/Disabled/Veterans Our organization supports a drug‑free work environment.

PRIVACY POLICY

Privacy Policy: Privacy Policy Banner Health is one of the largest, nonprofit health care systems in the country and the leading nonprofit provider of hospital services in all the communities we serve. Throughout our network of hospitals, primary care health centers, research centers, labs, physician practices and more, our skilled and compassionate professionals use the latest technology to make health care easier, so life can be better. The many locations, career opportunities, and benefits offered at Banner Health help to make the Banner Journey unique and fulfilling for every employee. We are proud to offer a comprehensive benefit package for all benefit‑eligible positions. Please visit our Benefits Guide for more information.

EEO / VETERANS

EEO/Disabled/Veterans Banner Health supports a drug‑free work environment.