Child Life Specialist

Shriners Children's; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Shriners Hospital for Children seeks a Child Life Specialist to provide developmentally appropriate interventions that reduce stress for pediatric patients and their families. You will perform comprehensive assessments, utilize therapeutic play, and collaborate with families to support coping and discharge planning.

Responsibilities include coordinating activities within the Therapeutic Recreation/Child Life Department, preparing children for procedures, supporting school re-entry, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Child Life Certificate or ability to obtain certification.
• Current CPR certification or valid CPR credential.

Responsibilities

• Performs comprehensive assessment of child’s development, coping style, and medical plan to create an individualized treatment plan using therapeutic play techniques.
• Uses developmentally appropriate methods to prepare children and families for diagnostic and treatment procedures and provides emotional support during stress points.
• Facilitates a therapeutic play program with Activities Coordinators promoting self-healing, self-expression, understanding and mastery; involves family in goals and activities.
• Maintains supportive relationships with families and provides services to the entire family unit, including education on child development and discharge planning.
• Plans, coordinates, implements, and supervises activities for patients and special events within Therapeutic Recreation/Child Life Department.
• Supports school re-entry by coordinating with the care team and traveling to the home school when appropriate.
• Plans and coordinates therapeutic outings with the TR Specialist as appropriate for patient care.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Child Life Certificate or eligibility

CPR

Job description

Company Overview

Shriners Children’s is an organization that respects, supports, and values each other. Named as the 2025 best mid-sized employer by Forbes, we are engaged in providing excellence in patient care, embracing multi-disciplinary education, and research with global impact. We foster a learning environment that values evidenced based practice, experience, innovation, and critical thinking. Our compassion, integrity, accountability, and resilience define us as leaders in pediatric specialty care for our children and their families.

With 20+ hospitals, outpatient clinics, ambulatory care centers and outreach locations across the globe, we provide excellent care to children up to age 18 regardless of their family’s ability to pay or insurance status. Please click here to learn more about our locations.

Job Description

Job Summary

The Child Life Specialist provides developmentally appropriate interventions to reduce the stress and anxiety associated with healthcare experiences for pediatric patients and their families at The Shriners Hospital for Children.

Key Responsibilities

• Performs a comprehensive assessment of child’s development, temperament, coping style, medical plan
  and available social supports to develop an individualized treatment plan; utilizes therapeutic play techniques
  as a diagnostic and treatment tool.
• Utilizes developmentally appropriate methods to prepare children and/or families for diagnostic and
  treatment procedures. Utilizes stress reduction techniques to facilitate adaptive coping and provides
  emotional support during identified stress points.
• Facilitates a therapeutic play program in cooperation with the Activities Coordinators promoting self-healing,
  self-expression, understanding and mastery; involves family and patient in selection of treatment goals, plans
  and implementation of daily child life activities.
• Maintains a working relationship with parent and families and provides supportive services to the entire
  family unit. Supports family bonds and utilizes family strengths in the care of the child. Provides parent
  education in the area of child development and collaborate with families regarding patients’ goals, progress
  and discharge plan.
• Plans, coordinates, implements, and/or supervises activities for patients including, special events, outside
  group entertainment, patient birthday parties, as well as in-house group programs such as, arts and crafts,
  expressive arts, medical play, baking group, preschool play and other recreation and diversionary/non-structured activities in the Therapeutic Recreation/Child Life Department.
• Supports the School re-entry program by working cooperatively with the team in preparing patients for re-entry to their home schools. When appropriate, travels to the patient’s home school to directly implement the
  re-entry.
• Plans and coordinates therapeutic outings with the TR Specialist as appropriate for patient care.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Child Life Certificate, or proof of eligibility
• CPR

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree
• Previous experience working with hospitalized and health children
• Background in Child Development, Child Life, Psychology, or similar field

Compensation is determined based on years of relevant experience and departmental equity.