Child Life Specialist

Cleveland Clinic; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Cleveland Clinic seeks a dedicated Child Life Specialist to support patients and families through educational and emotional care. Join a respected healthcare team focused on providing top-quality care with opportunities for professional growth. The position includes evening and weekend shifts, advocating for patient-centered care and educational support.

Qualifications

• Child Life Internship with at least 600 hours supervised experience.
• Certification as a Certified Child Life Specialist within one year.
• Proof of Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

Responsibilities

• Assess developmental and emotional needs of patients and families.
• Provide therapeutic play and emotional support.
• Document treatment plans and outcomes.

Skills

Communication

Advocacy

Teamwork

Patient Care

Education

Bachelor's degree in child life or related field

Job description

Join Cleveland Clinic's Main Campus where research and surgery are advanced, technology is leading-edge, patient care is world-class, and caregivers are family. Cleveland Clinic is recognized as one of the top hospitals in the country. You will work alongside passionate and dedicated caregivers, receive endless support and appreciation, and build a rewarding career with one of the most respected healthcare organizations in the world.

As a Child Life Specialist, you will be working with patients and families to communicate with our interdisciplinary team, child life team, and other patients/families. You will be part of a supportive caregiver family that will be united in shared values and purpose to fulfill our promise of being the best place to receive care and the best place to work in healthcare.

**A caregiver in this position works Day/Evening/Night/Weekend, from 6:00am-7:30pm.**

A caregiver who excels in this role will:

+ Assess developmental, psychosocial, emotional and cultural needs using a strengths-based approach, the child life specialist provides developmentally appropriate education for medical procedures and diagnoses, non-pharmacological pain management, therapeutic play and emotional and bereavement support for the patient and family.

+ Document treatment plans/outcomes for patients within the electronic medical record as required by department guidelines and professional standards.

+ Plan and implement therapeutic interventions and a variety of individual and group play experiences promoting development, self-expression, and mastery.

+ Maintain and order supplies and equipment as needed.

+ Advocate for patient and family-centered care through communication, involvement, partnership with and empowerment of patients and family members.

+ Provide education regarding illness/condition, treatment, procedures and coping techniques to patients, family members, and the larger community as appropriate.

Actively participate in monthly clinical team and committee meetings

+ Orient and supervise volunteers and participate in education for Cleveland Clinic and visiting students.

+ Co-treat and refer patients and families to multidisciplinary services and resources as needed.

+ Serve as a financial steward by implementing cost effective programming.

Minimum qualifications for the ideal future caregiver include:

+ Bachelor's degree in child life or related field for credentialing as a Certified Child Life Specialist.

+ Child Life Internship, at least 600 hours, directed by a Certified Child Life Specialist.

+ Professional certification (CCLS) through the Association of Child Life Professionals within a year of appointment and maintain certification throughout their employment (If certification is not achieved within one year of hire, the caregiver is not eligible to practice).

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

+ Proof of Basic Life Support (BLS) through American Heart Association (AHA) certification must be obtained 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.

Our caregivers continue to create the best outcomes for our patients across each of our facilities. Click the link and see how we're dedicated to providing what matters most to you: https://jobs.clevelandclinic.org/benefits-2/

**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.

Salaries [which may be] shown on independent job search websites reflect various market averages and do not represent information obtained directly from The Cleveland Clinic. Because we value each individual candidate, we invite and encourage each candidate to discuss salary/hourly specifics during the application and hiring process.

Cleveland Clinic Health System is pleased to be an equal employment employer: Women / Minorities / Veterans / Individuals with Disabilities