Child Life Specialist

Texas Children's Hospital; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Texas Children's Hospital seeks a Child Life Specialist to implement and provide a comprehensive program of Child Life Services that support the emotional, developmental, and social needs of pediatric patients in a health care setting. You will provide opportunities for children to gain mastery through play and learning experiences, and encourage family and peer interaction.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree and CCLS certification within 12 months, with a preference for two years of

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Child Life, Psychology, Human Development, Social Work, Music Therapy or Art Therapy.
• CCLS certification from the Association of Child Life Professionals within 12 months.
• Two years of full-time clinical experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provides child life assessments and normalizes the hospital environment for patients and families.
• Conducts formal and informal developmental assessments of psychosocial needs within 24 hours of referral.
• Offers developmentally appropriate interventions for patients and families.
• Prepares patients and families for procedures with developmentally appropriate explanations.
• Represents child life and psychosocial issues to professionals outside of child life.
• Participates in professional development of self and other child life professionals.
• Collaborates in intradepartmental efforts to support the department’s mission.

Skills

CCLS within 12 months

2 years clinical experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Job Description

We are searching for a Child Life Specialist – someone who works well in a fast-paced setting. In this position, you’ll implement and provide a comprehensive program of Child Life Services that help meet the emotional, developmental, and social needs of children in a health care setting. You’ll provide opportunities for children to gain a sense of mastery, offering play and learning experiences, and encouraging family and peer interaction

Think you’ve got what it takes?

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required (preferably in Child Life, Psychology, Human Development, Social Work, Music Therapy or Art Therapy)
• CCLS – Certified Child Life Specialist from the Association of Child Life Professionals, acquired within 12 months of entering the role
• 2 years of full time clinical experience as a Child Life Specialist preferred

Responsibilities

• Provides child life assessments and normalizes the hospital environment for patients and families
• Conducts formal and informal developmental assessments of psychosocial needs of patients and families within 24 hours of referral
• Promotes and provides developmentally appropriate interventions for patients and families
• Prepares patients and families for procedure/treatment(s) using developmentally appropriate explanations
• Represents and communicates child life and psychosocial issues of pediatric health care to professionals outside of child life
• Participates in professional development of self and other child life professionals
• Collaborates in an intradepartmental effort to support the mission and vision of the Child Life Department

About Us

Since 1954, Texas Children’s has been leading the charge in patient care, education and research to accelerate health care for children and women around the world. When you love what you do, it truly shows in the smiles of our patient families, employees and our numerous accolades such as being consistently ranked as the best children’s hospital in Texas, and among the top in the nation by U.S. News & World Report as well as recognition from Houston Business Journal as one of this city’s Best Places to Work for ten consecutive years.

Texas Children’s comprehensive health care network includes our primary hospital in the Texas Medical Center with expertise in over 40 pediatric subspecialties; the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (NRI); the Feigin Tower for pediatric research; Texas Children ’ s Pavilion for Women, a comprehensive obstetrics/gynecology facility focusing on high‑risk births; Texas Children ’ s Hospital West Campus, a community hospital in suburban West Houston; Texas Children ’ s Hospital The Woodlands, the first hospital devoted to children ’ s care for communities north of Houston; and Texas Children’s Hospital North Austin, the new state‑of‑the‑art facility providing world‑class pediatric and maternal care to Austin and Central Texas families.

We have also created Texas Children ’ s Health Plan, the nation ’ s first HMO focused on children; Texas Children ’ s Pediatrics, the largest pediatric primary care network in the country; Texas Children ’ s Urgent Care clinics that specialize in after‑hours care tailored specifically for children; and a global health program that is channeling care to children and women all over the world.

Texas Children ’ s Hospital is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine, one of the largest, most diverse and successful pediatric programs in the nation.

To join our community of 15,000+ dedicated team members, visit texaschildrenspeople.org for career opportunities.

Texas Children’s is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All applicants and employees are considered and evaluated for positions at Texas Children's without regard to mental or physical disability, race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, genetic information, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or any other protected Federal, State/Province or Local status unrelated to the performance of the work involved.