Child Life Specialist

UW Health; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and dental insurance

Paid time off

Retirement plans

Parental leave and adoption assistance

Flexible scheduling

Wellbeing resources

Tuition benefits

Referral bonus

Job summary

UW Health is seeking a Child Life Specialist to support pediatric patients in the Emergency Department with 12-hour evening/night shifts (7:00 pm–7:00 am) and a weekend rotation. You will provide age-appropriate therapies, support families, and advocate for patients within an interdisciplinary team to foster comfort and coping during medical encounters.

Qualifications include a Bachelor's in Child Life/related field (Master's preferred), completion of a 480-hour pediatric internship, ACLP

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Child Life, Child Development, or a related field.
• Master's degree in Child Life, Child Development, or a related field (preferred).
• Completion of a Child Life internship with a minimum of 480 hours in a pediatric health care setting (Required).
• At least two years of related experience with children and adolescents in a hospital setting (Preferred).
• Certified as a Child Life Specialist by ACLP or certification in progress with ability to obtain within 1 year (Required).
• CPR certification or attain certification within 90 days (Required).

Responsibilities

• Provide age-appropriate information and administer child life therapies aligned with patient age, medical condition, and family.
• Work with outpatients and inpatients and their families to foster trust and comfort, allowing children to express fears and concerns about care.
• Advocate for patients and provide clinical interventions for the needs of children with chronic illness and related developmental impacts.
• Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team to plan, implement, and evaluate therapeutic and psychosocial programming for all children and families.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Child Life, Child Development, or a related field

Master's degree in Child Life, Child Development, or a related field

Job description

60% FTE, Evening/Night shift working in the Emergency Department. The schedule for this position will be 12 hour shifts between 7:00 pm - 7:00 am and requires a weekend rotation.

Be part of something remarkable

Come make a difference in the lives of pediatric patients at UW Health.

We are seeking a Child Life Specialist to:

• Provide age-appropriate information and administer appropriate child life therapies in conjunction with the patient's age, medical condition, and family/significant others.

• Work with both outpatients and inpatients (and families) during their medical encounters to foster a level of trust and comfort, which allows children to express their fears, discontents, and misconceptions about their care.

• Advocate for patients and provide appropriate clinical interventions to the ever-changing needs of children with chronic illness and handicapping conditions that are potentially disruptive to children's development and effective family functioning.

• Work with an interdisciplinary team to set priorities in the planning, implementation and evaluation of therapeutic and psychosocial programming of child life services with all children and families receiving care in the outpatient and inpatient areas.

At UW Health, you will have:

• An excellent benefits package, including health and dental insurance, paid time off, retirement plans, two-week paid parental leave and adoption assistance.

• Options for a variety of schedules and shifts that offer flexibility and allow for work-life balance.

• Access to great resources through the UW Health Employee Wellbeing Department that supports your emotional, financial, and physical well-being.

• Tuition benefits eligibility - UW Health invests in your professional growth by helping pay for coursework associated with career advancement.

• The opportunity to earn a referral bonus for referring friends, former colleagues or others to apply for open, posted positions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Child Life, Child Development, or a related field Required
• Master's Degree from an accredited college or university in Child Life, Child Development, or a related field Preferred

Work Experience

• Completion of a Child Life internship with a minimum of 480 hours in a pediatric health care setting Required
• At least two (2) years of related experience working with children and adolescents in a hospital setting Preferred
• Experience in specific specialty area Preferred
• Paid clinical experience Preferred

Licenses & Certifications

• Certified as a Child Life Specialist by the Association for Child Life Professionals (ACLP) or certification in progress with ability to obtain this credential within 1 Year Required
• CPR certification or attain certification within 90 Days Required

Our Commitment to Social Impact and Belonging

UW Health is committed to fostering a workplace that creates belonging for everyone and is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. Our respect for people shines through patient care interactions and our daily work practices as we work to embrace the knowledge, unique perspectives and qualities each employee and faculty member brings to work each day. It is the policy of UW Health to provide equal opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

American Family Children's Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin-also a Magnet-designated facility-provides specialized care in a healing environment designed especially for pediatric patients and their families. American Family Children's Hospital is a comprehensive pediatric medical and surgical center, with nationally recognized pediatric specialists in a wide range of fields. It is also home to our Level One Pediatric Trauma Center and Level IV NICU, which cares for the tiniest patients throughout Wisconsin and beyond.