Child Life Specialist $5000 Sign On Bonus!

Navian Hawaii; Honolulu (HI); On-site; USD 58,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

Navian Hawaii seeks a Child Life Specialist to promote healing environments for children facing life-threatening illness and support families throughout care and end-of-life journeys. The role emphasizes developmentally appropriate care, collaboration with an interdisciplinary team, and compassionate family education.

Based in Oahu, you will travel to patient homes and hospice sites, implementing play, coping strategies, and legacy activities while maintaining documentation and safety standards

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Child Development, Child Life, or related field.
• Child Life Certification (completed or currently in progress) preferred
• 2 years of recent experience in pediatric health care required
• Hospice experience preferred

Responsibilities

• Collaborates with care team to develop and implement a specialized plan of care.
• Assesses developmental, temperament, coping style, social, sensory, and emotional needs.
• Leads creative expression, self-healing, and developmental play with children and families.
• Integrates child life goals into total care during team meetings and conferences.
• Provides a safe, therapeutic environment for infants to adolescents and their families.
• Responds to crisis situations to ensure ongoing safety.
• Coordinates legacy and memory activities for end-of-life experiences.
• Maintains clear, accurate patient records per protocols.
• Performs other duties as required.

Skills

Communication

Multitasking

Team collaboration

Holistic care

Psychosocial needs

Ethical conduct

Policy adherence

Education

Bachelor's degree in Child Development/Child Life or related field

Child Life Certification

Job description

The

Position Summary

The Child Life Specialist promotes a healthy, healing environment for children and their families as they cope with life-threatening illness through assessment, advocacy, and education. They will proactively support efforts that ensure delivery of developmentally appropriate care in addition to promoting a safe environment throughout service.

Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborates with appropriate care team members, contributing to the development and implementation of a specialized plan of care by assessing and identifying developmental, temperament, copying style, social, sensory, and emotional needs
• Identifies, educates, and supports the use of developmentally appropriate coping strategies with children and families facing illness, disability, and/or death/loss
• Plans, organizes, and leads individuals/groups in creative expression, self-healing, and developmental play. Encourages socialization whenever possible, with peers, siblings, and family members through developmentally appropriate play activities
• Participates as a member of the interdisciplinary team by integrating child life goals into total care of the child/family during team meetings, interdisciplinary case conferences, and staff meetings
• Provides a safe, therapeutic, and healing environment for infants, children, adolescents, and families
• Responds to crisis situations appropriately, effectively, and calmly to ensure ongoing safety of children/families
• Implementation of developmentally appropriate legacy and memory activities for the child and/or siblings facing end of life, to allow expression of feelings, and inclusion in the process
• Communicates on an ongoing basis with nursing staff as to plans, interventions, and progress issues that impact physical care/status of child and family
• Maintains current, accurate patient records in accordance with established protocols
• Performs other duties as required / Other duties as assigned

Knowledge And Skills Requirements

• Outstanding communication, education, and customer service skills
• Ability to prioritize, solve problems, manage multiple tasks, and work independently
• Ability to collaborate with others on the interdisciplinary team with community partners
• Skilled in providing holistic care to patients and their families
• Ability to identify and address psychosocial needs
• Demonstrates ethical conduct and judgement that is in harmony with the mission and values of Navian Hawai’i
• Adheres to all policies, procedures, and regulations regarding patient care, conduct, safety, fire, security, risk management, and personnel policies

Experience And Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Child Development, Child Life, or related field.
• Child Life Certification (completed or currently in progress) preferred
• 2 years of recent experience in pediatric health care required
• Hospice experience preferred

Employment Requirements

• A legally compliant background check
• Drug screen & physical exam
• Valid Driver’s License
• Reliable transportation with valid registration and insurance
• TB clearance
• CPR BLS Certification

Working Conditions

• Indoors in patient homes or Hospice Hawai’i homes, nursing, and acute care facilities; may include outdoors in all types of weather

Work Location

This position is based in the field, requiring travel to patient homes, facilities, and offices throughout Oahu using a personal motor vehicle

Hours

• Generally, Monday through Friday 8am-4:30pm
• Position may require weekend, night, or holiday availability

Salary

$27.88-$35.72 Hourly with a sign on bonus

About Us

Navian Hawaii is a legacy kama'aina nonprofit hospice and palliative care organization deeply committed to serving our community. For more than 44 years, we have demonstrated compassion, dignity, and excellence in delivering care to individuals and families facing serious illness and end-of-life journeys. We proudly extend our services across Oahu as well as in-patient at our Kailua Home (closed for renovation, re-opening 2027).