Child Life Specialist | Evening Shift

Christiana Care Health System; Newark (DE); On-site; USD 41,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Insurance from day one

Paid time off

Retirement plans

Parental leave

Job summary

Christiana Care Health System in Newark, Delaware, is expanding its Child Life program. The Child Life Specialist will support pediatric patients and families through developmental play and education, promoting coping and well‑being across care experiences.

This full‑time evening position requires scheduling flexibility with five 8-hour shifts or four 10-hour shifts, and one weekend day per week. Competitive pay and comprehensive benefits accompany the role.

Qualifications

• Bachelor Degree in Child Life or related field.
• CCLS certification required.
• Strong written and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and in a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to problem solve and make decisions.
• Develop supportive relationships with children and families.
• Ability to assess and adapt care to developmental needs.
• Maintain professional documentation in aligned with guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Provide care for neonatal, pediatric, and adolescent patients with growth and development in mind.
• Assess and evaluate therapeutic program effectiveness.
• Conduct individual or group interventions tailored to each child’s development.
• Offer pre-procedural preparation and coping support for stress reduction.
• Assist families in understanding and navigating the hospital experience.
• Collaborate with the healthcare team to plan developmentally appropriate care.

Skills

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Problem solving

Independent work

Education

Bachelor Degree in Child Life or related field

CCLS Certification

Job description

Are you interested in being a part of creating and growing a Child Life Program?

Join our Child Life team as we expand our Child Life Program focused on the unique needs of each infant, child and family we serve, grounded in our values of Excellence and Love.

As the Child Life Specialist you will enhance the experience of pediatric patients and their families by supporting the patients physical, developmental, emotional, and psychosocial well-being through therapeutic play and other programs.

This is a full time (80 hours biweekly) evening shift position. The schedule may consist of five 8-hour shifts or four 10-hour shifts per week. One weekend day is required each week.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide care appropriate to neonatal, pediatric, and adolescent patients, including knowledge of growth and development
• Provide on-going assessment of therapeutic programs to determine program effect
• Conduct individual or group interventions in settings appropriate for comfort level and developmental progress. Provide appropriate and personalized education to children and families based on individual needs.
• Conduct therapeutic play sessions and activities tailored to the developmental needs of patients
• Offer pre-procedural preparation and support to minimize stress and fear
• Assist families in understanding and navigating the hospital experience
• Assess and prioritize children and families based on psychosocial risk and need. In collaboration with other members of the healthcare team, assesses relevant health care data, developmental data, family variables, cultural and contextual variables for the development of a comprehensive and developmentally appropriate plan of care.
• Plan and implement therapeutic interventions and a variety of individual and group play experiences promoting development, self-expression, and mastery.
• Support children and families through diagnoses, treatments, and transitions of care
• Support patients and families coping with stresses including, but not limited to, loss, grief, and/or bereavement associated with health care experiences through the development of therapeutic and supportive relationships.
• Provide education to patients, family members, and the larger community as appropriate regarding illness/condition, treatment, procedures, and coping techniques
• Recommend referrals to additional multidisciplinary services
• Maintain appropriate documentation of assessments and progress within departmental guidelines and professional standards to monitor progress toward patient goals
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and other relevant departments regarding program development and implementation
• Facilitate ongoing formal and informal education and orientation for a multidisciplinary team on the availability and provision of child life services

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor Degree in Child Life or related field
• Certification as a Child Life Specialist (CCLS) required
• Skill in written, and interpersonal communications
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Ability to independently problem solve and make decisions
• Skilled in developing a supportive relationship with children and families
• Ability to effectively identify, analyze, and evaluate problems
• Ability to exercise judgment, tact, and diplomacy when working with people of all ages, temperaments, personalities, and backgrounds
• Ability to foster and maintain a high-quality patient/family experience

ChristianaCare offers:

Incredible Work/Life benefits including medical/dental/ vision insurance coverage on your first day of employment, paid PTO, retirement plans, twelve weeks of paid parental leave, annual membership to care.com, access to backup care services for dependents through Care@Work, retirement planning services, financial coaching, fitness and wellness reimbursement, and great discounts through several vendors for hotels, rental cars, theme parks, shows, sporting events, movie tickets and much more!

Hourly Pay Range: $29.80 - $44.71This pay rate/range represents ChristianaCare's good faith and reasonable estimate of compensation at the time of posting. The actual salary within this range offered to a successful candidate will depend on individual factors including without limitation skills, relevant experience, and qualifications as they relate to specific job requirements.

Post End Date

Feb 26, 2027

EEO Posting Statement

ChristianaCare offers a competitive suite of employee benefits to maximize the wellness of you and your family, including health insurance, paid time off, retirement, an employee assistance program. To learn more about our benefits for eligible positions visit https://careers.christianacare.org/benefits-compensation/

Christiana Care Health System is an equal opportunity employer, firmly committed to prohibiting discrimination, whose staff is reflective of its community, and considers qualified applicants for open positions without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, disability, pregnancy, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.