Child Life Specialist I

Phoenix Children's Hospital, Inc.; Avondale (AZ); On-site; USD 18,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

Phoenix Children's Hospital, Inc. is seeking a part-time Child Life Specialist to provide therapeutic intervention and psychosocial support for pediatric patients and their families.

The role focuses on helping families cope with hospital experiences, reducing fear, and supporting growth across childhood stages. Responsibilities include assessing coping needs, planning individualized goals, delivering education, and documenting outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Child Life, Therapeutic Recreation, or related field is required.
• Master's degree in Child Life, Therapeutic Recreation, or related field is preferred.
• Completion of a 480-hour professional Child Life Internship under a Certified Child Life Specialist is required.
• Professional Child Life hospital experience is preferred.
• BLS certification is required or must be obtained within 30 days of hire.
• Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) credential or commitment to obtain within 18 months of hire.

Responsibilities

• Plans and provides therapeutic intervention and psychosocial developmental care for pediatric patients and families.
• Assesses coping needs, develops goals and educates families to reduce fear and improve understanding.
• Facilitates developmentally appropriate therapeutic play and self-expression activities.
• Advocates for patient/family needs within the healthcare team and participates in rounds.
• Documents assessments, interventions, and outcomes in the medical record.
• Participates in supervision, training of students/volunteers, and mentoring of new staff.

Skills

Bilingual English-Spanish

Education

Bachelor's degree in Child Life or related field

Master's degree preferred in Child Life or related field

Job description

Shift: Sat, Days, Evenings, 11am-11:30pm

Category: Child Life/Teachers

Posting #: 1068401

Employee Type: Part-Time

Position Summary

This position plans and provides therapeutic intervention and appropriate psychosocial developmental care with pediatric patients and their families, assists them in coping with the stress and anxiety of health care experiences, and maximizes the growth and development of infants, children, and adolescent patients.

Position Duties

• Assesses, plans, implements and evaluates patient/family coping needs related to illness and hospitalization. Provides a safe, therapeutic, and healing environment for infants, children, adolescents, and families during healthcare visits.
  • Utilizes Psychosocial Risk Assessment in Pediatrics (PRAP), Emotional Safety screener, and other validated assessment tools to accurately assess development, coping, and psychosocial risk.
  • Utilizes critical thinking skills and comprehensive assessment to develop individualized treatment plans with patient and family specific goals.
  • Provides developmentally appropriate education and coping support to children and families regarding diagnoses, procedures and treatment in order to reduce fear and promote mastery.
  • Facilitates developmentally appropriate therapeutic play, medical play, and self-expression activities to support coping and understanding of medical care.
  • Advocates for patient and family needs within the healthcare team, ensuring interventions align with family centered care principles.
  • Consults with more senior child life specialists and/or supervisors for guidance and direction on unfamiliar and/or higher acuity interventions.
  • Actively participates in interdisciplinary rounds and evaluations as a member of the treatment team.
  • Documents patient assessments, interventions, and outcomes in the medical record.
• Engages in activities related to professional responsibility of a Certified Child Life Specialist.
  • Demonstrates continued growth through departmental professional development activities.
  • Participates in continuing education sessions and remains abreast of advances in child life and programs for hospitalized children.
  • Developing self-reflective capacity and incorporating feedback into daily practice.
  • Participates in reflective practice (facilitated group supervision) for the first year of employment in order to continue developing clinical and professional skills.
  • Participates in the training, supervision, and evaluation of students and volunteers as eligible.
  • Participates in mentoring or precepting of new staff as appropriate and supports orientation for incoming team members.
• Performs miscellaneous job related duties as requested.

Phoenix Children's Mission, Vision, & Values

Mission

To advance hope, healing and the best healthcare for children and their families

Vision

Phoenix Children's will be the leading pediatric health system in the Southwest, nationally recognized for exceptional care, innovative research and advanced medical education.

We realize this vision by:

• Offering the most comprehensive care across ages, communities and specialties
• Investing in innovative research, including emerging treatments, tools and technologies
• Advancing education and training to shape the next generation of clinical leaders
• Advocating for the health and well-being of children and families

Values

• We place children and families at the center of all we do
• We deliver exceptional care, every day and in every way
• We collaborate with colleagues, partners and communities to amplify our impact
• We set the standards of pediatric healthcare today, and innovate for the future
• We are accountable for making the highest quality care accessible and affordable

Position Qualifications

Please review the following qualifications and specify whether you meet each of the requirements listed.

Education

Do you meet this requirement or have the ability to obtain it within the timeframe listed in the requirement?

1. Bachelor`s degree in Child Life, Therapeutic Recreation, or related field.

Required

2. Master`s degree in Child Life, Therapeutic Recreation, or related field.

Preferred

Experience

Do you meet this requirement or have the ability to obtain it within the timeframe listed in the requirement?

1. Completion of a minimum 480-hour professional Child Life Internship, under the direction of a Certified Child Life Specialist.

Required

2. Professional Child Life experience in a hospital environment.

Preferred

Special Skills

Do you meet this requirement or have the ability to obtain it within the timeframe listed in the requirement?

1. Bilingual English-Spanish skills.

Preferred

Additional Requirements

Do you meet this requirement or have the ability to obtain it within the timeframe listed in the requirement?

1. BLS certification through the American Heart Association OR obtain within 30 days of hire.

Required

2. Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) credential from the Child Life Certifying Commission (CLCC), OR obtain within 18 months of hire and maintained thereafter.

Required

Physical Requirements & Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential

1. Physical Requirement - Climbing - Occasionally

2. Physical Requirement - Feeling (sensing textures and temperatures) - Occasionally

3. Physical Requirement - Fine Motor Skills (pinching, gripping, etc) - Constantly

4. Physical Requirement - Hearing - Constantly

5. Physical Requirement - Pushing/pulling - Occasionally

6. Physical Requirement - Reaching - Constantly

7. Physical Requirement - Sitting - Frequently

8. Physical Requirement - Standing - Frequently

9. Physical Requirement - Stooping/crouching/kneeling/crawling - Frequently

10. Physical Requirement - Talking - Constantly

11. Physical Requirement - Tasting/smelling - Occasionally

12. Physical Requirement - Walking - Constantly

13. Physical Requirement - Near Vision - Constantly

14. Physical Requirement - Far Vision - Constantly

15. Physical Requirement - Color Discrimination - Occasionally

16. Physical Requirement - Use of keyboard, mouse and/or computer equipment - Constantly

17. Physical Requirement - Lift up to 35 pounds without assistance - Frequently

18. Physical Requirement - Lift more than 35 pounds without assistance - Occasionally

19. Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential - Airborne communicable diseases - Applicable

20. Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential - Bloodborne pathogens or bodily fluid - Applicable

21. Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential - Hazardous materials exposure - Applicable

22. Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential - Radiation exposure - Applicable

23. Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential - Toxic or caustic chemicals - Applicable