Child Life Specialist — Pediatric Support & Healing

RWJBarnabas Health; New Brunswick (NJ); On-site; USD 65,000 - 81,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Retirement Plans

Disability Insurance

Life Insurance

Tuition Reimbursement

FSA / HSA

Wellness Programs

Voluntary Benefits

Partner Discounts

Job summary

RWJBarnabas Health is hiring a Child Life Specialist to promote development and help children cope with hospitalization. You will develop treatment plans based on psychosocial assessments and provide therapeutic play to support self-expression and resilience.

The role emphasizes preparation for procedures, family involvement, and stress-reduction techniques, with a focus on pediatric patients within the Children’s Hospital.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in child life, psychology, child development, education or related field.
• Child Life Internship required.
• Child Life Certification required within 18 months of employment.

Responsibilities

• Promotes optimal development and prevents psychological trauma in hospitalized children and adolescents by providing child life programming for specified populations within the Children’s Hospital.
• Develops and executes individual treatment plans based on a complete psychosocial assessment of the child’s development, temperament, coping style, medical plan and available social support.
• Provides opportunities for and facilitates a variety of play and activity forms which promote self-healing, self-expression, understanding and mastery.
• Utilizes therapeutic play techniques as a diagnostic and treatment tool.
• Interprets the child’s perception of his/her diagnosis and treatment as revealed through play and other means of communication both verbal and non-verbal.
• Uses developmentally appropriate methods in preparing children and families for diagnostic and treatment procedures.
• Utilizes stress reduction techniques to facilitate adaptive coping.
• Provides emotional support to patients and family members during identified stress points

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent in child life, psychology, child development, education or related field

Child Life Internship

Child Life Certification required within 18 months of employment

Job description

RWJBarnabas Health is hiring a Child Life Specialist to promote development and help children cope with hospitalization. You will develop treatment plans based on psychosocial assessments and provide therapeutic play to support self-expression and resilience.

The role emphasizes preparation for procedures, family involvement, and stress-reduction techniques, with a focus on pediatric patients within the Children’s Hospital.