Child Life Specialist

Child Life Specialist

Join Cleveland Clinic's Main Campus where research and surgery are advanced, technology is leading-edge, patient care is world-class, and caregivers are family. Cleveland Clinic is recognized as one of the top hospitals in the country. You will work alongside passionate and dedicated caregivers, receive endless support and appreciation, and build a rewarding career with one of the most respected healthcare organizations in the world.

As a Child Life Specialist, you will be working with patients and families to communicate with our interdisciplinary team, child life team, and other patients/families. You will be part of a supportive caregiver family that will be united in shared values and purpose to fulfill our promise of being the best place to receive care and the best place to work in healthcare.

A caregiver in this position works Day/Evening/Night/Weekend, from 6:00am7:30pm.

A caregiver who excels in this role will:

• Assess developmental, psychosocial, emotional and cultural needs using a strengths-based approach, the child life specialist provides developmentally appropriate education for medical procedures and diagnoses, non-pharmacological pain management, therapeutic play and emotional and bereavement support for the patient and family.
• Document treatment plans/outcomes for patients within the electronic medical record as required by department guidelines and professional standards.
• Plan and implement therapeutic interventions and a variety of individual and group play experiences promoting development, self-expression, and mastery.
• Maintain and order supplies and equipment as needed.
• Advocate for patient and family-centered care through communication, involvement, partnership with and empowerment of patients and family members.
• Provide education regarding illness/condition, treatment, procedures and coping techniques to patients, family members, and the larger community as appropriate.
• Actively participate in monthly clinical team and committee meetings
• Orient and supervise volunteers and participate in education for Cleveland Clinic and visiting students.
• Co-treat and refer patients and families to multidisciplinary services and resources as needed.
• Serve as a financial steward by implementing cost effective programming.

Minimum qualifications for the ideal future caregiver include:

• Bachelor's degree in child life or related field for credentialing as a Certified Child Life Specialist.
• Child Life Internship, at least 600 hours, directed by a Certified Child Life Specialist.
• Professional certification (CCLS) through the Association of Child Life Professionals within a year of appointment and maintain certification throughout their employment (If certification is not achieved within one year of hire, the caregiver is not eligible to practice).
• An extension may be granted by Child Life Manager under appropriate circumstances.
• Proof of Basic Life Support (BLS) through American Heart Association (AHA) certification must be obtained within one year of hire.

Preferred qualifications for the ideal future caregiver include:

• Two years and 4000 hours of professional Child Life clinical experience in a hospital setting.

Physical Requirements:

• Requires full range of body motion including handling and lifting patient, manual and finger dexterity, and eye-hand coordination.
• Requires standing and walking for extended periods of time.
• Requires corrected vision and hearing to normal range.
• Requires working under stressful conditions and irregular hours. Exposure to communicable diseases and/or body fluids.
• Medium Work - Exerting 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Light Work.

Personal Protective Equipment:

• Follows Standard Precautions using personal protective equipment as required for procedures.

The policy of Cleveland Clinic Health System and its system hospitals (Cleveland Clinic Health System) is to provide equal opportunity to all of our caregivers and applicants for employment in our drug free environment. All offers of employment are followed by testing for controlled substances.

Cleveland Clinic Health System administers an influenza prevention program. You will be required to comply with this program, which will include obtaining an influenza vaccination on an annual basis or obtaining an approved exemption.

Decisions concerning employment, transfers and promotions are made upon the basis of the best qualified candidate without regard to color, race, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, ancestry, status as a disabled or Vietnam era veteran or any other characteristic protected by law. Information provided on this application may be shared with any Cleveland Clinic Health System facility.

If applying for a Florida position, please see the following website for more information on the background screening requirements required by the Agency of Health Care Administration:

Please review the Equal Employment Opportunity poster.

Cleveland Clinic is pleased to be an equal employment opportunity employer.