Child Life Specialist, Certified

Job Title: Child Life Specialist

Location: Main Hospital - New Brunswick

Department Name: Child Life Program

Req #: 0000211495

Status: Hourly

Shift: Day

Pay Range: $38.80 - $38.80 per hour

Pay Transparency:

The above reflects the anticipated hourly wage range for this position if hired to work in New Jersey.

The compensation offered to the candidate selected for the position will depend on several factors, including the candidate's educational background, skills and professional experience.

Job Overview: 

Promotes optimal development and prevent psychological trauma in hospitalized children and adolescents by providing child life programming for specified populations within the Children's Hospital. 

Qualifications: 

Required: 

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in child life, psychology, child development, education or related field.  

• Child Life Internship required. 

• Child Life Certification required within one year of employment and maintained throughout employment. 

  • Issued by the Child Life Certification Commission (CLCC), the Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) credential is the exclusive credential for the child life profession. Applicants should be eligible for this certification or currently have this certification to be considered for this role.

Preferred: 

• Child Life Certification preferred upon hiring.   

Essential Functions: 

• To promote optimal development and prevent 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 

At RWJBarnabas Health, our market-competitive Total Rewards package provides comprehensive benefits and resources to support our employees’ physical, emotional, social, and financial health. 

• Paid Time Off (PTO) 

• Medical and Prescription Drug Insurance 

• Dental and Vision Insurance 

• Retirement Plans 

• Short & Long Term Disability 

• Life & Accidental Death Insurance 

• Tuition Reimbursement 

• Health Care/Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts 

• Wellness Programs 

• Voluntary Benefits (e.g., Pet Insurance) 

• Discounts Through our Partners such as NJ Devils, NJ PAC, Verizon, and more! 

Choosing RWJBarnabas Health 

RWJBarnabas Health is the premier health care destination providing patient-centered, high-quality academic medicine in a compassionate and equitable manner, while delivering a best-in-class work experience to every member of the team. We honor and appreciate the privilege of creating and sustaining healthier communities, one person and one community at a time. As the leading academic health system in New Jersey, we advance innovative strategies in high-quality patient care, education, and research to address both the clinical and social determinants of health. 

RWJBarnabas Health aims to truly make a unique impact in local communities throughout New Jersey. From vastly improving the health of local residents to creating educational and career opportunities, this combination greatly benefits the state. We understand the growing and evolving needs of residents in New Jersey—whether that be enhancing the coordination for treating complex health conditions or improving community health through local programs and education. 

Equal Opportunity Employer 

RWJBarnabas Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer