Novant Health

Integrated health network with care facilities

Child Life Specialist 3 - NICU

Medical, Clinical & VeterinaryUpdated on Nov 10

Full-timeCharlotte, NC, USA

About the Job

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in Child Development, Early Childhood Education, Recreational Therapy, Psychology, or a related field is required.
Five years of experience is required: 10,400 hours as a Certified Child Life Specialist, or 8,320 hours with a master's degree.
Certification from the Association of Child Life Professionals is required.
Meets child life competencies and demonstrates mastery of advanced child life practice skills.
Maintains membership in the Association of Child Life Professionals.
Participates in child life departmental meetings and related functions.
Serves as a role model for peers and precepts and orients new staff.
Sits on an approved committee or workgroup through Novant Health, the Association of Child Life Professionals, or a local Child Life association.
Administers initial competencies to new staff and assists with competency development.
Provides departmental and interdisciplinary education.
Develops and coordinates new clinical programming.
Participates in research working groups and presents at conferences or publishes on topics relevant to Child Life.
Plans and facilitates staff team-building activities.
Leads clinical supervision when the Lead Child Life Specialist is unavailable.
Can drive or travel to multiple facilities or locations as needed.
Supports quality-improvement initiatives related to pediatric care in the system.

Responsibilities

Provides therapeutic child life interventions for patients, siblings, and families.
Develops child life programs to promote normalization and positive coping, and to minimize stress and the negative effects of healthcare experiences.
Provides support for families and the multidisciplinary team in emergency situations, including codes, critical care transport, and bereavement.
Advocates for patients, siblings, and families throughout healthcare settings and in the community.
Plans, implements, and assists with support groups when applicable.
Oversees child life students and volunteers when necessary.
Educates the multidisciplinary team on child life strategies for optimal care of pediatric patients and their families.
Educates the community about the Certified Child Life Specialist role and its benefit to pediatric patients and families.
Complies with departmental, hospital, and regulatory policies and procedures.

Desired Qualifications

A graduate degree is preferred.

What We Offer

Join our team as a Certified Child Life Specialist III in our NICU and make a lasting impact on children and families during some of their most vulnerable moments. In this advanced role, you'll provide emotional support, therapeutic interventions, and family-centered care that helps pediatric patients cope with healthcare experiences in a safe, supportive environment.

As a clinical leader, you'll mentor teammates and students, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, and help shape programs that enhance the patient and family experience. If you're passionate about advocacy, education, and creating meaningful moments for children and families, we'd love to have you on our team.

Why become a Teammate at Novant Health?

Future Forward Program to help you advance your career.
Relocation assistance available.
Benefits starting day one.
Structured onboarding and dedicated preceptors.
Career growth and skill building opportunities.
Top ratings in patient safety from The Leapfrog Group.
Quality and safety recognition from CMS.

What You'll Do

	Process: Provides therapeutic child life interventions for patients, siblings and families. Develops child life programs to promote normalization, positive coping, and to minimize stress and negative effects of healthcare experiences. Provides support for family and multidisciplinary team in emergency situations (codes, critical care transport, bereavement). Advocates for patients, siblings and families throughout healthcare settings, and in the community. Plans, implements and assists with support groups when applicable.. Oversees child life students and volunteers when necessary
	Education: Provides education to the multidisciplinary team on child life strategies for providing optimal care to pediatric patients and their families. Educates the community about the certified child life specialist role and benefit to pediatric patients and families.
	Compliance: Complies with departmental, hospital and regulatory policies and procedures.

What We're Looking For

Education: 4 Year / Bachelors Degree, required. In Child Development, Early Childhood Education, Recreational Therapy, Psychology, or related field. Graduate Degree, preferred.
Experience: 5 years, required. A total of 10,400 hours as a Certified Child Life specialist or 8,320 hours with a Master’s degree.
Licensure/Certification: Certification - Assoc of Child Life Professionals, required.
Additional Skills (required): Meets child life competencies and other skills/activities in accordance with the job description. Maintains The Association of Child Life Professionals membership. Participates in child life departmental meetings and other related functions. Serves as a role model for peers; precepts and orients new staff. Sits on an approved committee or workgroup through Novant Health, The Association of Child Life Professionals or a local Child Life association.Administers initial competencies to new staff. Provides departmental and interdisciplinary education. Develops and coordinates new clinical programming. Participates on research working groups. Presents at conferences/publishes on topics relevant to Child Life. Assists with competency development. Plans and facilitates staff team building activities. Leads clinical supervision when Lead CLS is unavailable. Ability to drive/travel to multiple facilities/locations as needed.Meets child life competencies and other skills/activities in accordance with the job description.. Participates in child life departmental meetings and other related functions. Demonstrates mastery of advanced child life practice skills. Sits on an approved committee or workgroup through Novant Health, and the child life professional community. Administers initial competencies to new staff. Provides departmental and interdisciplinary education. Develops and coordinates new clinical programming and supports quality improvement initiatives related to pediatric care in the system. Assists with competency development and clinical supervision as needed.

Why Choose Novant Health?

At Novant Health, we believe remarkable care starts with compassion for our patients, our communities, and each other. We value belonging, courage, personal growth, and teamwork, creating a space where everyone is respected, supported, and safe to show up as their full selves.

Job Opening ID

188191

About the Company

Novant Health

Integrated health network with care facilities

Novant Health operates an integrated healthcare network with hospitals, clinics, urgent care, imaging and pharmacy services across North Carolina and South Carolina. Its care model connects facilities and clinicians to provide a coordinated continuum of care, from primary and specialty services to outpatient and virtual visits. The network sets itself apart through its scale as an integrated system, a strong safety and quality focus, and active use of clinical trials and innovative care delivery; it also emphasizes community benefits and a large virtual care platform. Its goal is to improve community health by expanding access to safe, high-quality care and advancing health outcomes through research, innovation in care delivery, and value-based partnerships.

Company size: 10,001+
Company stage: Not listed
Total funding: Not listed
Headquarters: Charlotte, NC
Founded: 1997

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