Child Life Specialist

Join Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital and experience world-class healthcare at its best. Hillcrest Hospital provides state-of-the-art healthcare to all its patients. Cleveland Clinic is recognized as one of the top hospitals in the nation. Hillcrest Hospital is a proud Magnet Hospital awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. This designation is the highest honor an organization can receive for professional nursing practice.

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. This role directly supports pediatric patients and their families by supporting them through their hospital stay. Caregivers in this role are empathetic and uphold values of integrity while providing quality and safe care. The child life team at the Cleveland Clinic is a team of smaller teams, each campus, a smaller team who work well together and have a variety of strengths. 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 7:00am—7:30pm or 10:30am—11:00pm.

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.

Our caregivers continue to create the best outcomes for our patients across each of our facilities. Click the link and see how we’re dedicated to providing what matters most to you: https://jobs.clevelandclinic.org/benefits-2/