Child Life Specialist

A Front Row Seat to Innovation

Children's Hospital Colorado is a free standing children's hospital that is rated among the Top 10 children's hospitals by U.S. News and World Report. Our Child Life Department serves all areas of the hospital and hosts a robust number of programs including adaptive care, medical dogs, research and extended reality. In addition, Child Life provides unique play and therapeutic experiences in our Seacrest Studio, T(w)een Zone & Makerspace, Activity Rooms and Chill Zone. The Child Life Team has grown exponentially over the years and is consistently paving the way for pediatric hospitals through innovative and creative care! Child Life at Children's Hospital Colorado is part of the Integrative Creative Care team which includes Creative Arts Therapy, Gaming and Technology, Spiritual Care, and School Specialists.

Do you want more information on the Child Life Specialist career path?

What is a Child Life Specialist? Click here to learn more: https://www.childrenscolorado.org/doctors-and-departments/departments/child-life/

How do I apply for a Child Life Internship? Click here to learn more: https://www.childrenscolorado.org/doctors-and-departments/departments/child-life/internships/

Annual Salary Range: $$22.31 to $36.75 (Based on hours worked per week and years of experience) / Hourly Salary

Eligible Incentives: Relocation

Hours per week: Part time and Full time opportunities available. Please list your preferences in the questions below.

Shift: There are a variety of shifts available for this role. Please identify your preferences in the questions within the application.

Make an Impact and watch more about what it means to be a Child Life Specialist by clicking here!

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Child Life, Child Development, Counseling Psychology, Social Work, Education, or related fields.
• Experience: Successful completion of 600 hours of child life internship under the direct supervision of a certified child life specialist.
• Certification(s): Current Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS).

Job Highlights:

• Provides, develops, and implements child life services that provide basic support for end of life, new diagnosis, and traumatic experiences for patients and families.
• Helps patients, families and communities cope with the social, emotional and psychological impact of illness, injury and medical care.
• Provides effective and timely clinical services including, but not limited to, assessing the psychosocial risk level of patients.
• Assesses coping responses and the needs of children/adolescents and families related to healthcare experiences.
• Communicates appropriate information to members of the healthcare team to promote an understanding of the unique psychosocial/emotional needs of the child/adolescent and to advise on the plan of care.
• Creates opportunities which strengthen the patient's self-esteem, independence, and understanding of the medical care and diagnosis.
• Facilitates basic interventions which allow children/adolescents to express feelings, process difficult events, and explore positive coping skills.
• Provides education to healthcare staff, patients and families regarding the scope of child life services, the impact of health care on development, providing developmentally appropriate and emotionally safe medical care, and professional boundaries.
• Provides psychological preparation and procedure support to children/adolescents undergoing medical procedures or surgeries to improve coping and understanding.

Total Rewards and Benefits

Comprehensive benefits: medical, dental, vision insurance, life and disability insurance, 403b employer match (retirement savings), robust wellness program, education benefit to help you advance your career.

Total Rewards package: Children's Colorado offers an annual employee bonus program that rewards eligible team members based on organizational performance. If organizational goals are met for the year, the bonus is paid out the following April.

Loan Repayment: Children's Hospital Colorado is a qualifying employer for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

Here, it's different

At Children's Hospital Colorado, we know our stories are never ours and ours alone. It takes all of us, every role, to deliver the best possible care to each child and family we treat. That is why we build our teams toward a foundation of equity in access, advancement and opportunity. We know teams of individuals with different identities and backgrounds can nurture creativity and innovation. We know we can see, treat and heal children better when our team reflects the diversity of our patient population. We strive to attract and retain diverse talent because we know a truly inclusive and equitable workforce will help us one day realize our most basic calling: to heal every child who comes through our doors. It is an ending we can only write together. Come write your story with us!

Kids are Incredibly Different

Apply to Join our Team

Children's Hospital Colorado provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Please note: If you require a reasonable accommodation to assist you with the recruitment process, reach out to ADA@childrenscolorado.org.

Connect with Us!

Children's Hospital Colorado has defined and delivered pediatric healthcare excellence for more than 100 years. We have been Magnet-designated four times by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and are consistently recognized among the nation's top 10 pediatric hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. A career at Children's Colorado will challenge you, inspire you, and motivate you to make a difference in the life of a child.

It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or any other status protected by law or regulation. Be aware that none of the questions are intended to imply illegal preferences or discrimination based on non-job-related information.

The position is expected to stay open until the posted close date. Please submit your application as soon as possible as the posting is subject to close at any time once a sufficient pool of qualified applicants is obtained.

Colorado Residents: In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

As a Children's Hospital Colorado team member, you will receive a competitive pay and benefits package designed to take care of your needs that includes base pay, incentives, paid sick leave and a robust wellness program.

As part of our Total Rewards package, Children's Colorado offers an annual employee bonus program that rewards eligible team members based on organizational performance. If organizational goals are met for the year, the bonus is paid out the following April.

Children's Colorado delivers annual base pay increases to eligible team members based on their performance over the previous year.

It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or any other status protected by law or regulation. Be aware that none of the questions are intended to imply illegal preferences or discrimination based on non-job-related information.

The position is expected to stay open until the posted close date. Please submit your application as soon as possible as the posting is subject to close at any time once a sufficient pool of qualified applicants is obtained.

Colorado Residents: In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.