The Child Life Specialist (CLS) collaborates with the healthcare team to facilitate activities consistent with patients' age-specific (neonate, infant, toddler, preschooler, school age, adolescent, young adult) developmental needs. Works with pediatric patients and families to help them cope with hospitalization, procedures, surgeries, and grief through therapeutic play, education, and other interventions. Utilizes interpersonal skills to maximize excellence in customer service, safe patient care, and professionalism. Contributes to a work environment of caring and cooperation among a culturally diverse internal and external workforce and patient population. Performs other duties as needed.
Education and Experience: Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree in Child Life/Child Development or related field with an emphasis in Child Life required. 500 hours of Child Life internship and one year experience in child development/education center required. Experience in hospital-based Child Life program preferred.
Knowledge and Skills: Able to: read; write legibly; speak in English with professional quality; use computer, printer, and software programs necessary to the position. Able to: relate and communicate positively, effectively, and professionally with others; be assertive and consistent in following and/or enforcing policies; work calmly and respond courteously when under pressure; lead, supervise, teach, and collaborate; accept direction. Able to: communicate effectively in English in person, in writing, and on the telephone; think critically; perform basic math functions; manage multiple assignments effectively; compose written material; organize and prioritize workload; work well under pressure; problem solve; recall information with accuracy; pay close attention to detail; work independently with minimal supervision.
Licensures and Certifications: Basic life Support (BLS) certification issued by the American Heart Association required. Child Life Certification exam within one year of hire.
Our mission is to continue the teaching and healing ministry of Jesus Christ. Our core values are compassion, excellence, humility, integrity, justice, teamwork and wholeness.
Loma Linda University Health’s story is one of hope. Our people strongly believe in the work of physical, mental, and spiritual healing. They are also committed to excellence, integrity, and teamwork. We are a faith-based academic medical center in Southern California’s Inland Empire, and since our establishment in 1905, we’ve been a local, regional, national, and international leader in education, clinical care, and research.
Our 18,000 talented healthcare team members work in our system’s six hospitals, providing whole-person, patient-focused care to more than 57,000 inpatients and over a million outpatients annually. Our passion is to bring hope to each patient and family who seeks our help during their most vulnerable moments in life.
U.S. News and World Report ranks Loma Linda University Medical Center as a Top Riverside/San Bernardino metro area hospital. LLU Children’s Hospital and LLU Medical Center — Murrieta are on the U.S. News list of Top Performing Hospitals for Maternity Care and the Newsweek list of Best Maternity Care Hospitals. Our Medical Center and Children’s Hospital nursing teams have also achieved the prestigious Magnet Status recognizing our strong commitment to nursing excellence.
Loma Linda University’s eight professional schools offer more than 100 academic programs designed to prepare thousands of skilled Christian healthcare workers for service in our local area and locations worldwide. Our graduates enter their careers with an intellectual curiosity and a strong foundation of the knowledge and skills needed for their chosen field. The Great Colleges to Work For program has named Loma Linda University as an outstanding place to work six of the last seven years, and has added the University to its Honor Roll of institutions three times.
