The Child Life Specialist compassionately and accurately delivers and documents developmentally specific psychosocial care to pediatric patients, their siblings and families ranging in age from birth to adulthood using an integrated, multidisciplinary plan of care.Licensure, Certification, or Registration Requirements for Hire:
Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS)or eligible for certification within 6 months of VCUHS date of hire as a Child Life Specialist
Child Passenger Safety Certification (CPST) must be obtained within 12 months of VCUHS date of hire as a Child Life Specialist
Licensure, Certification, or Registration Requirements for continued employment:
Current Child Life Specialist Certification
Current Child Passenger Safety Certification (CPST)
CPR Certification
Experience REQUIRED:
Child Life internship endorsed by the Child Life Council.
Experience PREFERRED
Experience in a hospital setting working with pediatric patients and families
Education/training REQUIRED: Bachelors Degree in, Early Childhood Education, Child Life, or a field directly related to children and families from an accredited program
Education/training PREFERRED:
Practicum in a child life department
Independent action(s) required:
Independent management of day-to-day interventions including patient and family interactions and education, patient advocacy, and multidisciplinary communication.
Provides services independently as they relate to hands-on involvement and developmental care of pediatric patients’ psychosocial needs.
Supervisory responsibilities (if applicable):
Supervision of volunteers
Additional position requirements:
Weekend and holiday requirements as established by the department.
Age Specific groups served: Neonatal, Pediatric, Adolescence, Adult
Physical Requirements (includes use of assistance devices as appropriate):
Physical Lifting less than 20 lbs.
Activities: Prolonged standing, Prolonged sitting, Frequent bending, Walking (distance), Climbing (steps, ladder, other), Reaching (overhead, extensive, repetitive), Repetitive motion
Mental/Sensory: Strong recall, Reasoning, Problem solving, Hearing, Speak clearly, Write legibly, Reading, Logical thinking
Emotional: Fast pace environment, Steady pace, Able to handle multiple priorities, Frequent and intense customer interactions, Noisy environment, Able to adapt to frequent change
EEO Employer/Disabled/Protected Veteran/41 CFR 60-1.4.
We are a strong, passionate team of more than 12,500 who take pride in caring for every person who comes through our doors. We lift each other up so we can provide the very best and safest care to those who need us most. Together. Every day.
With the support of our university, we make up an academic medical center committed to excellence in patient care, innovation and training tomorrow’s health care workforce. We continue to educate, research and evolve – staying on the cutting edge of care.
As a community of innovators, every team member can contribute a spark of ingenuity igniting a force to discover the next cure, hold the next hand, solve the greatest challenges and create the health care of tomorrow.
We foster an atmosphere of respect and welcoming for all communities. We infuse our teams with diverse talent that inspires everyone to contribute openly and freely, maximizing their impact and creating meaningful change for our patients and community.
Join our team and help us create a new kind of patient experience. Join VCU Health.
EEO Statement:
VCU Health System strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against, or harassment of, team members, applicants, or any other covered persons because of age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex (sexual orientation, gender identity or expression and pregnancy), protected veteran status, marital status, genetic information, or any other protected characteristics under applicable federal, state, or local law.
Pay Transparency Provisions:
VCU Health System complies with the Pay Transparency Provisions.
