Job Description

This is your opportunity to be a part of the #1 Children’s Hospital in Virginia.

A child life specialist supports the social, emotional, and developmental needs of pediatric patients and their families throughout their healthcare experience. Child life specialists help children and adolescents understand and cope with medical procedures, hospitalization, and illness by providing therapeutic play, age-appropriate education, and emotional support. This role fosters resilience, reduces anxiety and promotes positive coping for pediatric patients and their families.

The Child Life Specialist is responsible for assessing, educating, preparing and supporting pediatric patients and families during their healthcare experience.

We have open positions in:

• Pediatric Emergency Department (Nights and Weekends)

• Pediatric Acute Care

• Pediatric Hematology/Oncology- hybrid role, covering inpatient and outpatient patients

Starting Salary: $24.52/hour

• Recognize and address the importance of therapeutic play in facilitating children’s mastery of and coping with health care experiences.

• Appropriately observe and assess patient and family learning style diagnostic understanding and needs.

• Prepare children and families for medical procedures.

• Facilitate supervised medical play opportunities for patients and their siblings to support coping skills.

• Assist patients with chronic illnesses and their families in coping with diagnosis, treatment, hospitalization and loss.

• Treats children, patient families and team members with dignity and respect.

• Establishes relationships with team members and families that reflect the key elements of family-centered care.

• Functions as an effective team member working with administration team members and volunteers to ensure that appropriate parties are kept informed and those individual and collaborative assignments/responsibilities are met.

• Maintains records.

• Meets training requirements on an annual basis.

• In addition to the above job responsibilities, other duties may be assigned.

Position Compensation Range: $21.95 - $34.02 Hourly

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Child Life, Child Development, or a related field required. Completion of minimum of 480 hour Child Life Internship required.

Experience: Successful completion of child life internship required

Licensure: Child Life Professional Certification within one year of hire required. American Heart Association (AHA) Health Care Provider BLS certification required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Job requires standing for prolonged periods, frequently bending/stooping. Proficient communicative, auditory and visual skills; Attention to detail and ability to write legibly; Ability to lift/push/pull 20 - 50lbs. May be exposed to noise, blood/body fluids and infectious disease.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Click here ( to read more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.

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