Child Life Assistant

Shriners Children’s is an organization that respects, supports, and values each other. Named as the 2025 best mid-sized employer by Forbes, we are engaged in providing excellence in patient care, embracing multi-disciplinary education, and research with global impact. We foster a learning environment that values evidenced-based practice, experience, innovation, and critical thinking. Our compassion, integrity, accountability, and resilience define us as leaders in pediatric specialty care for children and their families. With 20+ hospitals, outpatient clinics, ambulatory care centers, and outreach locations across the globe, we provide excellent care to children up to age 18 regardless of their family’s ability to pay or insurance status.

Responsibilities

• Plans, coordinates, and implements all group and individual activities/projects that are developmentally appropriate.
• Maintains playroom, keeping area organized, clean, and safe.
• Assists Child Life and Hospital staff to ensure services are provided to children throughout the hospital setting.
• Responds appropriately to requests from families and staff for patient needs in and outside of the playroom setting.
• Selects and provides activities (toys, games, crafts) for patients restricted to bed rest according to interests, capabilities, and needs.
• Communicates pertinent information to Child Life Staff and other hospital staff.
• Possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities to positively impact the hospitalization of children.
• Demonstrates proficiency in selecting the most developmentally and age-appropriate interventions.
• Understands and applies the stages of human growth and development to clinical practice.
• Communicates at a developmentally appropriate level with patients and their families.
• Incorporates and facilitates positive family interaction during individual and group sessions as appropriate.
• Values the patient's family member as the constant in the patient's life, respecting their opinions and listening to their concerns.
• Recognizes family strengths and respects different methods of coping.
• Advocates for patients and families when necessary as appropriate.
• Assists child life staff in promotion, planning, and implementation of therapeutic outings, burn camp responsibilities, and special events.
• Educates patients on skin care techniques and makeup application.
• Contributes to departmental record keeping and Quality Assurance plans.
• Assists in inventory control, ordering supplies, and storage of supplies.
• Helps to manage the donations received by the department.
• Adheres to Infection Control Policy and Procedures and all Child Life Department and Hospital Policies and Procedures.
• Assists in the organization of playroom schedule and structure, including scheduling volunteers.
• Assists with orienting and supervising Child Life volunteers.
• Demonstrates effective communication between Child Life Staff and volunteer staff.
• Effectively handles the needs of visitors to the department.
• Demonstrates professional behavior when interacting with patients, families, and coworkers.
• Communicates effectively with patients, families, and staff to identify patient care needs.
• Works appropriately with persons of diverse social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Maintains professional boundaries with patients and families.
• Knows and recognizes limitations as a child life assistant.
• Separates personal issues from interactions with patients, families, and staff and seeks supervision when necessary.
• Builds collaborative relationships with leadership, medical staff, peers, and hospital staff.
• Actively supports all department and hospital policies.
• Actively supports patient safety initiatives.
• Responds and acts on safety recommendations.

Requirements

• Relevant Associate's Degree
• BLS certification or obtained within 3 months
• 1 year of related work experience
• Excellent computer, communication, organizational, prioritization, and telephone skills
• Availability to work on the weekends

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual preferred

Pay

The pay range for this position is $16.34 - $24.51. Compensation is determined based on years of relevant experience and departmental equity.