Sr. Child Life Specialist

Shriners Children’s is an organization that respects, supports, and values each other. Named as the 2025 best mid-sized employer by Forbes, we provide excellence in patient care, embrace multi-disciplinary education, and research with global impact. We foster a learning environment that values evidence-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.

About the role

The Senior Child Life Specialist mentors staff in providing comprehensive, purposeful, developmentally appropriate, and culturally sensitive, family-centered care focused on meeting the psychosocial and developmental needs of children and families. This role provides evaluation and therapeutic services, direct patient care, and patient/family education. Services may include therapeutic play, preparation, procedural support, special events, and reintegration programming to facilitate adaptive coping techniques and promote growth and development.

Responsibilities

• Performs individual assessments to collect comprehensive and accurate data necessary to evaluate development, temperament, coping style, medical plan, cultural preferences and practices, and available social supports to develop an individualized treatment plan.
• Ensures intervention is compliant with department policy and professional standards of practice.
• Plans and implements an individualized treatment plan that identifies goals and evidence-based treatment intervention strategies, with an emphasis on the psychosocial and emotional needs of patients and their families.
• Utilizes electronic medical record applications to document relevant patient and family information.
• Ensures adapted equipment and recreation equipment is safe and functioning properly.
• Performs self-reflection of personal practice and professional work activities to direct individual and staff goals for professional growth and development.

Requirements

• High School Diploma/GED
• Bachelor's degree in Child Life, Child Development, or related field
• 5 years of pediatric experience
• Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS)
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Valid driver’s license (per hospital policy)

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Child Life, Child Development, or related field

Pay

The pay range for this position is $24.50–$36.76 per hour. Compensation is determined based on years of relevant experience and departmental equity.