Child Life Specialist

Kids Are Our Everything.

Department

Pay Range

Who We Are:

Children's National Rehabilitation and Specialized Care Center (RSC) provides family-centered medical and therapy services for children from infancy through age 21 with complex medical conditions.

Our inpatient programs deliver transitional medical care and rehabilitation, helping children safely move from acute care settings to home. Our outpatient services extend this care through ongoing, individualized medical and therapy support in a family-focused environment.

At RSC, you'll be part of an interdisciplinary team of highly skilled and compassionate professionals who are committed to making a meaningful difference. Our clinicians collaborate closely to deliver innovative, personalized care and the most advanced rehabilitation services in the region. We invite you to grow your career with us while helping children reach their fullest potential.

What You'll Do:

As a Child Life Specialist, you will help children turn challenges into confidence. In this role, you'll support pediatric patients and families by delivering engaging, developmentally appropriate interventions that build coping skills, ease anxiety, and promote recovery. Working alongside an interdisciplinary care team, you'll guide patients through their rehabilitation journey, empower families with practical tools, and create meaningful experiences that support healing, resilience, and successful transitions home and beyond.

What You'll Need:
Minimum Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Child Life (course work to include Hospitalized Child, Child Development, Theories of Play, Children and Families Under Stress, Child/Adolescent Psychology) (Required)

Required License and Certifications

• Certification with the Child Life Council within one (1) year (Required)
• CPR (Required)

Required Skills/Knowledge

• Knowledge of the field and committed to its purpose.
• Knowledge in child development, therapeutic activities, awareness of children's emotional needs, and skill in dealing with common behavioral problems of children.
• Ability to work well with others.
• Ability to communicate well, both verbally and in writing.
• Computer system/software proficiency.

Functional Accountabilities

• Perform and document pertinent evaluation results, including patient and/or family interview and observation within timeframes consistent with department policy.
• Discuss evaluation results with patient/caregiver and appropriate healthcare team members and responds to questions appropriately.
• Provide activities and interventions to help children and caregivers cope with medical situations and meet their developmental, emotional and educational needs.
• Assess and incorporate methods to address individual's physical, cognitive, learning needs, socioeconomic and psychosocial limitations. Assessment includes pain issues as appropriate.
• Assess and identify discharge planning needs with consideration of patient's medical, psychological, behavioral and socioeconomic status as well as anticipated therapeutic outcome(s).
• Set measurable, realistic short and/or long-term goals based on patient's medical status, anticipated therapeutic outcome(s), discharge plans and patient/family input.
• Plan and implement patient activities and programs which will promote adjustment to hospitalization/illness, as well as growth and development using activities that are safe, constructive, educational and enjoyable.
• Offer recommendations to parents/guardians regarding coping strategies and activities appropriate for patient as pertaining to social/emotional development.
• Work with all ages of children in both individual and group activities promoting a more constructive and therapeutic use of free time, play, and leisure.
• Effectively and independently provide Child Life services according to professional standards and established regulations set forth by HSC, the Department of Health and The Joint Commission which focus on patient safety, function, pain tolerance/level, goals, etc.
• Responsible for supporting the Child Life clinical education program. Oversee students as assigned.
• Periodically re-evaluate and modify treatment plans and goals as indicated based on patient's medical status, response to treatment, anticipated therapeutic outcome(s) and discharge plans.
• Plan, attend, and/or lead community reintegration outings as appropriate.
• Organize and manage donations, special events, special guests, support groups, and other regularly scheduled events.
• Follow established documentation policies and guidelines regarding initial evaluations, treatment/progress notes, teaching records, and discharge summaries as set forth by the department.
• Discuss and coordinate patient/caregiver's needs with other health care professionals as indicated.
• Instruct patient, family members and/or caregivers in therapeutic activities
• Ensure timely and cooperative inter- and intra-departmental relationships and communications throughout the hospital and the system and with individuals external to the hospital and system.
• Keep manager appropriately informed about all significant issues and problems.
• Orient, train and supervise clinical volunteers as appropriate.
• Maintain skills, licensure, regulatory requirements and credentials needed to perform assigned duties.
• Provide in-services for department/unit staff as appropriate.
• Assist with the development and/or revision of departmental policies and procedures.
• As appropriate, effectively handle administrative/shared responsibilities.
• Make suggestions regarding purchase of new equipment and supplies when necessary.
• Maintain equipment and supplies in a clean and orderly condition.
• Demonstrate familiarity with all policies and procedures of the Hospital and the department.
• Complete required or necessary orientation, annual training and in-services. Ensure all competencies are maintained.
• Maintain skills, regulatory requirements and credentials needed to perform assigned duties.
• Assist with the monitoring and evaluation process for important aspects of care for the department via performance improvement programs.
• Facilitate and support department compliance with local, state, and federal laws, regulations and standards, including those governing professional practice. Assumes responsibility for meeting requirements specified by The Joint Commission/DOH and other relevant regulatory agencies and organizations.

What You'll Receive:
Benefits That Support You:

• Comprehensive health coverage, including medical, prescription, infertility, and transgender health services.
• Generous paid time off, including vacation accrual from day one, sick leave, holidays, and a personal day.
• Financial wellness support, including a 401(k) plan and healthcare and dependent care spending accounts.
• Employer-paid life, AD&D, and long-term disability coverage, with optional supplemental plans.
• Additional perks, including tuition assistance, fitness resources, employee assistance, commuter benefits, and more.

Why Join Us:

• Nationally Recognized Excellence - Consistently ranked among the Top 10 Children's Hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
• Leading Pediatric Care - One of the largest and most comprehensive children's hospitals in the country, offering nationally ranked specialties and cutting-edge treatments.
• Innovation & Research - A premier academic medical center with a strong commitment to pediatric research, education, and advancing the future of child health.
• Mission-Driven Culture - Dedicated to providing family-centered care while fostering a collaborative, supportive environment for clinical teams.

The disclosed salary range includes the minimum and maximum rates within which Children's National believes an individual's base pay rate will fall for this position. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the maximum of the pay range. The exact pay rate for this position will be based on a variety of factors in alignment with the Children's National compensation philosophy. These factors are legitimate and non-discriminatory including, but not limited to, the current market conditions; organizational needs; the individual's combination of prior work experience, level of education, knowledge, skills, and other qualifications. Children's National is committed to providing a fair and competitive total rewards package to each of our employees. This base salary range does not include our comprehensive benefits package or any additional compensation for which this position may be eligible.

Childrens National Hospital is an equal opportunity employer that evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, identity, or other characteristics protected by law. The "Know Your Rights" poster is available here: and the pay transparency policy is available here:Know Your RightsPay Transparency Nondiscrimination Poster.

Please note that it is the policy of Children's National Hospital to ensure a "drug-free" work environment: a workplace free from the illegal use, possession or distribution of controlled substances (as defined in the Controlled Substances Act), or the misuse of legal substances, by all staff (management, employees and contractors). Though recreational and medical marijuana are now legal in the District of Columbia, Children's National and its affiliates maintain the right, in accordance with our policy, to enforce a drug-free workplace, including prohibiting recreational or prescribed marijuana.