Certified Child Life Specialist- Child Life

Education Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree Psychology
• Bachelor’s Degree Child Development
• Bachelor’s Degree Child Life related courses endorsed by Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP)

Licenses and Certifications

• Certified Child Life Specialist (upon hire or within 1st year of hire)
• National Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Certification (upon hire or within 1st year of hire) by SafeKids
• Helmet Safety Certification (upon hire or within 1st year of hire) by SafeKids

Experience Qualifications

• Completion of 6,000 Hour Child Life Internship.

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrates entry-level knowledge of medical terminology and its implications for birth to age 18.
• Demonstrates proficiency in facilitating family involvement and supporting adjustment to injury, illness, or hospitalization for birth to age 18.
• Demonstrates ability to conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments; anticipate concerns and develop individualized care plans, including short- and long-term goals for birth to age 18.
• Demonstrates ability to implement developmentally-appropriate play, education, therapeutic play and coping interventions; evaluate and adapt based on outcomes for birth to age 18.
• Demonstrates ability to promote pain management and positive coping through preparation, distraction, and support for birth to age 18.
• Demonstrates developmental knowledge of infants, toddlers, school-aged and adolescent children, in addition to knowledge of neurodivergence.
• Demonstrates knowledge of theoretical foundations of Child Life Practice (child development, play, stress and coping, family systems, patient- and family-centered care).
• Demonstrates knowledge of trauma-informed care framework and application in Child Life Practice at a Level 1 Trauma Program at a Children’s Hospital within an Academic Medical Center.
• Demonstrates appropriate knowledge and clinical skills to serve patients in the following settings of the Children’s Hospital; including Inpatient units\: Pediatric Medical Surgical Unit, PICU and OR, as well as the Outpatient units\: Pediatric Day Hospital, Pediatric Dialysis, Pediatric ED, Pediatric Trauma Bay, Radiology, OR and other off-site ambulatory clinics at a Children's Hospital within an Academic Medical Center.
• Demonstrates knowledge and skill in bereavement interventions (Example\: memory making, including Beats of Love, sibling support and visitation, family support in patient care areas, as well as patient care conferences).
• Demonstrates familiarity with disaster protocols and competent decision-making abilities in complex and/or emergency situations at a Level 1 Trauma Center.
• Demonstrates ability to communicate through patient documentation and other forms of written communication and interpersonal communication.
• Demonstrates ability to provide procedure support, coping, and diagnosis education in the children’s hospital for the following specialties\: Oncology, Hematology, Gastrointestinal, Nephrology, Neurology, Orthopedics, Level 1 Trauma, Ophthalmology, Pediatric Inpatient Rehabilitation, Endocrinology, Burn, Plastic, Dental, Dermatology, ENT, Gynecological, eating disorders, Behavioral Health, Pulmonology and Radiation in a Children's Hospital within an Academic Medical Center.
• Demonstrates ability to prioritize assigned activities, time management and organizational skills.
• Demonstrates the ability to provide support for adult consults related to bereavement, family support, and new diagnoses involving a child.
• Demonstrates the ability to delegate to Child Life techs and volunteers appropriate assignments.
• Entry-level ability to identify and resolve problems, modeling accountability.

A Brief Overview
The Certified Child Life Specialist 1 (CCLS 1) supports the delivery of comprehensive, developmentally informed care within the Muma's Children Hospital and other TGH units/clinics. Responsible for planning and implementing therapeutic interventions that address the psychosocial, emotional, and developmental needs of pediatric patients and their families during hospitalization. Utilizing foundational knowledge of child development and family systems, the CCLS 1 facilitates coping and resilience through evidence-based practices such as therapeutic play, procedural preparation, education, and emotional support. Collaborates with interdisciplinary healthcare teams, including physicians, nurses, social workers, and allied health professionals, to integrate child life services into the overall care plan, ensuring that each child's cultural, emotional, and developmental needs are met. Responsible for performing job duties in accordance with mission, vision, and values of Tampa General Hospital.



What you will do

• Evaluates effectiveness of child life interventions; alters interventions based on results.
• Actively participates in daily huddles and weekly departmental meetings.
• Actively participate in multidisciplinary team processes, promoting respect, trust, and cooperation while advocating for family-centered care.
• Documents all services and interventions including assessment of child's physical and psychosocial well-being, evidenced by documentation in the medical record.
• Serves as a clinical resource and advocate, promoting best practices in pediatric psychosocial care and contributing to improved patient and family outcomes through effective communication, documentation, and education
• Support- and participate in process improvement and evidence-based practice initiatives.
• Functions as a Child Safety Advocate, promoting and educating on safe practices including car seat and helmet fittings.
• Educates within the TGH Main Hospital and Muma Children's Hospital on providing emotionally safe care to patients.
• Orient and supervise volunteers; contribute to student learning opportunities through shadowing; eligible to have intern students upon performing 4,000 hours as a CCLS.
• Remain current in the field through continuing education and professional development.
• Collaborates with Public Relations and the Foundation to facilitate donations.
• Manages time effectively, balancing workload and patient priorities.
• Maintains organized, safe, and professional work areas.
• As needed, plan one Child Life event each year (Christmas Eve, Fall Festival, Halloween Parade, Easter Egg Hunt).
• As needed, participates in data collection (examples\: research data, program improvement).
• As needed, provides community education.
• As needed, participates in mass casualty drills.