Children's National Medical Center
Job Description - Child Life Specialist (250003EA)
Job Description Child Life Specialist - ( 250003EA )
Description The Child Life Specialist provides essential therapeutic support, developmentally appropriate education, and play‑based interventions to promote the physical, emotional, and developmental well‑being of pediatric patients. Under general supervison, this role focuses on reducing stress, anxiety, and trauma for children and their families by supporting coping, enhancing understanding of medical experiences, and advocating for family‑centered care throughout the healthcare journey.
Qualifications Minimum Education
Bachelor's Degree Bachelor's degree in Child Life, Child Development or related field. (Required)
Master's Degree Master's degree in Child Life, Child Development or related field. (Preferred)
Minimum Work Experience
Completion of Child Life Internship (minimum 600 hours) and all internship prerequisites including, but not limited to volunteer hours and Child Life Practicum. (Required)
Candidate must be certified or eligible for Child Life Certification. (Required)
Required Skills/Knowledge
Knowledge of child and adolescent growth and development based on the theories of development, including but not limited to Piaget, Erikson, Bowlby, and Vygotsky
Knowledge of age‑appropriate play and ability to utilize play as a mechanism for patient‑understanding of the hospital environment and experiences
Ability to assess patient’s development and response to hospital environment and provide developmentally appropriate interventions
Ability to discuss medical experiences in age‑appropriate, child‑friendly language
Understanding of basic human anatomy and physiology and knowledge of medical terminology
Ability to work in a fast‑paced environment, managing multiple tasks simultaneously, utilizing critical thinking and problem solving skills
Ability to comfortably work with internal and external customers from diverse social, cultural and educational backgrounds.
Ability to identify and work collaboratively with diverse teams.
Ability to listen, be empathetic, motivate and follow‑through, and eager to seize challenges and resolve issues
Functional Accountabilities Direct Patient Care
Assesses patients’ development, temperament, coping style, and adjustment using knowledge of child development and behavior, disease/injury, treatment, healthcare stressors, cultural and family systems
Uses knowledge and resources to create developmental plan and implement appropriate child life and interdisciplinary interventions.
Provides therapeutic interactions and activities which offer emotional support, opportunities for continued growth and development, and diversion from the hospital experience
Provides opportunities for and facilitates a variety of group and/or individual recreational and play activities that promote normalization, development, learning, self‑expression, and coping
Uses preparation and medical play opportunities to help alleviate misconceptions and increase understanding of hospital procedures
Provides procedural support to patients in order to foster increased coping skills and evaluates effectiveness of interventions to better inform and individualize future support
Provides education and support to siblings and parents related to hospital visits, effects of hospitalization, procedures, new diagnoses, etc.
Prioritizes own caseload daily in order to meet both child and departmental needs
Participates in the weekday, weekend, and on‑call rotation, as assigned
Regularly maintains patient care documentation in accordance with standards
Fosters environment for patients and families to feel heard and understood, anticipates patient and family needs, and ensures needs are met.
Collaborates with child life team and other professionals to provide activities, special visitors, events, and entertainment to patients and families hospital‑wide
Encourages and coordinates patients’ and families’ participation in activities and special events to support normalization and coping
Supports and chaperones special visitors to assigned areas of hospital
Assists child life team, assigned area of hospital, or department with intake and distribution of donations of toys and other comforting items
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Collaborates with interdisciplinary healthcare team in order to provide optimal care and advocate for developmentally‑appropriate patient and family needs
Uses formal and informal methods of communication to share assessments, interventions, and evaluations, as appropriate
Maintains communication with interdisciplinary team members to coordinate care and engage in consultation regarding patient care
Provides referrals to internal or community resources for patients and families as needed
Program Development
Presents in‑service trainings on role and impact of child life to departments or assigned areas, increasing understanding of importance of family‑centered care.
Adheres to budget set and outlined by Child Life Manager.
Manages child life resources of assigned area of hospital and ensures consistent supply of resources.
Attends and participates in opportunities that complement and enhance professional development.
Professional Development
With Child Life Manager, establishes annual goals and independently works to meet those goals.
Participates as member of assigned area or department committees as deemed appropriate.
Develops and maintains professional skills and knowledge by attending seminars, workshops, conferences, etc.
Maintains a willingness to learn and openness to new ideas and practices.
Organizational Accountabilities
Anticipate and responds to customer needs; follows up until needs are met
Teamwork/Communication
Demonstrate collaborative and respectful behavior
Partner with all team members to achieve goals
Receptive to others’ ideas and opinions
Performance Improvement/Problem‑solving
Contribute to a positive work environment
Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to change
Identify opportunities to improve clinical and administrative processes
Make appropriate decisions, using sound judgment
Use resources efficiently
Search for less costly ways of doing things
Safety
Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance
Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation
Stop in the face of uncertainty and takes time to resolve the situation
Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication
Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co‑workers
Attend carefully to important details - practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self‑check behavior and performance
Primary Location District of Columbia-Washington
Work Locations CN Hospital (Main Campus) 111 Michigan Avenue NW Washington 20010
Job Allied Health
Organization COE Hospital-Based Specliaties
Position Status : R (Regular) - FT - Full-Time
Shift : Day
Work Schedule : M-F with various weekend coverage
Job Posting Jan 12, 2026, 6:24:00 PM
Full-Time Salary Range 50252.8 - 83761.6
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 Rights Pay 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.
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Job Description Child Life Specialist - ( 250003EA )
Description The Child Life Specialist provides essential therapeutic support, developmentally appropriate education, and play‑based interventions to promote the physical, emotional, and developmental well‑being of pediatric patients. Under general supervison, this role focuses on reducing stress, anxiety, and trauma for children and their families by supporting coping, enhancing understanding of medical experiences, and advocating for family‑centered care throughout the healthcare journey.
Qualifications Minimum Education
Bachelor's Degree Bachelor's degree in Child Life, Child Development or related field. (Required)
Master's Degree Master's degree in Child Life, Child Development or related field. (Preferred)
Minimum Work Experience
Completion of Child Life Internship (minimum 600 hours) and all internship prerequisites including, but not limited to volunteer hours and Child Life Practicum. (Required)
Candidate must be certified or eligible for Child Life Certification. (Required)
Required Skills/Knowledge
Knowledge of child and adolescent growth and development based on the theories of development, including but not limited to Piaget, Erikson, Bowlby, and Vygotsky
Knowledge of age‑appropriate play and ability to utilize play as a mechanism for patient‑understanding of the hospital environment and experiences
Ability to assess patient’s development and response to hospital environment and provide developmentally appropriate interventions
Ability to discuss medical experiences in age‑appropriate, child‑friendly language
Understanding of basic human anatomy and physiology and knowledge of medical terminology
Ability to work in a fast‑paced environment, managing multiple tasks simultaneously, utilizing critical thinking and problem solving skills
Ability to comfortably work with internal and external customers from diverse social, cultural and educational backgrounds.
Ability to identify and work collaboratively with diverse teams.
Ability to listen, be empathetic, motivate and follow‑through, and eager to seize challenges and resolve issues
Functional Accountabilities Direct Patient Care
Assesses patients’ development, temperament, coping style, and adjustment using knowledge of child development and behavior, disease/injury, treatment, healthcare stressors, cultural and family systems
Uses knowledge and resources to create developmental plan and implement appropriate child life and interdisciplinary interventions.
Provides therapeutic interactions and activities which offer emotional support, opportunities for continued growth and development, and diversion from the hospital experience
Provides opportunities for and facilitates a variety of group and/or individual recreational and play activities that promote normalization, development, learning, self‑expression, and coping
Uses preparation and medical play opportunities to help alleviate misconceptions and increase understanding of hospital procedures
Provides procedural support to patients in order to foster increased coping skills and evaluates effectiveness of interventions to better inform and individualize future support
Provides education and support to siblings and parents related to hospital visits, effects of hospitalization, procedures, new diagnoses, etc.
Prioritizes own caseload daily in order to meet both child and departmental needs
Participates in the weekday, weekend, and on‑call rotation, as assigned
Regularly maintains patient care documentation in accordance with standards
Fosters environment for patients and families to feel heard and understood, anticipates patient and family needs, and ensures needs are met.
Collaborates with child life team and other professionals to provide activities, special visitors, events, and entertainment to patients and families hospital‑wide
Encourages and coordinates patients’ and families’ participation in activities and special events to support normalization and coping
Supports and chaperones special visitors to assigned areas of hospital
Assists child life team, assigned area of hospital, or department with intake and distribution of donations of toys and other comforting items
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Collaborates with interdisciplinary healthcare team in order to provide optimal care and advocate for developmentally‑appropriate patient and family needs
Uses formal and informal methods of communication to share assessments, interventions, and evaluations, as appropriate
Maintains communication with interdisciplinary team members to coordinate care and engage in consultation regarding patient care
Provides referrals to internal or community resources for patients and families as needed
Program Development
Presents in‑service trainings on role and impact of child life to departments or assigned areas, increasing understanding of importance of family‑centered care.
Adheres to budget set and outlined by Child Life Manager.
Manages child life resources of assigned area of hospital and ensures consistent supply of resources.
Attends and participates in opportunities that complement and enhance professional development.
Professional Development
With Child Life Manager, establishes annual goals and independently works to meet those goals.
Participates as member of assigned area or department committees as deemed appropriate.
Develops and maintains professional skills and knowledge by attending seminars, workshops, conferences, etc.
Maintains a willingness to learn and openness to new ideas and practices.
Organizational Accountabilities
Anticipate and responds to customer needs; follows up until needs are met
Teamwork/Communication
Demonstrate collaborative and respectful behavior
Partner with all team members to achieve goals
Receptive to others’ ideas and opinions
Performance Improvement/Problem‑solving
Contribute to a positive work environment
Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to change
Identify opportunities to improve clinical and administrative processes
Make appropriate decisions, using sound judgment
Use resources efficiently
Search for less costly ways of doing things
Safety
Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance
Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation
Stop in the face of uncertainty and takes time to resolve the situation
Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication
Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co‑workers
Attend carefully to important details - practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self‑check behavior and performance
Primary Location District of Columbia-Washington
Work Locations CN Hospital (Main Campus) 111 Michigan Avenue NW Washington 20010
Job Allied Health
Organization COE Hospital-Based Specliaties
Position Status : R (Regular) - FT - Full-Time
Shift : Day
Work Schedule : M-F with various weekend coverage
Job Posting Jan 12, 2026, 6:24:00 PM
Full-Time Salary Range 50252.8 - 83761.6
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 Rights Pay 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.
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