Child Life Specialist
About the role
About SickKids
Dedicated exclusively to children and their families, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is one of the largest and most respected paediatric healthcare centres in the world. As innovators in child health, we lead and partner to improve the health of children through the integration of healthcare, leading-edge research and education. Our reputation would not have been built - nor could it be maintained - without the skills, knowledge and experience of the extraordinary people who come to work here every day. SickKids is committed to ongoing learning and development, and features a caring and supportive work environment that combines exceptionally high standards of practice.
When you join SickKids, you become part of our community. We share a commitment and determination to fulfill our vision of Healthier Children. A Better World.
Don't miss out on the opportunity to work alongside the world's best in paediatric healthcare.
Position Description
The Child Life Specialist is responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating a variety of therapeutic play-based interventions to support patient and family-centered care.
Here's What You'll Get To Do
- Assess the developmental level and the psychosocial and emotional responses of the child to illness and the treatment process
- Develop and implement a plan of care to promote optimum development and maintain normal living patterns and experiences
- Discuss sensitive and medical issues with children of various ages and developmental capacities
- Prepare children for medical procedures and provide interventions during procedures
- Provide a variety of goal-directed play programs and opportunities for gaining a sense of mastery, self-expression, learning, and peer interaction
- Collaborate with families as a member of the health care team using the philosophy of family centered care and interprofessional practice
- Integrate research into practice and create, utilize and/or disseminate new knowledge
Here's What You'll Need
- Certification with the Child Life Council and designation of CCLS credentials (Within 6 months of hire)
- University degree in a child related field
- Previous job-related experience with children/families with medical or special needs
- Specific child life courses as well as specific child life experience in pediatric settings are considered assets
- Familiar with the philosophy of family centered care and interprofessional practice
- Demonstrated belief in life-long learning and an ability to cite evidence-based practice
- Strong problem-solving, communication and organization skills, and ability to work well as a team player
- Demonstrated commitment and actions in advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion objectives
- Weekend and evening availability (possible)
Employment Type
Full Time - 18 month contract
- As new positions are filled and vacancies occur, opportunities for additional roles and assignments, such as Child Life Float positions or additional contracts, may become available.
Our Commitment to Diversity
SickKids is committed to championing equity, diversity and inclusion in all that we do, fostering an intentionally inclusive and culturally safe environment that reflects the diversity of the patients, families and communities we serve. Learn more about workplace inclusion.
Accessibility & Accommodation
If you require accommodation during the application process, please reach out to our aSKHR team. SickKids can provide access and inclusion supports to eligible candidates to support their full engagement during the interview and selection process as well as to ensure candidates are able to perform their duties once successfully hired. If you are invited for an interview and require accommodation, please let us know at the time of your invitation to interview. Information received related to access, inclusion or accommodation will be addressed confidentially.
How To Apply
Technical difficulties? Email ask.hr@sickkids.ca with a short description of the issues you are experiencing. We will not accept resumes sent to this inbox but we are happy to respond to requests for technical assistance.
Tip: Combine your cover letter and resume into ONE document of 20 pages or less as you cannot upload multiple documents as part of your application.
About The Hospital for Sick Children
The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is recognized as one of the world’s foremost paediatric health-care institutions and is Canada’s leading centre dedicated to advancing children’s health through the integration of patient care, research and education. Founded in 1875 and affiliated with the University of Toronto, SickKids is one of Canada’s most research-intensive hospitals and has generated discoveries that have helped children globally.
Its mission is to provide the best in complex and specialized family-centred care; pioneer scientific and clinical advancements; share expertise; foster an academic environment that nurtures health-care professionals; and champion an accessible, comprehensive and sustainable child health system.
SickKids is a founding member of Kids Health Alliance, a network of partners working to create a high quality, consistent and coordinated approach to paediatric health care that is centred around children, youth and their families.
SickKids is proud of its vision of Healthier Children. A Better World.™
Child Life Specialist
About the role
About SickKids
Dedicated exclusively to children and their families, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is one of the largest and most respected paediatric healthcare centres in the world. As innovators in child health, we lead and partner to improve the health of children through the integration of healthcare, leading-edge research and education. Our reputation would not have been built - nor could it be maintained - without the skills, knowledge and experience of the extraordinary people who come to work here every day. SickKids is committed to ongoing learning and development, and features a caring and supportive work environment that combines exceptionally high standards of practice.
When you join SickKids, you become part of our community. We share a commitment and determination to fulfill our vision of Healthier Children. A Better World.
Don't miss out on the opportunity to work alongside the world's best in paediatric healthcare.
Position Description
The Child Life Specialist is responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating a variety of therapeutic play-based interventions to support patient and family-centered care.
Here's What You'll Get To Do
- Assess the developmental level and the psychosocial and emotional responses of the child to illness and the treatment process
- Develop and implement a plan of care to promote optimum development and maintain normal living patterns and experiences
- Discuss sensitive and medical issues with children of various ages and developmental capacities
- Prepare children for medical procedures and provide interventions during procedures
- Provide a variety of goal-directed play programs and opportunities for gaining a sense of mastery, self-expression, learning, and peer interaction
- Collaborate with families as a member of the health care team using the philosophy of family centered care and interprofessional practice
- Integrate research into practice and create, utilize and/or disseminate new knowledge
Here's What You'll Need
- Certification with the Child Life Council and designation of CCLS credentials (Within 6 months of hire)
- University degree in a child related field
- Previous job-related experience with children/families with medical or special needs
- Specific child life courses as well as specific child life experience in pediatric settings are considered assets
- Familiar with the philosophy of family centered care and interprofessional practice
- Demonstrated belief in life-long learning and an ability to cite evidence-based practice
- Strong problem-solving, communication and organization skills, and ability to work well as a team player
- Demonstrated commitment and actions in advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion objectives
- Weekend and evening availability (possible)
Employment Type
Full Time - 18 month contract
- As new positions are filled and vacancies occur, opportunities for additional roles and assignments, such as Child Life Float positions or additional contracts, may become available.
Our Commitment to Diversity
SickKids is committed to championing equity, diversity and inclusion in all that we do, fostering an intentionally inclusive and culturally safe environment that reflects the diversity of the patients, families and communities we serve. Learn more about workplace inclusion.
Accessibility & Accommodation
If you require accommodation during the application process, please reach out to our aSKHR team. SickKids can provide access and inclusion supports to eligible candidates to support their full engagement during the interview and selection process as well as to ensure candidates are able to perform their duties once successfully hired. If you are invited for an interview and require accommodation, please let us know at the time of your invitation to interview. Information received related to access, inclusion or accommodation will be addressed confidentially.
How To Apply
Technical difficulties? Email ask.hr@sickkids.ca with a short description of the issues you are experiencing. We will not accept resumes sent to this inbox but we are happy to respond to requests for technical assistance.
Tip: Combine your cover letter and resume into ONE document of 20 pages or less as you cannot upload multiple documents as part of your application.
About The Hospital for Sick Children
The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is recognized as one of the world’s foremost paediatric health-care institutions and is Canada’s leading centre dedicated to advancing children’s health through the integration of patient care, research and education. Founded in 1875 and affiliated with the University of Toronto, SickKids is one of Canada’s most research-intensive hospitals and has generated discoveries that have helped children globally.
Its mission is to provide the best in complex and specialized family-centred care; pioneer scientific and clinical advancements; share expertise; foster an academic environment that nurtures health-care professionals; and champion an accessible, comprehensive and sustainable child health system.
SickKids is a founding member of Kids Health Alliance, a network of partners working to create a high quality, consistent and coordinated approach to paediatric health care that is centred around children, youth and their families.
SickKids is proud of its vision of Healthier Children. A Better World.™