Child Life Specialist

Unit Summary

3C Pediatric Medicine & Intermediate Care Unit at McMaster Children's Hospital provides inpatient tertiary, acute and sub-speciality care to pediatric medical patients 0-18y .

This is a dynamic, fast paced acute care unit where specialized medical care is provided to children with complex congenital abnormalities, endocrine, gastrointestinal, cardiac, respiratory, musculoskeletal disorders, neurology as well as pediatric trauma environment.

Position Summary

As a member of the healthcare team, the Child Life Specialist enables children, adolescents and their families to maintain optimum development, realize normal living patterns, minimize psychological trauma and maximize adjustment as they adapt to changes in health, hospitalization and life situations.

Through preparation, education, therapeutic play, and other intervention strategies, the pediatric population is provided with the opportunities for gaining a sense of mastery for play, for learning, for self-expression, for family involvement and for peer interaction.

Schedule Work Hours

days, evenings, weekends, holidays

This position is temporary until March 2026.

Qualifications

1. Postgraduate diploma in Child life Studies

2. Child Life Certification

3. Minimum of 1 to 2 years experience, within the last 3 years, as a Child Life Specialist in an acute, tertiary care setting

4. Knowledge, skills and abilities required to work with infants, children, adolescents and their families

5. Excellent communication skills and the ability to work within an interdisciplinary team

6. Ability to work in a fast-paced, changing environment

Guidelines

Hamilton Health fosters a culture of patient and staff safety, whereby all employees are guided by our Mission, Vision, Values, and Values Based Code of Conduct.

Hamilton Health Sciences is a teaching hospital and all staff and physicians are expected to support students and other learners.

To be considered for this opportunity applicants must apply during the posting period. All Internal applicants may apply online through the Careers website or by submitting a Competition Application Form.

External applicants may ONLY apply via the Careers website.

Hamilton Health Sciences is an equal opportunity employer and we will accommodate any needs under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code.

Hiring processes will be modified to remove barriers to accommodate those with disabilities, if requested. Should any applicant require accommodation through the application processes, please contact the Human Resources Service Centre at 1-877-667-2700 for assistance.

If the applicant requires a specific accommodation because of a disability during the interview, the applicant will need to advise the hiring manager when scheduling the interview and the appropriate accommodations can be made.

This competition is open to all qualified applicants, however, qualified internal applicants will be considered first. Past performance will be considered as part of the selection process.

If you are a previous employee of Hamilton Health Sciences, please note : the circumstances around an employee's exit will be considered prior to an offer of employment.

Proficiency in both Official Languages, French and English, is considered an asset.