Child Life Specialist

Make a Difference When It Matters Most At Houston Hospice, we believe every child and family deserves compassionate, individualized support during life's most challenging moments. We are seeking a dedicated and compassionate Child Life Specialist to join our interdisciplinary care team and make a meaningful difference in the lives of pediatric patients and their families.

In this rewarding role, you will help children and families navigate the emotional, developmental, and psychosocial challenges associated with life-limiting illnesses and end-of-life care. Through therapeutic interventions, creative expression, education, and memory-making activities, you will provide comfort, foster meaningful connections, and help families create lasting memories.

What You'll Do

Provide developmentally appropriate emotional and psychosocial support to pediatric hospice patients, from infancy through young adulthood. Assess patients' and families' coping abilities, developmental needs, and emotional well-being to develop individualized care plans. Help children, siblings, and family members understand and process serious illness, end-of-life experiences, and grief.

Facilitate meaningful legacy-building activities, including memory-making projects, keepsakes, and life reviews. Prepare children and families for medical procedures, changes in condition, and care transitions using compassionate, age-appropriate communication. Collaborate with nurses, social workers, chaplains, and other interdisciplinary team members to deliver comprehensive, family-centered care.

Participate in interdisciplinary group (IDG) meetings and maintain timely, accurate clinical documentation. Educate clinical team members on child development, pediatric communication, and family-centered care practices. Support families following the loss of a loved one, including memorial preparation and coordination of bereavement resources.

Provide guidance to child life volunteers and interns, as assigned.

What We're Looking For

Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Child Life, Child Development, Psychology, Human Development and Family Studies, or a closely related field. Completion of Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP)-endorsed child life coursework. Completion of a 600-hour supervised child life clinical internship. Current Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) credential through ACLP, or eligibility to obtain certification within 6–12 months of hire.

Current CPR/Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. Valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and proof of automobile insurance. Strong communication, organizational, and clinical documentation skills. Proficiency with electronic health records.

Preferred Qualifications

1–2 years of experience as a practicing Child Life Specialist. Experience supporting pediatric patients and families in hospice, palliative care, or serious illness settings. Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish. What Makes You a Great Fit You are a compassionate professional who understands that caring for a child with a life-limiting illness means supporting the entire family.

You approach sensitive conversations with empathy, communicate effectively with children at different developmental stages, and bring creativity and emotional resilience to challenging situations. You thrive in a collaborative environment, value interdisciplinary teamwork, and are passionate about helping families find comfort, connection, and meaning.

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