About Careertakes

👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Healthcare — Children's Hospital.

Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.

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Role Overview

Confidential Client is seeking a Child Life Specialist in Palo Alto, CA. The Child Life Specialist provides developmentally appropriate play, procedural preparation, and psychosocial support to pediatric patients and their families in a children's hospital setting. This is an entry-level position offering on-site, patient-facing experience and opportunities for professional growth.

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Key Responsibilities

• Assess and support pediatric patients and families using child life theory, developmental principles, and family-systems approaches.
• Deliver pre- and post-procedural preparation, distraction, and coping strategies during medical procedures.
• Provide developmentally appropriate therapeutic and medical play for individuals and small groups.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary care teams to create and implement family-centered plans of care.
• Document clinical interventions and maintain compliance with hospital and Joint Commission standards.
• Participate in team meetings, quality improvement, and data collection for performance improvement.
• Mentor, orient, and supervise child life students and volunteers as appropriate.
• Support a positive, culturally sensitive environment and demonstrate professionalism in all interactions.

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Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Child Life, Child Development, Behavioral Sciences, Human Development, or a directly related field.
• Successful completion of an ACLP-accredited Child Life internship that meets requirements for Clinical Child Life Certification.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) by American Heart Association or RQI Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support.
• Must obtain Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) credential from the Association of Child Life Professionals within 365 days of hire.
• Strong communication, organizational, and teamwork skills; ability to work well with children of all ages.
• Willingness to learn hospital routines, adhere to policies, and participate in ongoing education.

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Compensation & Schedule

• Pay range (California, hourly): $36.62 to $45.77 (Minimum to Midpoint Range).
• Employment type: Contractor (scheduled weekly hours: 40; Day shift).
• Compensation may vary based on experience, education, and other lawful factors.

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Location & Work Type

• Primary work location: On-site in Palo Alto, CA (Confidential Client facility).
• Remote work: Not eligible for this role.
• Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

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Additional Details

Confidential Client values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. Qualified applicants with criminal convictions will be considered consistent with applicable local ordinances and laws. This role supports professional development through clinical advancement pathways and participation in educational initiatives.

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Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency

Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.

If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.