Albany Medical Center·Albany, New York
The Child Life Specialist provides developmentally appropriate care and therapeutic interventions to pediatric patients to help them cope with their hospital experience. They collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, manage volunteer programs, and provide bereavement resources across various hospital units.
General Pediatrics - C7
Work Shift: Evening (United States of America)
$59,066.00 - $88,599.00
Child life specialists are uniquely trained pediatric healthcare professionals that provide developmentally appropriate care to meet the individualized needs of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. Child life specialists collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to achieve the needs of each patient through developing and implementing interventions to help patients and their families cope with their hospital experience. The use of developmentally appropriate play and therapeutic activities allows for psychosocial development and normalization of the hospital environment.
$23.96 - $38.34
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Demonstrates developmentally appropriate knowledge and skills necessary to assess and interact with a diverse population of pediatric patients and their families.
Designs and implements individual interventions based on assessment of a patient's development, coping style, diagnosis/ treatment, and psychosocial supports.
Uses medical play and developmentally appropriate language and teaching tools to ensure adequate preparation for medical interventions and encourage understanding and mastery of diagnosis, medical care and experiences.
Uses therapeutic/diversional techniques to support patients during treatments and procedures.
Provides developmentally appropriate play and activities to support normal growth and development.
Communicates pertinent information concerning patient care at appropriate rounds, with the multidisciplinary team and documentation in patient's' medical record.
Provides bereavement resources and memory making throughout hospital including but not limited to: pediatric units, labor and delivery, neonatal intensive care unit, pediatric and adult emergency departments, and adult intensive care units.
Provides support and activities to developmentally delayed patients on adult units
Supports in-hospital/ home tutoring services that reduce loss of educational ground
Coordinate and manage on-going practicum students and volunteer program. Volunteer program includes pediatric orientation, schedule management, delegated tasks, and managing playroom.
Planning and facilitating community and holiday events.
Assess and coordinate all donations for pediatrics from the community. Assist public relations and the Albany Med Foundation with hospital tours, check presentations and fundraisers.
Maintains playroom utilized by a diverse pediatric population.
Completes consultations for the children of adult patients at AMC upon request.
Participates in unit-based and hospital-wide committees, projects, educational activities, and special events.
Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
Thank you for your interest in Albany Medical Center!
Albany Medical Center is an equal opportunity employer.
This role may require access to information considered sensitive to Albany Medical Center, its patients, affiliates, and partners, including but not limited to HIPAA Protected Health Information and other information regulated by Federal and New York State statutes. Workforce members are expected to ensure that: Access to information is based on a “need to know” and is the minimum necessary to properly perform assigned duties. Use or disclosure shall not exceed the minimum amount of information needed to accomplish an intended purpose. Reasonable efforts, consistent with Albany Medical Center policies and standards, shall be made to ensure that information is adequately protected from unauthorized access and modification.
Thank you for your interest in Albany Med Health System!
Albany Med Health System is an equal opportunity employer.
This role may require access to information considered sensitive to Albany Med Health System, its patients, affiliates, and partners, including but not limited to HIPAA Protected Health Information and other information regulated by Federal and New York State statutes. Workforce members are expected to ensure that:
Access to information is based on a “need to know” and is the minimum necessary to properly perform assigned duties. Use or disclosure shall not exceed the minimum amount of information needed to accomplish an intended purpose. Reasonable efforts, consistent with Albany Med Health System policies and standards, shall be made to ensure that information is adequately protected from unauthorized access and modification.
Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree in Child Life or a related field and have completed a 600-hour Child Life internship. Certification as a Child Life Specialist (CCLS) is required within one year of hire.
Market context
Support-services roles in New York are often tied to hospitals, labs, and education systems that need dependable operational support and compliance-minded staff. Competition can be strong because employers may prefer candidates with some lab or research exposure plus transferable skills, and this platform’s AI-summarized job requirements and benefits help you review the original posting faster. If you are applying, match your education and any hands-on lab, research, or coordination experience directly to the listed requirements.