About Company
At Career.zycto, we believe in connecting passionate individuals with roles that truly matter. For a Child Life Specialist, finding an environment where compassion meets clinical excellence is paramount. We partner with leading healthcare institutions in Montreal, dedicated to fostering vibrant, supportive spaces for pediatric patients and their families. Career.zycto champions your journey, ensuring you join a team that values your unique expertise in promoting psychological well-being. Discover a career where your dedication profoundly impacts young lives, supported by a recruitment partner committed to your professional growth and fulfillment.
Job Description
Are you a compassionate and certified Child Life Specialist driven by the profound desire to make hospital experiences less daunting for children and their families? Career.zycto is proud to partner with a leading pediatric healthcare institution in Downtown Montreal, seeking a dedicated and empathetic full-time Child Life Specialist. In this pivotal role, you will be instrumental in alleviating stress and anxiety for pediatric patients across various units, including surgery, intensive care, oncology, and emergency services. This position offers a unique opportunity to apply your expertise in developmental psychology, therapeutic play, and family-centered care to foster coping strategies and promote optimal growth and development during challenging medical journeys.
Our client’s facility is renowned for its commitment to holistic patient care and innovative approaches to pediatric health. As a Child Life Specialist, you will become an integral part of an interdisciplinary team, collaborating closely with physicians, nurses, social workers, and other allied health professionals to create a supportive and understanding environment. Your day will involve assessing patient and family needs, designing and implementing individualized play and educational interventions, and preparing children for medical procedures and treatments in an age-appropriate manner. You will empower children to express their fears and feelings, ensuring their voices are heard and their autonomy respected within the hospital setting.
This role extends beyond direct patient interaction to involve family support, parent education, and advocating for child-friendly practices within the hospital system. You will guide parents on how to best support their child, normalizing the hospital environment and fostering resilience. We are looking for a proactive individual who can adapt interventions to suit diverse developmental levels and cultural backgrounds, ensuring inclusive and equitable care for all. If you are passionate about reducing trauma, promoting positive coping, and championing the unique needs of children in healthcare, this is an extraordinary opportunity to contribute meaningfully to a community-focused institution. Join a team where your specialized skills will not only comfort and educate but also inspire hope and facilitate healing for our youngest patients and their families.
Key Responsibilities
- Assess and document the developmental and psychosocial needs of pediatric patients and their families.
- Plan, implement, and evaluate therapeutic play, medical play, and expressive activities to reduce anxiety and promote coping.
- Provide age-appropriate preparation and support for medical procedures, tests, surgeries, and new diagnoses.
- Facilitate coping strategies for patients and families experiencing acute or chronic illness, pain, bereavement, and trauma.
- Educate patients and families about diagnoses, treatments, and hospital routines in a developmentally sensitive manner.
- Collaborate effectively with the interdisciplinary healthcare team to integrate child life services into comprehensive patient care plans.
- Advocate for the developmental and psychosocial needs of children and adolescents within the hospital environment.
- Support family units, including siblings, in understanding and adapting to the child's hospitalization and medical journey.
- Maintain accurate and timely patient records in compliance with professional standards and hospital policies.
- Participate in departmental meetings, training sessions, and continuous quality improvement initiatives.
Required Skills
- Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) certification is mandatory.
- Proficiency in therapeutic play techniques and age-appropriate communication strategies.
- Strong understanding of child development theories and family systems theory.
- Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills in both English and French.
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, emotionally demanding, and dynamic healthcare environment.
- Demonstrated empathy, compassion, and exceptional active listening skills.
- Knowledge of crisis intervention and stress management techniques for children and families.
- Ability to adapt interventions to suit diverse developmental levels and cultural backgrounds.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's degree in Child Life, Child Development, Psychology, or a closely related field.
- Previous experience (2+ years) in a pediatric hospital setting, particularly in critical care, oncology, or emergency services.
- Fluency in additional languages relevant to Montreal's diverse population (e.g., Arabic, Spanish, Mandarin).
- Experience with program development, group facilitation, and parent education initiatives.
- Knowledge of current trends and best practices in the child life profession and pediatric healthcare.
Perks & Benefits
- Competitive salary and a comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits package.
- Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays.
- Opportunities for continuous professional development, workshops, and continuing education credits.
- A supportive, collaborative, and interdisciplinary team environment.
- Access to advanced medical resources and state-of-the-art facilities.
- Contribution to a mission-driven organization dedicated to exceptional pediatric health and well-being.
- Employee wellness programs and mental health support services.
- Pension plan contributions to secure your future.
How to Apply
Ready to make a profound difference in the lives of children and families? We invite you to apply by clicking the link below. Please ensure your resume highlights your Certified Child Life Specialist certification and relevant experience. We look forward to reviewing your application and exploring how your passion aligns with our client’s mission to provide exceptional pediatric care.
