London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is a world-class academic health sciences centre located in the southwestern Ontario city of London. Just two hours from Toronto and two hours from Detroit, London features a beautiful and walkable downtown core located on the Thames River, a vibrant culinary scene and scores of activities that highlight local arts, culture and music. As one of Canada's largest acute-care teaching hospitals, LHSC delivers world-class care and experiences, built on our commitment to excellence in research, innovation, and learning. In partnership with our communities, we design and advance healthcare to support the wellness of the populations we serve. LHSC delivers both local and regional services, including the Children's Hospital, within a large geographic area. LHSC is known for its great people and great care, with a workforce of close to 15,000, dedicated to delivering the highest quality patient care while partnering with communities to transform health, one life at a time.
Open: January 21, 2025
Deadline: February 3, 2025
Non-Union
Child Life Specialist - Children's Care
Prepared with a strong background in child development and family systems, Child Life Specialists promote effective coping through play, preparation, education, and self-expression activities. They provide emotional support for families and encourage optimum development of children facing a broad range of challenging experiences, particularly those related to healthcare and hospitalization. Child Life Specialists also provide information, support and guidance to parents, siblings, and other family members. They play a vital role in educating caregivers, administrators, and the general public about the needs of children under stress. Child Life Specialists function as a member of an assigned health care team or unit and practice according to the Child Life Code of Ethics, and Standards of Clinical Practice, as per the professional Association of Child Life Professionals.
Temporary Full-Time
Hours of work: 37.5 hours per week - days, evenings, and weekends required
Duration: up to 6 months
Rate of Pay: $46.79 per hour - $58.48 per hour
- Bachelor's Degree in Child Development, Child Psychology, Child and Family Studies, Social Work, Health Sciences or related fields as acceptable to Hospital
- Master's Degree preferred
- Current Child Life Certification, as required by the Association of Child Life Professionals
- Up to one (1) year recent related experience working with children, youth, and families in a health care environment
- Two (2) years recent related experience working with children, youth, and families in a health care environment preferred
- Must have experience working or internship with children and families, in the hospital, illness/injury, grief, or medical environment
- Demonstrates ability to assess and provide intervention to children and families applying theories of child development, play, family systems, trauma and diversity
- Displays emotional intelligence, with the ability to understand the feelings, concerns and needs to children, and their families
- Relays information in an individualized fashion, with the ability to assess ongoing, and adjust approach as required by the individual
- Ability to make decisions, and collaborate well with others to solve complex problems
- Demonstrated dependability in the provision of therapeutic relationships
- Demonstrated practice and commitment to the principles of patient and family centered care
- Demonstrated practice and commitment to patient and staff safety at LHSC
- Demonstrated practice and commitment to LHSC's vision, purpose and values
- Demonstrated ability to attend work on a regular basis
Teaching, Learning and Research
London Health Sciences Centre is proudly one of Canada's largest acute-care teaching and research hospitals. LHSC has an unwavering commitment to lifelong learning, with education agreements in collaboration with over 55 schools, hospitals, and community agencies from across Ontario, Canada and internationally; among our many education partners, our three regional partners are Western University, Fanshawe College, and Thames Valley District School Board. LHSC provides students with a place that they can learn and discover knowledge and skills to take them forward in their careers as health care professionals. Approximately 2,900 Nursing, Health and other students ranging from secondary school to university graduate level programs receive training at LHSC every year. As an employee of LHSC, you will be expected to engage in role-related teaching, professional development, and research activities in addition to standard position duties and responsibilities.
Immunization Requirements:
Before beginning employment at LHSC, all new hires must provide documentation related to LHSC?s Health Review requirements. For more information and a detailed list of requirements, please visit Health Review Requirements | LHSC.
We are committed to providing a safe, healthy and inclusive work environment that inspires respect. LHSC is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from equity-denied groups including Indigenous people, racialized people, women, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQIA+ persons. LHSC is also committed to ensuring an accessible and inclusive recruitment process. Upon individual request, we will endeavor to remove any barrier to the hiring process to reasonably accommodate candidates, including those with disabilities, while maintaining a fair, consistent and equitable recruitment approach. Should any applicant require accommodation through the application, interview or selection processes, please contact Recruitment Services at 519-685-8500, extension #34321 or recruitment@lhsc.on.ca .
As part of the selection process applicants may be required to complete an examination or test. Please be advised that a reference check may be conducted as part of the selection process.
Your interest in this opportunity is appreciated. Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. Successful candidates, as a condition of job offer, would be required to provide a satisfactory police information check (original document) completed in the last 6 months.
Please be advised, if you are seeking employment on a temporary work or study permit we recommend reviewing work permit restrictions as it applies to healthcare organizations in Canada. As per the Government of Canada, LHSC is considered a hospital/healthcare organization, even if an employee is functioning in a non-patient facing role. Individuals on a work or study permit seeking employment in this sector may be required to complete additional steps in the process, including but not limited to a medical exam, which may also apply to employees looking to renew their work permits. It is the employee?s accountability to ensure they are adhering to their specific work permit restrictions, and we encourage all candidates and LHSC employees to be proactive and review restrictions as soon as possible as it could be a lengthy process.