The Senior Child Life Specialist ensures high quality Child Life services are provided to support the psychosocial needs of the patients and their families. The Senior Child Life Specialist provides direct oversight of assigned Child Life staff and all Child Life student programs.

1. Provides orientation, ongoing assessment, supervision, training, and development for assigned Child Life Specialists, Child Life Assistants, students, and identified volunteers.
2. Develops and implements the Child Life student program and acts as internship coordinator, responsible for recruiting, supervising, and training.
3. Provides in-depth care as needed to more urgent cases. Escalates significant clinical issues to the Child Life Manager.
4. Collaborates with the Child Life Manager to conduct performance reviews for assigned Child Life staff.
5. Supports the Child Life Manager with program evaluation and improvement initiatives.
6. Assumes all principle duties and responsibilities of a Certified Child Life Specialist as workload demands.
7. Provides support counseling, training, role-modeling for patients, families and/or staff as needed within the departments accepted areas of expertise.
8. Maintains a professional, safe, and therapeutic milieu in all patient areas and upholds appropriate professional boundaries with patients, caregivers, and staff.
9. Maintains quality and effectiveness of patient services through the implementation of and compliance with all departmental and/or Institute policies and procedures, performance improvement activities, and yearly program assessment.
10. Actively engages in leadership training and professional activities to stay current in relevant areas of practice.
11. Attends and actively participates in departmental, interdisciplinary, and/or community committees as assigned.

• CPR and Choking Infants/Children/Adults certification required.
• Child Life internship with completion of 480 hours of clinical experience under Certified Child Life Specialist in accredited Pediatric Hospital required.
• Must have certification as a Certified Child Life Specialist by the Association of Child Life Professionals or certification must be obtained within one year of hire.
• *Individual must demonstrate competence across all age groups due to the diversity of the children and caregivers served by Kennedy Krieger Institute. 
• *Clinical care focus is on the neonate, pediatric, and adolescent populations, as well as some adults with disabilities.

• Bachelor’s degree in Child Life, Child Development or related field required.
• Master’s degree preferred.

• Six years of clinical child life experience required.
• Demonstrated three years progressively more responsible professional experience in a pediatric medical setting and/or three years of previous supervisory experience required.