The Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) at Children's Hospital at Erlanger provides expert psychosocial support to pediatric patients and their families, enhancing the overall quality of care.
The Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) at Children's Hospital at Erlanger provides expert psychosocial support to pediatric patients and their families, enhancing the overall quality of care.
Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) or eligible to sit for the Child Life Certification exam Minimum Work Experience: 6 months related experience, which can include worksite educational experience ...
Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) or eligible to sit for the Child Life Certification exam Minimum Work Experience: 6 months related experience, which can include worksite educational experience ...
Ccls information
See Tennessee salary details
$15.05 - $16.98
13% of jobs
$18.86 is the 25th percentile. Wages below this are outliers.
$16.98 - $18.90
13% of jobs
$18.90 - $20.83
12% of jobs
$20.83 - $22.75
12% of jobs
The median wage is $22.99 / hr.
$22.75 - $24.67
13% of jobs
$24.67 - $26.60
11% of jobs
$27.17 is the 75th percentile. Wages above this are outliers.
$26.60 - $28.52
12% of jobs
$28.52 - $30.45
4% of jobs
$30.45 - $32.37
4% of jobs
$32.37 - $34.29
5% of jobs
$34.29 - $36.22
3% of jobs
$15
$24
$36
How much do ccls jobs pay per hour?
As of Aug 31, 2026, the average hourly pay for ccls in Tennessee is $24.41, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.99 and $27.93 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.
What is a CCLS?
A Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) is a trained professional who helps children and families cope with the stress of hospitalization, illness, or injury. They use play, education, and therapeutic techniques to reduce anxiety and promote understanding of medical experiences. CCLSs often work in hospitals, clinics, or other healthcare settings, collaborating with medical teams to support pediatric patients' emotional and developmental needs.
What does a CCLS do?
A typical day for a CCLS involves working closely with children and families as they navigate medical procedures or hospitalization, providing emotional support and age-appropriate education about treatments. You’ll plan and implement therapeutic play activities, advocate for patient needs during medical rounds, and collaborate with physicians, nurses, and other care team members. Some days may entail providing support during difficult events such as procedures or new diagnoses, while others focus on ongoing developmental activities or support groups. The work is dynamic and often varies based on patient needs, but always centers on helping children cope, understand, and find comfort in a healthcare setting.
What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a CCLS?
To thrive as a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS), you need a strong background in child development, family dynamics, and psychosocial assessment, typically obtained through a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a related field and Child Life Certification. Familiarity with hospital information systems, electronic medical records, and therapeutic play tools is important. Outstanding interpersonal skills, empathy, and the ability to communicate clearly with children and families set top candidates apart. These skills are crucial for promoting coping and reducing stress for children and families navigating challenging healthcare experiences.
What are popular job titles related to Ccls jobs in Tennessee?
For Ccls jobs in Tennessee, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Ccls jobs in Tennessee look for?
The top searched job categories for Ccls jobs in Tennessee are:
Full-time
Re-posted 23 days ago
Job description
Job Summary:
The Certified Child Life Specialist employed by Erlanger is responsible for planning and providing therapeutic activities and appropriate psychosocial/developmental care for pediatric and adolescent patients and families to minimize stress/anxiety and maximize positive coping throughout the healthcare experience in cooperation with the multidisciplinary team.
Education: Required: BS, BA in Child Life, Child Development or related field
Preferred: N/A
Experience:
Required: Internship and/or work experience in a hospital setting focusing on the psychosocial needs of hospitalized children and their families.
Preferred: N/A
Position Requirement(s): License/Certification/Registration
Required: Child Life Certification
Preferred: N/A
Department Position Summary:
The Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) at Children's Hospital at Erlanger provides expert psychosocial support to pediatric patients and their families, enhancing the overall quality of care. This role involves conducting comprehensive psychosocial assessments, delivering emotional and developmental support, facilitating therapeutic medical play, and advocating for patient and family needs within the healthcare system. The CCLS collaborates with the multidisciplinary team to improve patient and family experiences and communicates relevant observations to ensure coordinated care.
Key Responsibilities:
Psychosocial Assessments:
o Conduct comprehensive evaluations of patients and families to identify strengths, concerns, and needs.
o Develop and implement individualized short-term and long-term goals based on assessment findings.
Emotional, Social, and Developmental Support:
o Provide emotional, social, and developmental support to patients and families throughout illness, injury, end-of-life, and bereavement.
o Enhance the quality of care by addressing psychosocial challenges related to medical conditions.
Therapeutic Medical Play and Preparation:
o Facilitate medical play and preparation sessions to help patients and families understand medical procedures and develop effective coping strategies.
o Use play as a therapeutic tool to reduce anxiety and improve the medical experience.
Advocacy and Reassessment:
o Identify and advocate for the needs of patients and families within the healthcare system.
o Regularly reassess the effectiveness of interventions and adjust strategies as needed to meet evolving needs.
Age and Developmentally Appropriate Activities:
o Provide activities tailored to the age and developmental stage of patients to support cognitive and emotional growth.
o Ensure that activities are engaging and therapeutic, promoting positive outcomes.
Multidisciplinary Team Collaboration:
o Function as a proactive and effective member of the multidisciplinary team.
o Share relevant observations and insights about patients with other healthcare professionals to facilitate coordinated and comprehensive care.
Skills:
o Demonstrated ability to provide comprehensive psychosocial care appropriate to the age and developmental level of patients.
o Strong assessment skills with the ability to consistently re-evaluate and prioritize care based on patient and family needs.
o Proficiency in providing therapeutic play opportunities and diversions to reduce stress and enhance the hospitalization experience.
o Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
o Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment.
o Compassionate and empathetic approach to patient and family interactions.
o Flexibility and adaptability in managing changing patient and family needs.
The Certified Child Life Specialist employed by Erlanger is responsible for planning and providing therapeutic activities and appropriate psychosocial/developmental care for pediatric and adolescent patients and families to minimize stress/anxiety and maximize positive coping throughout the healthcare experience in cooperation with the multidisciplinary team.
Education: Required: BS, BA in Child Life, Child Development or related field
Preferred: N/A
Experience:
Required: Internship and/or work experience in a hospital setting focusing on the psychosocial needs of hospitalized children and their families.
Preferred: N/A
Position Requirement(s): License/Certification/Registration
Required: Child Life Certification
Preferred: N/A
Department Position Summary:
The Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) at Children's Hospital at Erlanger provides expert psychosocial support to pediatric patients and their families, enhancing the overall quality of care. This role involves conducting comprehensive psychosocial assessments, delivering emotional and developmental support, facilitating therapeutic medical play, and advocating for patient and family needs within the healthcare system. The CCLS collaborates with the multidisciplinary team to improve patient and family experiences and communicates relevant observations to ensure coordinated care.
Key Responsibilities:
Psychosocial Assessments:
o Conduct comprehensive evaluations of patients and families to identify strengths, concerns, and needs.
o Develop and implement individualized short-term and long-term goals based on assessment findings.
Emotional, Social, and Developmental Support:
o Provide emotional, social, and developmental support to patients and families throughout illness, injury, end-of-life, and bereavement.
o Enhance the quality of care by addressing psychosocial challenges related to medical conditions.
Therapeutic Medical Play and Preparation:
o Facilitate medical play and preparation sessions to help patients and families understand medical procedures and develop effective coping strategies.
o Use play as a therapeutic tool to reduce anxiety and improve the medical experience.
Advocacy and Reassessment:
o Identify and advocate for the needs of patients and families within the healthcare system.
o Regularly reassess the effectiveness of interventions and adjust strategies as needed to meet evolving needs.
Age and Developmentally Appropriate Activities:
o Provide activities tailored to the age and developmental stage of patients to support cognitive and emotional growth.
o Ensure that activities are engaging and therapeutic, promoting positive outcomes.
Multidisciplinary Team Collaboration:
o Function as a proactive and effective member of the multidisciplinary team.
o Share relevant observations and insights about patients with other healthcare professionals to facilitate coordinated and comprehensive care.
Skills:
o Demonstrated ability to provide comprehensive psychosocial care appropriate to the age and developmental level of patients.
o Strong assessment skills with the ability to consistently re-evaluate and prioritize care based on patient and family needs.
o Proficiency in providing therapeutic play opportunities and diversions to reduce stress and enhance the hospitalization experience.
o Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
o Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment.
o Compassionate and empathetic approach to patient and family interactions.
o Flexibility and adaptability in managing changing patient and family needs.