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Child Life Specialist

Primary Location Oakland, California Schedule Part-time Shift Day Salary $38.7 - $50.02 / hour
Job Number 1388979 Date posted 10/17/2025

Mental health is an essential component of total health. As mental health professionals, we’re on the front lines every day, using the latest advances to help those in need. If you share our passion for care and our commitment to helping those around us, you’ll have the resources you need to make a real difference. Our services include adult and child therapy as well as help with addiction and eating disorders.

  • Job Type:Standard
  • Job Level:Individual Contributor
  • Travel:No

Success Profile

These are the traits of the most successful members of our behavioral health team.

  • Adaptable
  • Compassionate
  • Good listener
  • Proactive
  • Results Driven
  • Versatile

Benefits

Our compensation and benefits are designed to help you and your family stay healthy and thrive in and beyond work.

Our Culture

We offer a mental health environment that's unique both in the way we treat our patients and in the way we support our health care professionals. Here, we practice evidence-based care in a team setting that’s focused on the needs of the individual, the family and the population as a whole. This gives your patients the opportunity to work towards achieving their physical, mental, and behavioral health goals. On our teams, we hold social justice as a shared value and are committed to addressing and eliminating stigma associated with mental health and addiction. Working as part of a team also helps support your own career growth while you provide high-quality strengths-based, brief, solution-focused, and episodic mental health care.

Hear From Our People

Aaron

Aaron

Psychiatric Social Worker

Kaiser Permanente has been an excellent platform for me to grow as a professional. The organization has demonstrated its commitment to the continued growth of its employees through the training it offers and encourages. I’ve always resonated with the organization’s integrated approach to health care, and its recognition of how essential good mental health is to a person’s overall well-being.

Breeza

Breeza

Licensed Certified Social Worker

I would recommend and do recommend workingfor Kaiser Permanente. It’s a professional, clean,friendly, fast-paced environment and there is a real trustand respect for clinical staff no matter what role weserve. I love feeling valued and heard and am thankful tohave found an environment that providesthat.

Janice

Janice

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

This is the best place to work because ofthe commitment to the total health of our members, thework/life balance, the possibilities to use clinical skillsin a variety of capacities within the organization andopportunities for personal and professional growth. Asemployees of Kaiser Permanente, we all have a voice and areencouraged to use it.

Gabriela

Gabriela

Clinical Program Manager

At Kaiser Permanente, I have opportunities to learn and work in a professional setting with people who are passionate about patient care. I love my career as a therapist and now as a manager! I really enjoy helping others and learning new interventions and modalities. These ensure my personal and professional growth.

Laura

Laura

Psychotherapist

Kaiser Permanente is a health care leader who sets trends and makes a difference in industry practices and protocols. I like the extraordinary resources available to do my job, the servant leadership of my manager and director, and the high standard of business and clinical ethics.

Amie

Amie

PsyD, Clinical Psychologist

We’re an innovative, vision-forwardcompany. While Integrative-Care models are relatively new,we’ve been on the frontlines of building out ahigh-functioning integrated team for over a decade. Withinthis model of care, we’re pushed to think out of the boxwhen it comes to patient care, be collaborative, andsucceed in a fast-paced environment.

Carol

Carol

PhD, Licensed Certified Social Worker – Clinical

Kaiser Permanente demonstrates itscommitment to their employees’, has a top-notch salary andcompensation package, and has a leadership body that iswell trained and supportive. As a Clinician and a Manager,I am very impressed with our commitment to qualityoutcomes. I have truly found a home here and would behonored for Kaiser Permanente to be my last professionalstop in my career.

Michael

Michael

PsyD, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Psych Social Worker

Kaiser Permanente, in my opinion, is agreat mix of professional, friendly and fast-paced. Theyallow me to be who I am and let me have a voice. I lovebeing a therapist and I’m very proud and excited about theGender Assessments and transgender group work beingconducted. I’m helping the LGBT community and making thispopulation feel comfortable throughout their care journey.Kaiser Permanente is a breath of fresh air to me in mywork.

Kashonda

Kashonda

Psychotherapist

I appreciate how Kaiser Permanente strivesto reflect inclusivity and representation throughout theorganization. I’m excited about an internal cliniccomprised of African American clinicians dedicated tosupporting the health needs of the African diaspora. I’mproud to be part of committees that intentionally promoteequity, inclusion and diversity. These things combined withthe benefits, opportunities and people make KaiserPermanente a great place to work.

Child Life Specialist

Primary Location Oakland, California Schedule Part-time Shift Day Salary $38.7 - $50.02 / hour
Job Number 1388979 Date Posted 10/17/2025
Submit Interest
Description:
Job Summary:

Meets the psychosocial needs of hospitalized children through a play activity program. Provides play opportunities and other experiences in order to minimized the negative emotional and developmental impact of hospitalization, within the CSA.


Essential Responsibilities:

  • Provides appropriate play activities for the ambulatory and bedridden pediatric patient which assists in coping with their illness and hospitalization.
  • Assists children in the development of coping strategies through play, recreation, and art.
  • In conjunction with other health care team members, identifies current patient needs and develops care plan goals.
  • Participates in multi-disciplinary care conferences.
  • Ensures each childs program is consistent with The Joint Commission and other regulatory requirements.
  • In conjunction with others, coordinates the Child Life Program volunteers. Orients, trains, and supervises volunteers and students who provide support on the pediatric unit.
  • Develops and implements inservice training to hospital staff in the area of Child Life. Monitors the effectiveness of the program.
  • Kaiser Permanente conducts compensation reviews of positions on a routine basis. At any time, Kaiser Permanente reserves the right to reevaluate and change job descriptions, or to change such positions from salaried to hourly pay status. Such changes are generally implemented only after notice is given to affected employees.
Basic Qualifications:
Experience

  • N/A
Education

  • Bachelors degree in child life or related field OR four (4) years of experience in a directly related field.
  • High School Diploma or General Education Development (GED) required.
License, Certification, Registration
  • Basic Life Support
  • Child Life Specialist Certificate within 12 months of hire
Additional Requirements:

  • Demonstrated interpersonal communication skills.
  • Must be able to work in a Labor/Management Partnership environment.
Preferred Qualifications:

  • Current Child Life Specialist certification preferred.
  • Masters degree and one (1) year post-graduate Masters preferred.
Primary Location: California,Oakland,Oakland Specialty Medical Office Bldg. Scheduled Weekly Hours: 20 Shift: Day Workdays: Mon (7:00am – 14:30pm), Tue (7:00am – 12:00pm), Thu (7:00am – 15:30pm) Working Hours Start: 07:00 AM Working Hours End: 03:30 PM Job Schedule: Part-time Job Type: Standard Worker Location: Onsite Employee Status: Regular Employee Group/Union Affiliation: NUE-NCAL-09|NUE|Non Union Employee Job Level: Individual Contributor Department: Oakland Hospital - Pediatrics-Sub Specialty Other - 0206 Pay Range: $38.7 - $50.02 / hour Kaiser Permanente strives to offer a market competitive total rewards package and is committed to pay equity and transparency. The posted pay range is based on possible base salaries for the role and does not reflect the full value of our total rewards package. Actual base pay determined at offer will be based on labor market data and a candidate's years of relevant work experience, education, certifications, skills, and geographic location. Travel: No On-site: Work location is on-site (KP designated office, medical office building or hospital). Worker location must align with Kaiser Permanente's Authorized States policy. Kaiser Permanente is an equal opportunity employer committed to fair, respectful, and inclusive workplaces. Applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic or status.

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Mental Health at Kaiser Permanente

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