Certified Child Life Specialist, Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Holtz Children's Hospital, FT, Days

About the role

The Child Life Specialist provides psychosocial and developmentally based assessment, interventions, and support to pediatric patients and families with the primary goals of increasing patient and family education / understanding, decreasing anxiety, and maintaining the integrity of the child and family. Plans and provides emotionally and developmentally appropriate experiences to encourage continued cognitive and emotional growth during various health care experiences.

Responsibilities

• Exchanges significant information with members of the health care team (e.g. daily report, interdisciplinary meetings).
• Provides age-specific orientation to the child and family to health care experiences and personnel and to the setting(s) where health care will occur.
• Develops supportive therapeutic relationships with pediatric patients and families that reinforce trust and maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
• Provides consultation to the health care team regarding the ongoing developmental status and unique needs of children and families to promote effective adaptation to treatment and/or potentially stressful events and circumstances; makes referral recommendations.
• Provides opportunities for and facilitates a variety of play, activities, and other interactions which promote self-healing, self-expression, understanding and mastery.
• Demonstrates awareness of social, emotional, developmental, educational, and cultural needs of pediatric patients and families.
• Varies group activity center environment and programs to provide ongoing patient / family enrichment and support.
• Provides developmental screening and assessment based on formal and informal techniques; completes child life assessment, plan and follow-up per child life program policy.
• Counsels and educates pediatric patients and families regarding child development and psychosocial care.
• Provides information and resources to pediatric patients and families regarding prevention, health maintenance, and lifestyle issues related to their health care needs.
• Uses technology to develop resources which facilitate patient education and/or adaptation to the health care environment (I.e. activity schedules, behavior plans, therapeutic scrapbooks).
• Provides follow-up care with children and families, where necessary and appropriate.
• Provides sensitive palliative care to pediatric patients, families and siblings when indicated.
• Provides supportive bereavement / grief support interventions to families when indicated.
• Orients Foster Grandparents and volunteers to the needs of hospitalized children and the purpose of the child life program, makes patient assignments and provides daily reinforcement of therapeutic techniques to same.
• Participates in the orientation and training of new child life staff as indicated.
• Provides interdisciplinary in-service and student teaching on the role of the child life program, child development, and the impact of illness, injury and hospitalization on pediatric patients and families.
• Serves as a resource and an advocate on child development, family-centered care, multicultural awareness, and the impact of various health care experiences on pediatric patients and families.
• Reviews JHS system data sources (I.e. Pre-Op Testing Schedule, OR Schedule) to set daily priorities for clinical interventions.
• Provides initial patient/family assessment and exchange of significant information with members of the Pediatric Ambulatory and/or Pediatric Surgical team(s).
• Provides age-specific orientation to the child and family regarding the Ambulatory / Surgical experience and personnel, and to the setting(s) where surgical care (I.e. holding area, OR, PARU) will occur.
• Prioritizes the psychosocial/medical acuity of pediatric patients/ families to determine appropriate child life services interventions.
• Enhances Pediatric surgical area environment(s), programs and resources to provide ongoing patient / family stimulation, enrichment and support.
• Acknowledges special situations (e.g. a child's birthday, holidays) during the pediatric surgical experience to reinforce continuity in the child's normal life experience.
• Initiates specific actions to enhance and normalize the Pediatric Surgical area environment(s) and treatment areas for pediatric patients and families.
• Uses technology to identify and/or develop resources which facilitate patient education and/or adaptation to the Pediatric Surgical care experience (e.g. disease-specific and/or surgical preparation information).
• Initiates follow-up communication with inpatient child life staff regarding specific patient / family issues or support needs, when indicated.
• Orients child life student interns to Pediatric Surgical child life services and oversees student assignments during a student's rotation in the Pediatric Surgical area(s).
• Insures proper maintenance, safety and organization of Pediatric Surgical treatment areas and activity resources, assists in the selection of program materials and monitors their utilization in treatment areas.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Child Development, Psychology, Social Work, or related field.
• Current CPR certification.
• Experience working with pediatric populations preferred.
• Knowledge of child development, psychology, and psychosocial care.
• Ability to communicate effectively and express ideas clearly.
• Flexibility and adaptability in response to changes in child life program needs or priorities.

Skills

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and retirement plans.
• Flexible scheduling options.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Employee Assistance Program.

Pay

$45,000 - $55,000 annually.

Schedule

Full-Time, Days (10:00am-6:30pm)