CHILD DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST -

Department: Child Life | FTE: 0.75 | Shift: Days (Tuesday–Saturday position, requires some holidays)

About the Role

Coordinate the therapeutic and recreational therapy programs for pediatric patients. Ensure adherence to hospital and departmental policies and procedures. Patient care assignments may include neonate, pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric age groups.

Responsibilities

• Adhere to the Child Life Code of Ethics.
• Organize developmentally appropriate educational and recreational activities for patients; ensure the physical, cognitive, and emotional needs of patients are met and assure their personal safety.
• Provide direction of playroom sessions to meet the social, physical, cognitive, and emotional needs of patients and ensure their personal safety.
• Interact with other hospital professionals in promoting the physical and psychological well-being of pediatric patients.
• Ensure safety, maintenance, and cleanliness of assigned activity areas.
• Demonstrate methods of interacting with children and developmentally appropriate activities for medical staff and students.
• Document program activities in assigned areas and clinic sessions.
• Supervise playroom staff and volunteers.
• Provide orientation to volunteers and student staff members.
• Assist community organizations with arrangements for special events and provide assistance with distributing gifts from donations; ensure thanks are conveyed.
• Promote the continued process of growth and development for children and their families.
• Enhance professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, reading current literature, attending in-services, meetings, and workshops.
• Attend meetings as required and participate on committees as directed.
• Follow patient safety-related policies, procedures, and protocols.
• Demonstrate a proactive approach to patient safety by seeking opportunities to improve patient safety through questioning of current policies and processes.
• Identify and report or correct environmental conditions and/or situations that may put a patient at undue risk.
• Report potential or actual patient safety concerns, medical errors, and/or near misses in a timely manner.
• Encourage patients to actively participate in their own care by asking questions and reporting treatment or situations they don’t understand or may “not seem right.”

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline.
• 1 year of directly related experience.
• CPR for Healthcare/BLS Provider or Professional Rescuers certification within 30 days of hire.
• Medium Work: Exerting 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Working conditions involve significant hazards, including chemicals and biohazardous materials; PPE required.
• Tuberculosis testing completed upon hire and as required thereafter.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual in English and Spanish, Keres, Tewa, Tiwa, Towa, Zuni, or Navajo.

Pay

Shift differentials: 17% for Weekday Nights, 26% for Weekend Nights, and 15% for Weekend Days.