Child Life Assistant

About the role

The Child Life Assistant (CLA)/Child Life Assistant Facility Dog Handler supports the Child Life Team in providing a safe and developmentally appropriate environment for pediatric patients and families. The role promotes positive healthcare experiences through play, education and socialization activities that support coping, normalization and emotional well-being. The Facility Dog Handler role combines Child Life Assistant responsibilities with facilitation of animal-assisted interventions.

Responsibilities

• Supports patient and families developmental, emotional and psychosocial needs
• Provides toys, activities, developmental play and therapeutic interactions to patients in the playrooms and at bedside
• Facilitates 1:1 play opportunities for patients in isolation or unable to leave their room/unit
• Plans, coordinates, and facilitates group activities designed to support normalization, coping and socialization, including but not limited to special guests and holiday celebrations
• Supports Child Life Specialist in identifying patient and family needs and implementing developmentally appropriate activities and interventions that promote coping and adjustment to the health care experience
• Observes and reports patients developmental, emotional and psychosocial needs to team members as appropriate
• Recognizes patient and family needs that require a referral to a Child Life Specialist or other health care team members
• Participates in interdisciplinary rounds, patient care discussions and department initiatives as appropriate
• Documents activities, interventions, patient responses and relevant observations accurately, objectively and in a timely manner within the medical record
• Facility Dog Handlers: Facilitates animal-assisted interventions with the facility dog when serving as a designated handler, to support patient coping, comfort and engagement
• Facility Dog Handlers: When serving as a designated handler, provides supervision, care and daily management of the facility dog. Assists in ensuring compliance with animal-assisted therapy program standards
• Maintains a clean, safe environment, ensuring age-appropriate and developmentally suitable materials are available. Follows infection prevention, animal safety, and hospital policies and procedures, including cleaning and sanitizing toys and equipment using approved methods
• Assists with accepting, distributing and organizing donations as well as screening for appropriateness. Maintains storage areas ensuring compliance with fire and safety guidelines
• Assists with training, orientation and management of volunteers in child life areas. Helps volunteers feel comfortable in 1:1 and group settings

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent required
• Must demonstrate a commitment to obtaining Child Life Certification and are expected to make measurable progress towards completing requirements for a Child Life Specialist role during their employment
• Minimum 1 year of experience in a childcare setting required
• Experience working in a hospital setting with hospitalized children and their families preferred
• Possesses interpersonal skills which enable the individual to establish professional rapport with patients and families, and possesses assertive skills necessary to facilitate group activities
• Knowledge of child development preferred
• Basic Life Support from the American Heart Association required

Benefits

Children's covers facility dog-related expenses for the workplace including: Initial placement stipend, weekly grooming, veterinary care and medications, and food, treats, leash, bed, and toys as approved by their leader.

Facility dogs are specially trained and co-owned by Canine Assistants of Atlanta to support the therapeutic needs of patients and team members. Dogs are matched to the hospital based on organizational needs and functions. Facility dogs live with their primary handler, who must be a Children's team member working at least 32 hours per week and committed to the program for five years.