CHILD LIFE SPECIALIST

About the role

The Child Life Specialist will assess the psychosocial needs of patients and their families to offer and implement supportive, therapeutic interventions such as preparation for health care encounters, procedural support and coping strategies, and opportunities for various types of play. The Child Life Specialist will be an advocate for pediatric patients and visitors and serve as a resource for other hospital staff in areas of child development, family-centered care, trauma-informed care, age appropriate and developmentally appropriate interactions, and bereavement support.

Responsibilities

• Provides Child Life services in pediatric units as assigned and in other units as consulted
• Affirms psychosocial and developmental needs of patients/families and implements or adapts services and goals as needed
• Utilizes therapeutic interventions such as psychological preparation, procedural support, therapeutic play, medical play, bereavement support, etc. to facilitate coping with hospitalization
• Provides developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed education and emotional support for children about health care encounters, the hospital environment, new diagnoses or injuries, grief, etc.
• Documents interventions and services in a timely manner within the patient’s electronic health record
• Works as part of the multi-disciplinary team to communicate, collaborate, educate, and advocate for patient- and family-centered care
• Delegates appropriate duties to Activities Assistants and volunteers, supervises practicum students as assigned
• Complies with professional, ethical, and educational standards in accordance with the Association of Child Life Professionals

Requirements

• 0-2 years of experience, 3-5 years preferred
• Bachelor’s in Child Life or related field, or a Bachelor’s with a completed Child Life Certification
• Must have completed 600+ hour Child Life Internship
• Certified Child Life Specialist-Must obtain certification within 12 months of hire
• Communication – Ability to communicate with patients, visitors and coworkers
• CPR-BLS preferred

Special Requirements

• Part time, 24 hours a week
• Hours: varies

About the Area

With the help of Cooper, I have obtained my Epic Certification as well as my Masters in Business Administration. Cooper has really been supportive and really helpful in helping me to develop professionally and personally they really believe in a strong work-life balance.