Child Life Specialist

Position Summary

This position will support our Adaptive Care Program. Duties include both enrolling patients in the program and supporting patients during appointments & admissions. This position plans and provides therapeutic intervention and appropriate psychosocial developmental care with pediatric patients and their families and assists them in coping with the stress and anxiety of health care experiences and maximizes the growth and development of infants, children and adolescent patients.

Position Duties

• Plans, implements, and evaluates individual patient goals, based upon assessment findings.
• Provides teaching and psychological preparation for potentially stressful experiences with infants, children, adolescents, and families.
• Actively participates in interdisciplinary rounds and evaluations as a member of the treatment team.
• Documents patient assessments, interventions, and outcomes in the medical record.
• Provides a safe, therapeutic, and healing environment for infants, children, adolescents, and families.
• Participates in the training, supervision, and evaluation of Child Life Assistants, Child Life student interns, and volunteers.
• Escorts and facilitates social/positive interactions between patients and special visitors, guests, or entertainers.
• Represents and communicates family centered philosophy on departmental and hospital-wide committees.
• Participates in continuing education programs and remains abreast of advances in Child Life and programs for hospitalized children.
• Provides interdisciplinary in-service education on growth and development, Child Life, and the impact of illness, injury, and healthcare on patients and their families.
• Performs miscellaneous job related duties as requested.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Child Life, Therapeutic Recreation or related field - Required.
• Master's degree in Child Life, Therapeutic Recreation or related field - Preferred.
• Completion of a minimum 480 hour professional Child Life Internship, under the direction of a Certified Child Life Specialist - Required.
• Experience working with children in a child care capacity, to include private employment, or in volunteer roles as determined by the hiring manager - Required.
• Professional Child Life experience in a hospital environment - Preferred.
• Bilingual English-Spanish skills - Preferred.

Certification / License / Registry Requirements

• BLS certification through the American Heart Association, OR obtain within 30 days of hire - Required.
• Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) credential from the Child Life Certifying Commission (CLCC), OR obtain within 18 months of hire and maintained thereafter - Required.
• Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credential, from the National Council Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) - Preferred.

Physical Requirements & Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential

• Climbing - Occasionally
• Feeling (sensing textures and temperatures) - Occasionally
• Fine Motor Skills (pinching, gripping, etc) - Constantly
• Hearing - Constantly
• Pushing/pulling - Occasionally
• Reaching - Constantly
• Sitting - Frequently
• Standing - Frequently
• Stooping/crouching/kneeling/crawling - Frequently
• Talking - Constantly
• Tasting/smelling - Occasionally
• Walking - Constantly
• Near Vision - Constantly
• Far Vision - Constantly
• Color Discrimination - Occasionally
• Use of keyboard, mouse and/or computer equipment - Constantly
• Lift up to 35 pounds without assistance - Frequently
• Lift more than 35 pounds without assistance - Occasionally
• Airborne communicable diseases - Applicable
• Bloodborne pathogens or bodily fluid - Applicable
• Hazardous materials exposure - Applicable
• Radiation exposure - Applicable
• Toxic or caustic chemicals - Applicable