Child Life Specialist I

Job Requirements

• $5,000 Sign On Bonus

About the role

This role provides psychosocially and developmentally based assessment and support to infants, children, youth and families in the healthcare setting. Services are provided to children from infancy to twenty-one years of age.

Responsibilities

• Psychosocially and developmentally based assessment and support to infants, children, youth and families.
• Effectively utilizes information from the child and family and observations of development, coping styles, play, and affect as a basis for assessment and to formulate an individualized plan of care.
• Differentiates between therapeutic and non-therapeutic relationships and maintain therapeutic boundaries with infants, children, youth and families.
• Initiates collaboration with the healthcare team to provide developmentally appropriate procedural preparation and education to children and families.
• Utilizes educational materials and contributes to the developmental of new educational materials/methods of teaching for both child/family and staff.
• Identifies child and family learning needs and any barriers to teaching. Uses resources available to adapt to child/family needs. Communicates needs to healthcare team.
• Facilitates planning, rehearsal, implementation, and evaluation of coping strategies to facilitate adaptive coping.
• Utilizes appropriate non-pharmacological pain management strategies.
• Facilitates developmentally appropriate play as a primary tool to decrease distress, provide enjoyment and comfort, enhance mastery, and promote healing.
• Facilitates supportive education and therapeutic interventions to address death and dying.
• Promotes patient and family centered care. Supports the central role of the family, valuing strengths and needs in implementing child life services.
• Empowers and supports patients and families to effectively self-advocate, and advocates on behalf of those who cannot do so.
• Incorporates knowledge of cultural diversity and competence when providing services to children and families.
• Functions as an active, contributing member of the child life department, hospital and health care team. Effectively communicates child/family needs and collaborates with members of the interdisciplinary team.
• Participates in the development and execution of program goals. Participates in and practices continuous quality improvement by identifying areas for improvement, offering suggestions for change, and actively engaging in the improvement process.
• Assists in facilitating effective and developmentally appropriate community groups and program events. Acts as a resource for the psychosocial needs of children and advocates for these needs within the healthcare environment and the community.
• Aids in the development and provision of educational in-services for the healthcare team throughout the medical center.
• Maintains resources for optimum utilization. Effectively utilizes and maintains equipment and supplies consistent with program policies and procedures, infection control protocols, and child life budget parameters.
• Assists in managing donations. Follows established processes and procedures for optimal service delivery. Prioritizes and organizes workload for accurate and timely outcomes.
• Assists in orientating and training new staff, child life students and volunteers. Provides orientation to the setting and policies and procedures of the work environment. Acts as a mentor while providing a safe learning environment. Provides regular feedback in a constructive manner.
• Communicates expectations and roles clearly and concisely.

Qualifications

• B.S. or B.A. in child life, child development, or closely related discipline.
• Completion of a child life internship under the supervision of a certified child life specialist is required.
• Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) certification must be obtained within one year of hire.

Skills

• Extensive knowledge and skill regarding child and adolescent development and appropriate interventions for children age neonate to young adult.
• Knowledge of family systems theory.
• Knowledge of the developmental effects of stress and trauma on children and interventions to alleviate distress.
• A working knowledge of medical diagnoses and procedures and their relationship to children's behavior and development.
• Broad based knowledge regarding the special needs of children with chronic or disabling conditions.
• Knowledge of play activities and therapeutic interventions.
• An in-depth knowledge of the body of research relating to children in health care settings.
• Advanced interpersonal skills are required to interact with children, families, volunteers and the interdisciplinary health care team.
• Strong time management and organizational skills are required.

Benefits

• Flexible schedule
• Professional development opportunities
• Work-life balance

Pay

• $XX per hour

Schedule

• Full-time