Child Life Specialist - Pediatrics

About the role

The Child Life Creative Arts Therapies and Education position at Navicent Health Medical Center is a full-time, benefits-eligible role. This position collaborates with hospital personnel to manage patient psychosocial needs, provides staff education, makes referrals, and participates in interdisciplinary rounds.

Responsibilities

• Collaborates with hospital personnel in identifying and managing patient’s psychosocial needs, including making appropriate referrals
• Participates in unit rounds, patient care conferences, and inter-disciplinary rounds
• Provides staff education regarding the impact of hospitalization of children and developmentally appropriate coping techniques
• Makes appropriate referrals to outside organizations that provide emotional and developmental support to children and families
• Educates staff regarding how to provide an environment that addresses the psychosocial needs of patients and families
• Selects and utilizes diagnosis specific teaching tools and preparation equipment appropriate for the population served
• Presents materials in a developmentally appropriate manner that allows for interaction from the patient and family in order to assess further educational needs while addressing misconceptions
• Describes sensory experiences, sequence of events, timing, and duration of procedures in developmentally appropriate language
• Sets and maintains appropriate limits with patients and families during hospitalization
• Includes the patient in all conversations that occur in his/her presence
• Demonstrates sensitivity to parents’ concerns and uses the parents as a resource when developing goals and interventions
• Provides the patient with appropriate choices and respects the patient’s decision
• Establishes clear expectations during hospitalization and helps the patient meet these expectations
• Includes parents as part of the healthcare team
• Advocates for the psychosocial needs of patients and families
• Affirms the role and services of Child Life to families
• Responds appropriately to patient’s and family’s emotional cues and behaviors
• Supervises and coordinates volunteers in assigned areas to maximize their use in providing opportunities for play and normalization to patients and families
• Selects and adapts bereavement resources and interventions based on each child’s and family’s developmental level, emotional status, cultural beliefs, temperament, and learning style
• Provides post-procedural support and follow-up to patients and families
• Introduces Child Life role and services to families
• Attends at least one child life related seminar or educational experience a year
• Attends departmental staff meetings, in-services, and training
• Maintains patient and staff confidentiality per MCCG policy
• Practices fiscal responsibility in ordering and management of child life supplies

Requirements

• Clinical Internship in Child Life required
• Child Life Certification to be obtained within one year of hire
• Bachelor’s degree in Child Life, Recreation Therapy, Child Development Education or a closely related field

Qualifications

• Must be able to use visual acuity to see monitor screen, computer and hard copy materials
• Must be able to hear and verbally communicate in person and over the phone or radio
• Must be able to sit for prolonged periods of time (up to 2 hours)
• Must be able to comprehend and learn operation of various office equipment
• Must have functional range of motion of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spines, upper and lower extremities with a grip strength of 50-60# specific to job evaluation
• Must be able to forward reach, overhead reach, bend, squat, kneel and apply proper body mechanics during the transfers and transport supplies and/or equipment using proper body mechanics
• Must be able to lift up to 10# specific to job evaluation

Skills

• Knowledge of current charting procedures through clear, concise, timely documentation and chart reviews
• Uses play therapeutically to promote healing, coping, mastery, self-expression, control and learning
• Selects activities to address individualized needs of patients and families including their developmental, physical, social and emotional needs
• Recognizes and responds to symbolic play and alternative forms of communication
• Facilitates adaptive coping strategies for patients and families while respecting their cultural beliefs
• Adapts bereavement resources and interventions based on each child’s and family’s developmental level, emotional status, cultural beliefs, temperament, and learning style
• Provides post-procedural support and follow-up to patients and families
• Introduces Child Life role and services to families
• Responds appropriately to patient’s and family’s emotional cues and behaviors
• Supervises and coordinates volunteers in assigned areas to maximize their use in providing opportunities for play and normalization to patients and families
• Facilitates adaptive coping strategies for patients and families while respecting their cultural beliefs
• Selects and adapts bereavement resources and interventions based on each child’s and family’s developmental level, emotional status, cultural beliefs, temperament, and learning style
• Provides post-procedural support and follow-up to patients and families
• Introduces Child Life role and services to families
• Attends at least one child life related seminar or educational experience a year
• Attends departmental staff meetings, in-services, and training
• Maintains patient and staff confidentiality per MCCG policy
• Practices fiscal responsibility in ordering and management of child life supplies

Benefits

Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards, including:

• Paid Time Off programs
• Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
• Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
• Education Assistance Program

Pay

$25.30 - $37.95 per hour

Schedule

M-F days