Certified Child Life Specialist - Pediatric Unit - Day

Full time: 40 hours/week

Shift: 7am-3.30pm Monday thru Friday

Certification in Child Life and/or Therapeutic Recreation (CCLS/CTRS) within one year of hire date.

Pediatrics is a 9-bed pediatric medical and surgical unit which provides both inpatient and outpatient pediatric care.

General Summary

Provides psychosocial and emotional support for pediatric & adolescent patients and their families receiving care. Utilizes a family-centered care approach to assist patients and families in effectively coping with the stress and anxiety of the hospital experience as well as to maximize the growth and development of children and adolescents. Child life services will include direct care, consultation, supervision, education, advocacy, and environmental planning.

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Functions:

• Provides opportunities for a variety of play, education and other interactions which promote healing, self-expression, understanding and stress reduction
• Plans care for individuals or groups based on assessment of the child's development, temperament, coping style, culture, spirituality, potential stressors, family needs and social supports, developmental assessments based on formal or informal techniques.
• Therapeutic play
• The practice of family-centered care
• Orients children and parents to all areas providing care to children.
• Psychological preparation for potentially stressful experiences
• Provides support during identified stress points.
• Teaches stress reduction techniques to facilitate adaptive coping.
• Reduces environmental stress related to the hospitalization.
• Provides consultation as requested regarding the unique needs of children and families to promote healthy coping with potentially stressful events and circumstances.
• Assists with education on prevention, health maintenance and lifestyle education.
• Delivers education to families and professionals on the topic of child development through direct interactions and providing learning resources.
• Assists in the follow-up care with children and families, where necessary and requested.
• Prepares and maintains written documentation as required by the profession and department.
• Maintains relationships with community agencies, groups, and professional affiliations as appropriate to the work of a child life specialist in our community.
• Lends support to evidence-based practice planning and implementation of educational child life programs/projects.

Common Expectations:

• Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span of the assigned patient population. Assesses and interprets patient age specific data and provides appropriate, age specific treatment. Provides direct patient care to assigned patient age group(s).
• Maintains established policies and procedures, objectives, quality assessment, safety, environmental and infection control standards.
• Enhances professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, current literature, inservice meetings, and workshops. Embraces lifelong learning and maintain skills current to the field of child life work.
• Provides outstanding service to all customers; fosters teamwork; and practices fiscal responsibility through improvement and innovation.
• Implements efficient and cost effective unit and department programming.
• Orders and stocks supplies on an ongoing basis.
• Provides oversite to child life volunteers including scheduling, training, mentoring, providing feedback and compliance with volunteer regulations.
• Assists in the promotion of community giving as requested.
• Works as one with the all members of Pediatrics in our effort to deliver excellent service.
• Provides support as needed for system wide child life programs including participating in training, program design, mentoring and feedback.

Qualifications

Minimum Education:

• Bachelors Degree Required

Work Experience:

• Less than 1 year 6 - 12 months Required and
• Child Development, Child Life, Psychology, Therapeutic Recreation or closely related field Required

Courses and Training:

• Certified Child Life Specialist Upon Hire Required