Child Life Specialist

Provides programming based on an understanding of normal human growth and development and the impact that illness, injury, disability, and hospitalization have on the developmental process.  Programming elements are designed to reduce distress, increase adaptive coping as well as protect and enhance developmental integrity.

• Uses knowledge of human growth and development, family systems theory and cultural backgrounds when assessing and interacting with patients and families
• Develops and provides therapeutic interventions and recreational diversions to assist patients in coping with the stress of hospitalization, illness, injury, death and/or loss
• Participates in patient and family teaching through the provision of appropriate information and/or materials regarding developmental progress, stress-coping theory, hospitalization and medical procedures
• Provides a safe, therapeutic and developmentally supportive environment for patients and families; supervises groups of children in play therapy room as required
• Advocates the psychosocial, emotional and developmental needs and concerns of patients and families to the health care team
• Communicates to the healthcare team child life observations, assessments and interventions concerning patient and family care
• Serves as a patient and family advocate in providing child life expertise to help ensure special events best meet the needs and concerns of hospitalized children and families
• Provides child life services, as appropriate to patients requiring a tutoring referral to the appropriate public school system(s) (e.g., prepares child for operation by explaining procedures in terms appropriate to child's level of development; helps children process trauma)
• Communicates changes in patient behavior or condition to nursing staff
• Functions as an integral part of the Pediatrics Department in the development and execution of departmental tasks and goals
• Participates in the development, coordination, and execution of the child life internship training program
• Participates in the development, coordination and execution of educational inservices and material representing: child life programming, normal growth and development, and pediatric hospitalization issues
• Provides child life programs as per departmental and hospital policies and procedures in a cost effective manner
• Provides training and clinical supervision to interns and volunteers; determines intern and volunteer tasks, roles and duties in order to maximize their participation in and support of child life programming
• Provides accurate and current documentation in patient's medical record as required
• Develops an outreach program to schools in the community
• Demonstrates effective problem identification and problem solving skills in performance of responsibilities
• Attends meeting/rounds as required, participated actively and completes follow-up responsibilities in a consistent manner
• Maintains established departmental policies and procedures, objectives, quality assurance program, safety, environmental, and infection control standards

Education:

Bachelors Degree in Child Life, Child Development, Early Childhood Education or related discipline and completion of a Child Life internship required.

Certification as a professional Child Life Specialist; Eligibility for Certification required (standards set by the National Child Life Council Certifying Commission).

Experience:

At least 1 year of on-the-job experience working with children is required;

2 years of on-the-job experience working with children is preferred with part of this in a health care setting.

Skills:

Advanced interpersonal skills are required for interacting with patients, families and health care personnel.

Good oral and written communication skills.

Speaks, reads and writes English to the extent required by the position.